Designs

Designs

STOP PRESS: This Overview is under review and is being updated in light of the publication in the Official Journal of Regulation (EU) 2024/2822 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 amending Council Regulation (EC) 6/2002 on Community designs and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) 2246/2002 (the Amending Regulation) and Directive (EU) 2024/2823 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on the legal protection of designs (recast) (the Directive). The Amending Regulation and the Directive are in force from 20 days following publication in the Official Journal. The Amending Regulation applies from 1 May 2025 and Member States have until 9 December 2027 to transpose the Directive. For more information about the package of legislation, see Practice Note: EU design legislation reform.

This subtopic provides an overview of design rights under EU.

The World Intellectual Property Office defines intellectual property (IP) as ‘creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; design; and symbols, names and images used in commerce’. Broadly, the aim of IP law is to cultivate

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