Design Rights

The Lego Exception and Proportionality in Injunctive Relief: A Case for Clarity

On March 6, 2025, Advocate General (AG) Szpunar delivered his Opinion in the case Lego A/S v Pozitív Energiaforrás Kft. (C-211/24), focusing on the so-called “Lego exception” under the Community…

EU Design Reform: Key Changes

The European Union’s Design Reform Package, published on 18 November 2024, marks a significant step forward in modernising intellectual property protection. Effective from 1 May 2025, the reforms introduce sweeping…

Design Disclosure and Grace Periods: Guide for Designers

When considering the public disclosure of a new design—whether through social media, exhibitions, or other avenues—timing is very important for securing your design rights. In the UK and EU, designers…

Registered Design Applications: The Hague System vs. National Applications

If you’re looking for international protection for your design, you have two main options: You can file individual design applications with the intellectual property offices in each country you’re interested…

Clarification on Animated Designs by the UKIPO

Protecting animated designs is a necessary development in this speedily evolving tech-world. In fact, the UKIPO Registered Designs Examination Practice Guide provides for such protection of both static and non-static…

Guidance on Design Applications for Multi-Component Products: Understanding the Latest UKIPO Practice

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has recently released an updated Design Practice Note (DPN) that provides valuable guidance on the submission of design applications for products comprised of multiple…

Major update to EU design law

Registered designs protect the shape and/or appearance of a product. They are an invaluable (and cheap) part of the IP toolkit whose importance we have written about a number of…

Artists – copyright & designs

Copyright Copyright is one of the most important IP rights that will protect artistic works. For artists, understanding copyright means it may be utilised to protect your original works and…

Design Rights in Articles of Clothing

Clothing designs can be protected by both registered and unregistered design rights (as well as copyright).  A registered design right can protect the appearance of the whole or part of…

Registered Designs & Disclosure: How much can you reveal?

Introduction On 16 December 2014, Rihanna posted a picture on Instagram which displayed a white Puma trainer with thick black soles – little did she know this would result in…

What are grace periods for registered designs?

Before you release your designs to the world there are a few things you should be aware of. Obtaining a registered design in the UK Registered design right is a…

Importance of Registering your Designs

  When undertaking an intellectual property audit of their business, designers often overlook registered designs. However, having your products protected by registered designs has multiple advantages. UK registered design protects…

Debunking Misconceptions About Registered Design Rights in the UK

Registered design rights are a valuable form of intellectual property protection that play a critical role in safeguarding the visual appearance of products. However, there are several misconceptions surrounding registered…

UK Registered Design Protection and Process

To obtain registered design protection in the United Kingdom, you can follow the process administered by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). Here are the necessary steps involved: Application preparation:…

Is this design dictated by its technical function?

A common question we get asked is ‘what is the difference between a registered design and a patent?’. Simply, one of the main differences is that a registered design right…

The Complete Guide to Design Rights

  What Are Design Rights? Design rights can protect the shape, configuration or appearance of the whole or part of a product. In the UK, the two main design rights…

What’s in a name

As the year comes to an end, many trade mark applications will have been filed and registered in 2022. As an example, the EU Intellectual Property Office generally registers 135,000…

Registered design rights- grace periods deadlines

It’s an exciting time, after months of brainstorming a new design you have finalised some design drawings and you’re nearly ready to launch your product. Your social media is ready…

Copy Cars – Aston Martin F1 accused of copying

Formula 1 is one of the most elite racing sports in the world, featuring 20 drivers in single-seat, open-wheel cars, travelling at speeds up to 223 miles per hour. F1…

How To Protect Your Product Design

What is a ‘product’ anyway? Most of us understand the word product to mean ‘something that has been produced’ (i.e. manufactured or made). The EU law regulating the protection of…

How To Protect My Clothing Designs

With the rise of fast fashion, social media and online shopping, more than ever, fashion designers are facing issues trying to protect their work from copycats. It can be daunting…

How To Protect A Design Idea

Firstly, let me start with an apology for the misleading title. As an intellectual property lawyer, I am constantly asked how to protect an idea. Unfortunately, my answer involves explaining…

Pandemic start-ups… what you need to know about IP

One of the few positives that we can take from the pandemic is that it seemed to act as a catalyst for new businesses. If the world turning upside down…

Gin sling

Hendrick’s, the owner of the popular gin brand, has won another stage in its long running battle against the German supermarket Lidl. Hendrick’s is famous for its unique “apothecary” style…