A registered design protects the appearance of an article. We advise client to protect their designs through registration. Designs can either be new or can be a modification of an existing design. The rights granted by a registered design are territorial. In the UK rights are granted for a period of 25 years provided the design is kept in force by the payment of renewal fees every 5 years.
Design right is an automatic right which applies to 3 dimensional designs generally intended for industrial production and in the UK these rights lasts for 10 years from the date of first marketing.