The five most frequently asked questions about design registration

A design must be new. What exactly does that mean?

A design is new if you haven’t launched it yet. However, it is no longer new if the design is already featured on your website or exhibited at a trade fair. So, in that case, you can no longer register it. Fortunately, there is still a loophole: the law gives you 12 months respite! See the next question.

Does it mean I can’t register the design if it’s already on the market?

Luckily, the law gives leeway for an extra 12 months. So, according to the law, you can still file a valid registration up to 12 months after the first publication of the design. After that, however, the opportunity is gone.

A design must have an individual character. What exactly does that mean?

A design has an individual character if the general impression differs from other designs already on the market. The criteria remain somewhat vague, but in practice, it means that the design simply must stand out from the existing designs of others.

What do you need to register a design?

The right images! The choice of images filed in your application is crucial, as it determines the value and scope of a design. Chiever has the know-how and experience to decide which images will give the best design protection. There are many decisions to be made: photos or line drawings, colour or black and white, how many views, zoom in or not, etc. With our guidance, you’ll have the right images and obtain optimal design protection.

Where is my design protected after registration?

Our advice is always to first opt for European design registration. It is relatively straightforward, provides broad coverage, and the costs remain limited. A European registration gives your design protection for five years in twenty-seven EU countries. After that, you can opt to extend the registration four more times for five years. At the same time, we can also assist you with the protection of your design outside the EU, claiming the priority date of your European registration.

Do you have a question about design registration that’s not listed here? Feel free to contact us!

Design registration

Do you want to register a design?

Would you like more information about design registration, or would you like to speak to one of our advisors? Please contact us.

Bas Kist Senior Trademark Attorney (Partner) +31 (0)20 8204002

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2D and 3D design

A design registration protects your 2D or 3D design. You can get design protection under the condition that the design is new, i.e. the type of design is not yet on the market. Additionally, the design must also have an individual character, which means the design’s general impression differs from designs already on the market.

Modelregistratie

Infinite

As the definition of a design can be extensive, many different designs can be protected. To give just a few examples: a table, the 2D display design, a box for earphones, a new swimming flipper or a drink packaging design, it’s almost endless. The only requirement is that the design is new and has an individual character.

Modelregistratie Voorbeelden
Design registration

Do you want to register a design?

Would you like more information about design registration, or would you like to speak to one of our advisors? Please contact us.

Bas Kist Senior Trademark Attorney (Partner) +31 (0)20 8204002

The contact form can not be displayed because cookies are blocked. Click here to accept cookies.