What is a Design?

A registered design is a monopoly right for the outward appearance of an article or a set of articles of manufacture. A registered design can be renewed for 5-year periods up to a maximum of 25 years and is a property that, like any other business commodity, may be bought, sold, hired or licensed.

What can be registered as a Design?

A registrable design may be a feature of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament applied to an article by any industrial process, being features that in the finished article appeal to and are judged by the eye.

It is also now possible to register parts of products and components parts; therefore a registrable design may be a handle of a mug, the lid of a pen (though internal components such as a replaceable ink cartridge cannot be registered as a design because they are not ordinarily in view when in use).

What protection does a registered design offer?

A registrable design brings the exclusive right to make, import, sell or hire out any article to which the design has been applied, or to let others use the design under terms agreed by the registered owner, in the UK and the Isle of Man.

A registered design also brings the right to take legal action against others who might be infringing the design and to claim damages.

Furthermore, the fact that a design is registered may be enough to deter any potential infringement.

Obviously, if we are formally instructed to bring infringement proceedings against a third party or to oppose a new design application you would be liable to our legal fees which are difficult to predict in advance. Our legal fees are calculated on the complexity of each individual case, the amount of time spent on the case, arrangement and attendance of any pre-conference meetings or main hearings (if any), preparation and exhibit of evidence etc. etc.

We can, on your behalf, register a design either on the UK Design Register or the Community Design register. A UK design registration is effective within the UK including the Isle of Man and a Community Registration is effective in all EU member states (including the UK).

Duration of Registration

A design registration can last up to 25 years, the period of protection is renewable every 5 years up until the maximum 25 year period.

Fees - UK Registered Designs

Availability and Registrability Search fees

£70 plus VAT (£82.25 Incl. VAT)

Application fee per design

£150 plus VAT (£176.25 Incl. VAT)

Fees - EU Registered Designs

Availability and Registrability Search fees

£70 plus VAT (£82.25 Incl. VAT)

Application fee per design

£325 plus VAT (£381.88 Incl. VAT)

Application fee (including publication fee) for each additional design (between 2 and 10 designs)

£160 plus VAT (£188.00 Incl. VAT) each

Application fee (including publication fee) for each additional design (11 + designs)

£80 plus VAT (£94.00 Incl. VAT) each

UK Renewal Fees

2nd period renewal

£190 plus VAT (£223.25 Incl. VAT)

3rd period renewal

£270 plus VAT (£317.25 Incl. VAT)

4th period renewal

£370 plus VAT (£434.75 Incl. VAT)

5th period renewal

£510 plus VAT (£599.25 Incl. VAT)

EU Renewal Fees

2nd period renewal

£120 plus VAT (£141.00 Incl. VAT)

3rd period renewal

£140 plus VAT (£164.50 Incl. VAT)

4th period renewal

£160 plus VAT (£188.00 Incl. VAT)

5th period renewal

£180 plus VAT (£211.50 Incl. VAT)