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A design in the context of Intellectual Property refers to the appearance of the whole, or part of, a product resulting from the features of lines, contours, colour, shape, texture or materials of the product or its ornamentation. There are a number of different ways in which designs can be protected in the UK. Registered Design Right Registered design right (RDR) protects the shape or ornamentation of all, or part of, a product. To obtain a registered design in the UK, a formal application has to be filed with the Patent Office and the design must meet two criteria. It must: - be Novel; and
- possess Individual Character
RDR can last for a maximum of 25 years if the renewal fees are paid. A European Community registered design right also exists, which extends to the whole European Union. Unregistered Design Right In the UK, unregistered design right (UDR) is an automatically arising IP right which can protect aspects of the shape or configuration (internal or external) of the whole, or part of, a marketable product. UDR lasts for a maximum of 15 years. A European Community unregistered design right also exists, but only has a duration of 3 years. For more information please download our Design Right Factsheet [pdf]
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