REGISTER now: Sweden Event - A new era for innovation: AI, the UPC and global patent opportunities
​

Design right re-design – an opportunity for UK business to shape design protection to suit its needs

No items found.
​
August 22, 2012
Additional information
Chevron icon
Info
Tags
Litigation
Table of contents
Chevron icon
Table of contents
  • Toc Heading
  • Toc Heading

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) has recently published a consultation document on the proposed reform of the UK Designs Legal Framework. This follows on from earlier research and public consultations that concluded that changes needed to be made to the legal system for protecting designs in the UK (please see here for an EIP newsflash on the earlier consultation).

The consultation document leaves no doubts as to the critical importance of design to the UK economy, but seeks to determine whether the underpinning framework for the ownership and protection of design is a help or a hindrance to business, particularly as the Hargreaves Report raised questions over the current protection regime. As explained in the consultation document: “The proposals can be grouped. There are some proposals that aim to resolve uncertainties around the scope of protection offered by design rights. A second set of proposals is intended to simplify laws surrounding ownership of unregistered and registered design. We also want to improve the regime for enforcement of design rights and enable people to more easily understand the design rights held by others so as to be able to avoid dispute and conduct business. Lastly there are some other miscellaneous things that it has been suggested the IPO could do to improve the design IP framework.”

More specifically, the report poses the question as to whether the deliberate copying or infringement of design should be a criminal offence, similar to the one that exists for similar activity in relation to trademarks and copyright. It also seeks to promote a discussion over:

“…other things that can be done to help businesses avoid legal dispute over design right; resolve those disputes more quickly and cheaply when they do arise; and facilitate designers and design businesses collaborating to create new work.”

In addition to the consultation document itself, the UK IPO has produced several reports that assess the likely impact of the proposed changes, for example in terms of the scope of design protection and also on criminal sanctions for design infringement. These reports are available via the UK IPO’s website.

For those working with designs this provides an opportunity to help shape the future of UK policy and legislation in this area. Should you wish to submit your views on the consultation documents, a response form is available here. Please note that the closing date for responses is 2 October 2012.

By Iain Russell

Recent Case Reports

See all Case Reports

Court of Appeal focuses on the technical effect to determine added matter
30 September 2026
The Court of Appeal provided guidance on their approach to assessing added subject matter, highlighting that the technical effect underlying the invention and how the claimed and unclaimed features contribute thereto is central to the analysis.
​
Court of Appeal affirms interpretation of product-by-process features in claims, and clarifies applicable law pre-June 2023
29 September 2026
The Court of Appeal confirmed that product-by-process features in a product claim limit the claim only where the specified process imparts characteristics that can be achieved solely by that process. It also clarified the law applicable to acts occurring before 1 June 2023, holding that UPC law may apply to ongoing infringement for injunctive relief, whereas damages for acts completed before that date are governed by national law, and that claims for provisional protection remain governed by national law.
​
Appeal reveals tricky deadlines for orders contained in decisions
29 September 2026
The Court of Appeal held that where a “privileged order” under Rule 220(1)(c), such as an order relating to the production of evidence under Article 59 UPCA and Rule 190 RoP, is contained within a decision on the merits, a 15 day appeal deadline for that order applies, separate from the substantive appeal deadline. Appeals challenging such orders after that deadline are inadmissible, and parties cannot circumvent the appeal rules by re-filing substantially the same request in the appeal proceedings.
​