European Union Design Registration is a design registration protection system which is valid in European Union member countries since 2003.
This system is valid in 28 European Union countries. The most important feature of this system is the rights it provides for registered and unregistered designs. Registration rights begin with the application for registration, while unregistered designs prevent the copying of the design for 3 years starting from the description of the design.
Authorized center for design registration is OHIM which resides in Alicante, Spain.
Design Application and Procedures:
Who can apply?
- Citizens of countries which are European Union members,
- Citizens of member countries of the World Trade Organization,
- Citizens of countries that are parties to the Paris Convention,
- As Turkey is a party to this agreement, citizens of Turkish Republic may benefit from the application for design registration (including resident legal entities).
Requirements for the Application:
An example of the design
Multiple designs in the same class can be collected on a single application.
Application language:
Applications can be in English, French or German.
Examination Procedures
Applicants will not be subject to novelty research as they are in the registration system in Turkey. The applications are accepted after the formal examination.
Design Registration and Publication:
Once the application is formally examined, the application is published in the community design bulletin. At the request of the applicant, there is a right of postponing the publication for up to 30 months.
Conditions of Protection:
The main criterion for registration is that the design is absolutely distinctive and new.
Protection Term
The protection period for design registration is 5 years and it is renewable 5 times up to 25 years.
Right of Transfer and License
The registration of a design can be subject to license and transfer. The license may be in either all of the members of the Association or may be nationwide.
Appeal Authority
Any objection to community design is made to the OHIM headquarters.
Member Countries
- Germany
- Italy
- Austria
- Cyprus
- Belgium
- Latvia
- Bulgaria
- Lithuania
- Czech Republic
- Luxemburg
- Denmark
- Hungary
- Estonia
- Malta
- France
- Portugal
- Finland
- Poland
- Holland
- Romany
- England
- Slovakia
- Ireland
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Greece
- Sweden