European Union Industrial Design Registration

EU Industrial Design Registration lets design owners protect their designs across the EU. Registered designs are protected from the application date, while unregistered designs are protected against copying for three years from the date the design was first made public.

Design Application and Procedures

Who Can File:

• Citizens of EU member states
• Citizens of WTO (World Trade Organization) member states
• Citizens of Paris Convention member states

Because Türkiye is a party to these agreements, Turkish citizens can also file industrial design applications. Established legal entities can also file.

What the Application Requires:

• A representation of the design
• Multiple designs in the same class can be combined in a single application.

Application Language:

• Applications can be filed in English, French, or German.

Examination

Similar to the registration system in Türkiye, EU Industrial Design Registration applications are not subject to a novelty search. Applications are only subject to a formal examination and are accepted after that review.

Design Registration and Publication

Once the formal examination is complete, applications are published in the Community Designs Bulletin. On the applicant's request, publication can be deferred for up to 30 months.

Protection Conditions

The main criterion for industrial design registration is that the design is absolutely distinctive and new.

Protection Period

EU Industrial Design Registrations are protected for five years from the application date. The period can be renewed five times for a total of up to 25 years.

Assignment and Licensing Rights

A design registration can be licensed and assigned. A license can cover all EU member states or be limited to specific countries.

Opposition Authority

All oppositions to a Community design registration are filed at EUIPO (the European Union Intellectual Property Office, formerly OHIM).

Member States