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ARTICLE · 26 AUGUST 2026

EU Design Law Gets A Digital Upgrade

Potter Clarkson LLP
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EU design law has been updated from 1 July 2026, with reforms aimed at making design protection more suited to digital products and modern methods of creation and copying. The changes include dynamic representations like CAD files and animations, expanded protection for GUIs and non-physical items, and strengthened enforcement against counterfeiting and 3D printing.

European UnionIntellectual Property
Ethan Silverstone
Ethan Silverstone
Cameron Gregor
Cameron Gregor
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ARTICLE SUMMARY

  • EU design law has been updated from 1 July 2026, making protection better suited to digital products.
  • Applicants can now use dynamic representations, including CAD files and animations.
  • Enforcement has been strengthened, including against 3D printing and counterfeit products.
  • The application process is more flexible, with up to 50 designs now allowed in one application.

EU design law has entered a new phase. The latest reforms, which apply from 1 July 2026, are intended to bring design protection into the digital age and keep up with the way products are now created, shared and copied.

Below, we summarise the key changes for applicants and design owners.

Alternative design submission formats - CAD and animations

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