ARTICLE · 10 APRIL 2025

EU: Registered vs. Unregistered Designs

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Design is an appearance of the product or its part resulting from the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and/or materials of the product itself and/or its ornamentation.

European UnionIntellectual Property

Design is an appearance of the product or its part resulting from the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and/or materials of the product itself and/or its ornamentation.

The aim of design protection is the promotion of innovation and prevention of copying of creative works.

Designs can be registered and unregistered. Here is a brief comparative table demonstrating differences between registered and unregistered designs in the EU:

	Unregistered Design	Registered Design
Term of protection	3 years from the date of disclosure	5 years (25 years if renewed) from the date of filing of an application
Requirements for protection	Must be new and have individual character

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