In Short
The Situation: May 1, 2025, marked the entry
into force of most provisions of Phase I of the new Regulation (EU) 2024/2822, which forms part of
the "Designs and Models Package" adopted within the
European Union. This text, in addition to forthcoming developments,
profoundly reforms the EU design (formerly known as "Community
design") regime, modernizing protection, registration
procedures, and the scope of rights.
The Development: The Regulation introduces
major changes that improve accessibility of design protection in
the European Union: broadening the definition of designs and
models, adapting to digital challenges, new filing and renewal
modalities, revision of fees, extension of prohibited acts,
harmonization of exceptions (notably the repair clause), and an
overhaul of cancellation and renewal procedures.