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ARTICLE · 24 NOVEMBER 2022

Designs For Life: Enforcement

Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
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Designs are key assets for many businesses and there are several aspects that are vital to success. In this guide from our Designs for Life series, we take a look at enforcement.

United KingdomIntellectual Property
John Coldham
John Coldham
Kate Swaine
Kate Swaine
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Designs are key assets for many businesses and there are several aspects that are vital to success. In this guide from our Designs for Life series, we take a look at enforcement.

Once the manufacturer(s) and distributor(s) are lined up, and the design is ready to go to market, the next step to consider (if this has not been done already) is how to go about protecting it.

Design law can give monopoly rights over how a design looks and can be a powerful tool to stop would-be copycats. However, it should always be kept in mind that all forms of design protection require enforcement to give any effective protection. If they are not enforced, a business will soon discover that its IP rights have no real value.

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