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ARTICLE · 24 NOVEMBER 2022

Designs For Life: Registration

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 registration.

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 registration.

Step 1 - Decide whether to register

The following considerations are often pivotal:

  1. Deterrence. Registering a design is an effective means of deterring would-be infringers. The design will appear on the register and the business can advertise the fact it enjoys registered protection on packaging and in literature. The UK has also made deliberate infringement of registered designs a criminal offence, which further enhances the deterrent.
  2. Longer protection. UKUDR and CUCD/SUDR only offer 10 and three years' protection respectively, whereas a UKDR can confer up to 25 years' protection. Unregistered protection may be sufficient for products with a short market life, such as those in the fashion world.

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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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