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ARTICLE · 31 JANUARY 2025

EU Design Law Is Changing: What Does It Mean For Designers?

Gowling WLG
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The new EU design directive (2024/2823) and EU design regulation (2024/2822), proposals for which were first issued by the European Commission in 2022...

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Olivia Nimmo
Olivia Nimmo
John Coldham
John Coldham
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The new EU design directive (2024/2823) and EU design regulation (2024/2822), proposals for which were first issued by the European Commission in 2022, were published on 18 November 2024 and have come into force as of 8 December 2024.

EU Member States have 36 months to transpose the directive while the regulation will apply 4 months after coming into force. This means the new directive must be implemented by 9 December 2027 while the majority of the Regulation will apply from 1 May 2025. However, in relation to the 'repair clause' specifically, the directive provides for a transitional period to 9 December 2032 during which applications for design registrations submitted prior to 8 December 2024 will continue to be protected.

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