New Registered Design Rules

New Registered Design Rules will come into force on 1 October. The Registered Designs Rules 2006 (SI 2006/1975) revoke the 1995 Rules and the instruments amending them. The new Rules complement changes made to the Registered Designs Act 1949 by the Regulatory Reform (Registered Designs) Order 2006 (SI 2006/1974).

Among other things, the Rules impose a statutory obligation on the registrar to publish a representation of a design on registration. They also make provision for inspection of the relevant files at the Patent Office (in addition to inspecting representations and specimens under s.22(1) RDA), and include a more flexible approach to invalidity proceedings before the Registrar based on the Civil Procedure Rules. The changes have led to a number of new forms.