Services - Designs and copyright

There are numerous ways of protecting the appearance of your designs and creations. Any one or more of the following rights may be useful in protecting your product, particularly if the product does not reach the technical threshold and/or originality threshold for a patent.

Artistic copyright

Copyright can protect original artistic works e.g. a painting, drawing, engraving, photograph, sculpture, collage, building, or a work of artistic craftsmanship, with certain exceptions. One drawback of this right is that copying is required for a finding of infringement.

UK unregistered design right

This right can protect the shape and configuration, internal or external, of whole or part of an article, with certain exceptions. Again, copying is required for a finding of infringement.

European Community unregistered design right

This right can protect designs of shape, lines, contours, colours, texture, materials, ornamentation, which are new and have individual character, with certain exceptions. Again, copying is required for infringement.

UK Registered Design and European Community Registered Design

These rights can protect designs of shape, lines, contours, colours, texture, materials, ornamentation, which are new and have individual character, with certain exceptions. These rights do not require copying.

We offer the following services in relation to design and artistic copyright:

• Advice in relation to protection and enforcement of artistic copyright, UK unregistered design right, and EU unregistered design right.
• Preparing, filing and processing applications for UK and European Community registered design,
• Renewal of UK & European Registered designs
• Advising on enforcement and validity of UK & European Registered designs

Please contact us to obtain a free estimate. Kindly provide the specific registered design numbers so that we quote accurately and identify possible cost reductions.

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