About Designs

A registered design protects the outward appearance of an article. It does not protect any underlying principle or idea.

It may protect either the shape of the article or a pattern applied to the article, provided these features appeal to and are judged by the eye.

The registration of a design for gives you the sole right in the UK and the Isle of Man to make, sell, import for sale, hire or use in business such articles incorporating the Design (or a Design not substantially different). Consequently, you may take legal action against an infringer and claim damages.

A design registration does not protect features dictated solely by the function of the article.

A design registration does not protect features which are dependant on the appearance of another article of which the proposed design forms an integral part.

For the registration to be valid, the Design must be new and the article to which the design is applied must be of a type for which aesthetic considerations would normally influence a purchaser of the article.