Changes to Renewal Periods and Fee Increases: EU Registered Designs

Renewal Periods

The calculation of renewal periods for EU registered designs is changing. From the 1^st May 2025 the basic period for renewing EU registered designs, and the so-called grace period (where a design is not renewed within the basic period) will be calculated differently, giving rise to different renewal due dates.

Until the 1^st May 2025, registered designs will expire on the last day of the expiry month. From the 1st May 2025, designs will expire on the expiry date of registration. There is then a six-month grace period to renew a design, which starts the day after it expires. 

However, you can renew your registered design up to 6 months before the renewal date, namely in the so-called renewal period.

For designs with a renewal date falling due before 1st May 2025, the old system will be used to determine the renewal and grace periods. For example, for a design registered on 10^th April 2020, the renewal deadline will be 30^th April 2025 and so the renewal period will fall between 1st November 2024 and 30^th April 2025. The grace period will run from 1^st May 2025 to 31^st October 2025.

For designs with a renewal date falling due on or after 1^st May 2025 the new rules apply. For example, if a design was registered on the 18^th November 2020, the renewal deadline will be due 18 November 2025. The renewal period will fall between 19^th May 2025 and 18^th November 2025. The grace period will run between 19^th November 2025 and 18^th May 2026.

Fee Increases

How much it will cost you to renew an EU design will depend on when the request is submitted.

For renewal requests submitted before the 1^st May 2025 the official fees are:

For renewal requests submitted on or after 1^st May 2025 the official fees are:

Wynne-Jones Advice

It can be seen that EU design renewal fees are going up very significantly.

Since you can renew your registered design up to 6 months before the renewal date, EU registered designs having renewal periods starting before 1st May 2025 can be renewed before 1^st May 2025 to take advantage of the lower official fees.

Our advice is to take advantage of this payment window to renew as many of your EU designs that you want to keep in force as possible before 1^st May 2025.

If your registered design is on our books and affected by the new renewal period and/or the updated official fees your case files will be updated accordingly.

For more information or for expert advice, please contact our dedicated renewals team: renewals@wynne-jones.com