Registered Designs
Registered designs are products with commercial value that have been protected from copying or replication. Typically design registration protects the appearance of a product, such as shape, pattern or colour. A registered design example would be the shape of a games console or a branded pattern.
Do you have a new design to protect or want registered design advice on an existing registration? We’re a skilled, experienced partner for all aspects of filing, managing and enforcing registered designs in the UK, Europe or worldwide.
- Drafting & Filing
- Searching & Watching
- Strategy
- IP Audits
- Agreements
- Due Diligence
- Enforcement
- Registration Renewals
There is a big difference between how to patent a product and how to register a design. Unlike patents and trade marks, registered designs aren’t examined. Instead, the design application is rubber-stamped during filing. It’s then up to someone else to contest it. Simple, right?
Sadly not. Design registration is complex, arcane and often misunderstood. That’s why professional help is important when registering a design. Whatever your interest in registered designs, we de-stress all aspects of the registration process, including contesting registrations.
Above all, as worldwide design registration experts we give you peace of mind and help maximise your designs’ commercial value.
How we help you with registered designs
Registered designs relate to your product’s appearance, shapes, textures and colours. Design registration gives valuable protection and means you can label products accordingly to warn potential copiers. This is important to ensure that your product is protected from design right infringement, giving you sole ownership and usage rights to your design.
Though vital, the process to register design rights can be time consuming. Here at Wynne-Jones IP we can manage the design registration and renewal process for you. While you get on with business, we handle filing registered design applications at the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) or World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Design search and ‘watching’
Design searches help identify potentially conflicting design applications and registrations. By conducting a registered design search you can rest assured that your design property is protected, and you have the design rights to dispute any infringement. We also offer competitor monitoring searches (‘watching’) to identify competitors’ registered design applications.
Strategic design advice
Can we simplify management of your design portfolio? Absolutely! We handle all aspects of design portfolio administration and maximise its commercial value. Clients love our holistic approach to the following:
- Registered designs
- Design applications
- Enforcement
- Unregistered design rights
- Copyright & unregistered copyright
- Anything else with strategic implications for your designs
Due diligence
The importance of due diligence when buying or selling businesses cannot be understated. We can work closely with your legal advisors on things like these:
- Due diligence
- Response to questions
- Expert analyses
- Commercial analyses
- Purchasers’ issue-identification assessments
Naturally, we check everything meticulously to help your deal complete successfully.
Audits
A commercially-oriented IP audit helps maximise the value of registered designs for your business. Here’s how we can help:
- Assess strengths and weaknesses
- Recommend proactive options
- Implement portfolio development strategy
- Value registered designs for company valuation
- Plan and implement IP strategy
Agreements
We advise on, and draft, all kinds of agreements relating to registered designs, including assignments and licences.
In-house client training
From legal principles to understanding how to register a product design, basic knowledge of design law and practice will help your team. It’s easy with bespoke training that’s user-friendly, relevant, interesting and fun. Wynne-Jones provides expert training across design registration and intellectual property.
Design portfolio management
Large portfolio management creates challenges. That’s why our trusted global network of associate attorneys is at your disposal. Whatever your design registration portfolio needs, and wherever needed to support a product design, we can help from registration to renewal management.
Enforcement of registered designs
One day, you may need to contest or enforce a design registration. Infringement of design rights is a potential threat, one which we can support you through. With decades of litigation, litigation support and litigation-avoidance experience, and partners qualified as design litigators, we offer a full litigation service.
Renewing registered designs
Never miss design registration renewal with our convenient renewal service. By the way, even if we don’t manage your registrations, you can still use this service. We are flexible to your needs from registered design advice to design renewal management.
How will design registration work for you?
