EU Registered Design
Short answer: an EU registered design is fast and cheap relative to what you get — it typically registers within one to two weeks, protects the appearance of the product across all EU member states, and can be renewed up to 25 years. EUIPO does not examine novelty or individual character, so the right is only as strong as your pre-filing search, and the deferred-publication option is worth using when you are still testing the market.
How we work
Search earlier EU designs and your own public history; the right is vulnerable to later invalidity if prior designs exist
Show the features you claim; use dashed lines for elements you do not want to claim
Publish immediately for enforcement, or defer publication while the product is still being tested
Once formalities pass, registration is published and the term starts from the filing date
Use the registered number for platform takedowns, then renew in five-year blocks up to 25 years
What you need to prepare
- Clear images of the design from several angles
- Product description and Locarno class
- Priority claim from an earlier filing, if any
- Applicant entity details
- Designer statement where ownership must be clarified
Frequently asked questions
EUIPO does not examine novelty. Is the registration still worth having?
Yes — for sellers the value is speed and evidence. A registered design gives you a dated, official right that platforms accept in a takedown, while an unregistered Community design requires you to prove copying and a shorter protection window. The trade-off is that a registration can be invalidated later, so run a prior-design search before filing and keep your creation evidence.
Can one application contain several designs?
A multiple application is possible for a set of designs in the same Locarno class, which suits product families and colour or size variants. For genuinely different products, separate filings are cleaner and cheaper to manage.
Does an EU design still protect me in the UK?
No. The EU design has no effect in the UK after Brexit; a separate UK registered design is required, and the UK route is also fast and low-cost.
Want an assessment first?
Tell us the product and target marketplaces and we will give you a registrability opinion, a realistic timeline and a cost breakdown. Files can be submitted within 48 hours of confirmation.
