Registered Community Designs

Filing Requirements

Examination

Registration

Priority

Registered Community Designs

A design can be protected through the whole of the European Union by way of registration.

Filing Requirements

the design must be filed as drawings or photographs showing all its features, or as  a specimen

a description of the product for classification purposes

the name and address of the legal owner of the mark

Examination

a filing number and date are confirmed, provided that various formalities have been completed

the Community Office examines your application and determines whether the design is registrable

if the Office raises any objections, you are given an opportunity to contest them

the name of the designer

one can defer publication for a number of months to keep the design out of the public domain

Registration

If your application is successful, the design is registered in the Community Designs Register, and details published in the Designs Journal.

Priority

You can claim ‘priority’ from another application. This means that within a six month priority period from the date of filing of a first application for the same design one can claim the same date of filing as this first application.

For example, if the UK is the first application filed for your design, this can be used to obtain priority for subsequent applications within the priority period. This can be a very useful way to start with one application and slowly build up your portfolio, thereby spreading the cost of a registration programme.