The European Union’s recent reform of its design regulation marks a significant update to the legal framework for design protection. The reform provides greater legal security and coverage for rights holders against infringement. It also offers more accessible and cost-effective design protection. Additionally, it broadens the products eligible for design protection to include digital creations.
The reform simplifies the design and model registration procedures in the EU. One key simplification is the ability to include up to 50 designs in a single multiple application, without requiring all designs to belong to the same classification. This change results in reduced fees at the time of application. This reform is particularly relevant for industries such as automotive, where it will liberalize the market for spare parts.
