Many professionals working in design still rely on copyright protection for new designs. Unfortunately, this is often not enough, as copyright protection requires a certain threshold of originality, which is rarely met by functional objects.
It often goes unnoticed that design can be used as a powerful branding element to stand out across very different industries. This newly developed design, a result of product development, should also be protected so that investments made in development and design are not lost to competitors.
The EU design right is suitable for protecting design when the key market area for products is in Finland or more broadly within the European Union. A single application covers all 27 EU countries. Registration is typically granted within 1–2 weeks if the application meets the formal requirements.
The EU design legislation has existed for more than 20 years and is now being updated to better meet current needs. The first phase of the EU design reform entered into force on May 1, 2025, and the second phase will take effect on July 1, 2026. The new EU Design Directive is already in force and must be implemented in member states by December 9, 2027.
The reform aims to make design protection clearer and better support innovation in the EU internal market. It therefore offers even stronger opportunities to protect your design.
Previously, design publication could be prevented by simply not paying the publication fee. In the future, applicants must explicitly inform the office within a set deadline if they wish to abandon a design request marked for deferred publication.
Registered EU designs can now be marked with the letter “D” inside a circle (Ⓓ). This notifies third parties that the design is protected in the EU and can also serve as a quality signal in marketing.
Registered EU designs can still be renewed four times for five years each (up to a maximum of 25 years). However, renewal fees will increase, especially in later periods. The due date for renewal fees will now be calculated from the registration date, rather than by the end of the renewal month.
Now more than ever, it is worth utilizing EU design protection. Design rights help you stand out in the market, maintain a competitive edge, and provide legal tools to prevent unauthorized use, which reduces the economic impact of counterfeiting and copying.
Protected designs can also be licensed to others, creating new revenue streams and business opportunities.
EU design protection is a valuable strategic tool for harnessing the commercial potential of design.
Explore our design protection services and feel free to contact us!