Design right - automatic protection for product design

Design Right is a UK innovation in IP protection which has subsequently been adopted in EU law. Briefly it automatically protects the three-dimensional product and component design based on original design documents.  For the UK, it replaced the extension of copyright in design drawings to cover products made in accordance with those drawings. 

​Design right can last up to 15 years in the UK, less in the EU. Bear in mind that, in contrast, a registered design can be kept in force for up to 25 years in UK or EU albeit at relatively low cost.

Two notes of caution:

First, copying needs to be established.

Second, a designer needs to be able to prove the origin of the design, by producing design documents, and should mark a product and or its literature to indicate that design rights exists e.g "Design Right SUPER COMPANY 2018". 

Contact me to discuss Design Right in more detail