What are Design Rights?
A right that applies to original, non-commonplace designs and protects any aspect of the shape or configuration of manufactured items. It protects only in the event of copying.
Key Issues
- Must be original and non commonplace
- Lasts for 15 years after creation of the design, or 10 years from when first marketed
- Only the first five years are exclusive after which licenses must be granted. Really useful in the UK.
- EU equivalent protection lasts only 3 years.
How do design rights add value?
By providing cheap, automatic protection, and do not need to be registered, therefore are simple to apply, but are restricted in their use.