After you apply

Examining your application

Once we receive your application and fee, an examiner will check it and decide if we need to object to it.

They will then send you a letter with the results of the examination (normally within two months of us receiving your application). This letter will tell you if your design is acceptable.

What happens if the examiner objects to your design?

If the examiner objects to your design, you will have up to 2 months to try to persuade us that the objections are not justified; or overcome them in some other way.

What if I cannot overcome the objections?

You can either withdraw your application or we will write to you telling you that it has been refused.

We will also refuse your application if you do not reply to the examination report by the deadline that we give you.

What happens if the examiner does not object to my design or I overcome the objections?

We will;

• register your design in the United Kingdom Designs Register;
• publish your registration details in our Patents and Designs Journal; and
• publish your design illustrations in our 'Designs in View' publication.

Both the Patents and Designs Journal and 'Designs in View' are published every Wednesday.

Timeline