What is a design?
Design protection covers the outward appearance of your product, including decoration, lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and materials. If you have a new shape or pattern for a product, you may be able to protect it as a design.
In the United Kingdom designs are protected by three legal rights;
Registered designs
Registered designs give you the right to stop anyone copying or using your design in the United Kingdom for up to 25 years.
Design right
Design right is a free, automatic right that you get when you create an original design. It gives you the right to stop anyone copying your design for up to 15 years.
Copyright
If your design is artistic and you do not intend to mass produce it, you will receive automatic copyright protection against illegal copying. Copyright also protects any drawings or plans of your design.
