As of 1 May 2025, the first phase of a raft of reforms to the EU design system has come into
force, modernising and expanding the scope of protection available to design right owners.
Key changes include:
• “Community designs” are now called “European Union designs”, whether registered or unregistered (an overdue update, given the European Community changed name to the European Union in 1993!)
• The definition of “design” now includes animations, including movement and transitions in the appearance of products.
• The definition of “product” itself has been expanded to include non-physical items, such as digital interfaces and virtual goods. This is a big step forward for digital businesses / product designers.
• The “unity of class” requirement has been removed, allowing applicants to register designs (up to 50) across multiple product classes in a single application, which reduces fees for multiple applications.
• A new “repair clause” means design rights no longer cover spare parts used solely to fix and restore the original appearance of complex products (like cars), provided the part is only used for repair, matches the original look, and is visible during normal use.
• Design owners can now block counterfeit goods in transit through the EU and take
action against software used to copy protected designs, including via 3D printing.
• Design holders can now display the “ Ⓓ ” symbol on their registered designs, indicating that the product is protected by a design registration.
Starting 1 July 2026, design applications will also be able to include new file types (such as MP4) and the current 7-view image limit will be abolished, giving more flexibility to represent designs, especially those that are digital or complex.
With these reforms now in motion, we recommend reviewing existing EU design portfolios and filing strategies, especially for those in the fields of fashion, tech, gaming and industrial design.
If you would like support in evaluating your current protection or aligning your design filing strategy with the new rules, please contact us and we would be happy to assist.