History of Designs
The law of designs has a long history dating back to the latter part of the 18th century. Originally introduced to protect the designing and printing of linens and cottons, design law has been extended over the years to cover functional as well as decorative articles.
Textiles, the start of Industrial Design Protection
The first Act dealing with copyright in industrial designs was the Designing & Printing of Linen Act in 1787
The Introduction of Registration
From 1839, a series of laws came about, gradually extending the boundaries of design protection.
The Designs Registry joins the UK Patent Office
In 1875 the powers and duties of the Board of Trade under the various Designs Acts were transferred to the United Kingdom (UK) Patent Office.
