Council Regulation (EC) on Community Design
In December 2001, the Member States of the European Union agreed on a regulation creating a community design. The regulation creates a system in which a single design application can give protection throughout the European Community. There are two types of community design right:
- A registered right, which gives monopoly protection to original designs for up to 25 years.
- An unregistered right, which gives protection against deliberate copying of designs for up to three years.
The unregistered design right has been available since 6 March 2002, and the registered design right since 1 April 2003. Applicants for registered Community designs must apply to the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM).
