[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11901″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”11902″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Our friends IPKat inform us of strident ambitions for design in France (here).

On January 1, France took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. A responsibility will include several actions on intellectual property.

Dids Macdonald, OBE., CEO of ACID said, “It is interesting and very encouraging to see the French Government taking a lead on designs and that under the French Presidency they will examine industrial designs. For too long, designs nationally and internationally have been the poor relations of other IP rights which seems unbelievable given that designs contribute in the UK to £85.2 billion to the UK’s GVA and 1.69 people are employed in design and design skills.”

This coincides with the introduction of a survey on designs from the UK IPO before a Calls for Views where much is needed in terms of reform. Ten years after the Hargreaves Review UK designers have still been neglected with meaningful policy which will assist them in the cost-effective protection and enforcement of design copying.

ACID has long been a proponent of legal clarification with the  development of 3D technologies. The exponential threat of 3D technologies not being supported by adequate design law together with the necessity for provisions for the simultaneous publication of unregistered design rights. Following Brexit for example, UK designers lost the valuable protection of EU27 unregistered Community rights.

Other plans include

The Commission’s Proposal to review, the ‘Informed User’ adoption of Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA was proposed by the Commission in December 2020.

ACID would like to thank our friends the IPKat for bringing this to our attention. For the full and comprehensive report see here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]