IPO announces Consultation to significantly reduce filing and renewal fees for UK registered designs.
Commenting on the Consultation, Dids Macdonald, OBE., Anti Copying in Design’s CEO said,
“ACID welcomes this positive step which, if adopted, will see a significant reduction in design and renewal fees and will encourage more UK designers to register their designs to give them stronger protection. However, it is really important that if designers register their designs Government matches these reforms with a much more cost and time effective process for access to justice if their designs are infringed.”
ACID urges all designers to respond to the consultation which should not take up too much time. After all, it is in all our best interests! The closing date is 29 January 2015, so hurry. To respond to view the consultation
here:
Our friends the IPO say,
“In 2011, Professor Hargreaves highlighted the need to focus on designs in the UK. Intellectual property law needed to adapt to our changing world, particularly to reflect digital developments. The government has consulted with the design community. You shared your views on what would make the system better for registered designs. Making sure it meets the needs of the designers now and in the future in the UK.
The government is developing a new digital service for design customers. This will streamline the registration and renewal process and make it easier for businesses to use. The introduction of the new online registration will lead to a reduction in our costs. The government needs to pass on these cost savings to our customers. This consultation seeks your views on the proposed changes to fees for the registered design service”
For a snapshot of the proposed changes to online applications to register a design:
To register ONE design – £50
To register up to 10/20 designs in one application £70/£90
Each additional 10 designs in one application £20
One Application containing up to 100 designs £250
There is another scale of cost reductions for renewals
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT APPLYING FOR A REGISTERED DESIGN IS A NATIONAL RIGHT AND IF YOU WANT PROTECTION IN THE EU IN 28 MEMBER STATES YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR A COMMUNITY REGISTERED DESIGN:
www.oami.europa.eu
