The UK Intellectual Property Designs’ Team played an important role in the recent Riyadh Design Law Treaty, signed under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Hailed to streamline international design protection, it has standardised certain registration procedures across member states. The benefits for UK designer are as follows. ACID’s friends, IPKat and the Marques team have summarised it well.

The Design Law Treaty was signed on 22 November by WIPO member states.

Director General Daren Tang said, “After 20 years, and two long weeks – we made history today, and we welcome the 28^th WIPO Treaty – the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. Let this conference inspire us to a world where innovation knows no borders, where creativity flourishes and where IP serves as a powerful force for good. Together, we’ve made history. Together, let us continue to do so for the good of innovators and creators everywhere”.

You can view the announcement video.

What does this mean for UK designers?

Simplified Global Protection: UK designers can now protect their designs internationally with a standardised application process, eliminating the need to navigate varying national requirements【6】【8】.

Reducing Costs: By giving access to electronic filing and exchanges of priority documents, the Treaty reduces administrative costs, making global design protection more accessible, especially for small businesses【7】【8】.

Deferment of Publication: This will give Increased flexibility by allowing a 12-month grace period for public disclosures which will allow designers more time to secure protection. Additionally, options to delay publication of designs for up to six months provide greater strategic control【7】【9】.

Confirmation of “Term”: A unified term of at least 15 years for design rights and relief measures to avoid rights loss should encourage innovation by ensuring robust and assured protection【8】【9】.

Dids Macdonald OBE., Chair and Co-founder of Anti Copying in Design (ACID) said, “We wholeheartedly welcome all changes to help UK designers to expand internationally and protect their intellectual property more effectively, so this is a unified move to achieve this, However, it remains a fact that the majority of designers rely on unregistered rights and if they do register their designs, sadly access to affordable and timely enforcement, still remains a challenge. It also remains a consistent challenge for SMEs to enforce their rights internationally”.

ACID made a submission to the pre-Treaty Consultation and used the opportunity to raise “general” design issues more as education and awareness on the bigger “design business” of economic and societal benefits and challenges rather than just technical details.