Activities > Designs

Ornemental creation

A design is a title to industrial property for protecting an ornamental creation, i.e. the esthetic characteristics of a product that give it a particular appearance.

 In theory, any ornamental creation is suitable for being protected by a design, regardless of the sector of activity to which it belongs.

Territory

The corresponding rights are acquired by making an application with the competent authority of the country(ies) concerned.  Nevertheless, it should be observed that, under certain conditions, unregistered Community design rights also enable rights to be acquired over a creation, but without filing an application.

Duration

A design can be kept in force for twenty-five years from the date of filing by periodically paying renewal fees (this duration is common to many countries).