Fiducia TogetherDesign right
Protection for the appearance of a product. Registered and unregistered versions.
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.
What it means
A registered design protects the appearance — shape, configuration, decoration — of a product for up to twenty-five years. Unregistered design right arises automatically and is shorter and narrower.
Why it matters
For anything where the look sells it — furniture, packaging, textiles, consumer goods — it is the relevant protection, and registration is inexpensive.
What it looks like in practice
Registration is quick and cheap compared with a patent. Novelty matters, so file before disclosure, though there is a twelve-month grace period for your own disclosures.
What to watch out for
Relying on unregistered rights, which are shorter, require copying to be proved, and differ between UK and EU since Brexit.
Where to get proper advice
The IPO's design service. A trade mark or patent attorney for portfolios.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.