Design protection
The aesthetic property right

A two-dimensional or three-dimensional design can be protected by a design right. Typical products for a design are, for instance, pieces of furniture, luminaires and body shapes but also extensive patterns, such as wallpapers or fabrics where their particularity constitutes the design.

The design to be protected must be new and demonstrate peculiarity. In Germany and the EU, a registered design is an unexamined and relatively cost-effective registered right allowing for quick and comprehensive protection of a design. At the same time, a registered design offers protection both against targeted imitations and against products infringing on the design accidentally.

In view of the large number of product imitations or even cheap counterfeits on the market, it is very important to have appropriate design protection for products. This will offer leverage both against products of domestic origin and imports from abroad.