In today's rapidly changing business environment, where innovation plays a key role, the protection of intellectual property has become an indispensable part of successful business. In this context, the importance of design protection, a key segment of industrial property, is often overlooked. In this article, we find out why design registration and protection of product appearance is key to the long-term success of companies.

 

 

Design registration is a legal tool that allows companies to protect the visual appearance of their products. Often this form of protection is overlooked as companies prefer to focus on more obvious forms of intellectual property such as patents or copyrights. However, in order to maintain a competitive advantage, it is crucial to understand and take advantage of the opportunities that come with design registration.

 

 

In a world where consumer decisions are increasingly based on visual impressions, protecting the appearance of a product is becoming extremely important. Companies that invest in attractive design want to maintain their unique appearance and prevent unjustified copying. Design registration is key to this as it allows companies to actively protect their design identity.

 

 

Registration with the relevant intellectual property authority is key to obtaining design protection. In Slovenia, it is the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Slovenia (URSIL), in the European Union it is the Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and at the international level it is the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). In these procedures, it is necessary to provide clear visual representations of the product that we want to protect. The specificity and uniqueness of the elements presented are the key to successful registration and later the possibility of (possible) enforcement. The acquired right to a design lasts for 5 years from the date of application and can be extended up to 5 times (the total duration is a maximum of 25 years). The duration varies from country to country so this is worthwile checking with your selected IP agent.

 

 

Design registration is not just a formality, but enables the owner to actively protect his rights. This means that the owner of a registered design can file a lawsuit against those who try to exploit or copy the protected design. Active protection allows the company to maintain market share and effectively fight against unethical competition practices.

 

 

Companies that are aware of the importance of design registration gain a competitive advantage in the market. Consumers are increasingly turning to recognizable and unique brands, which means that maintaining the unique appearance of a product has a key influence on their decisions. Registered designs not only protect design innovation, but also promote consumer confidence.

 

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