Skip to main content
Menu

Community designs covering the EU

A Community design gives protection in all EU countries. This means you can get protection throughout the whole of the EU by filing just one application.

A Community design can be registered or unregistered. To obtain an unregistered Community design right, you need not take any measures to register it, but your design must nevertheless meet the requirements of novelty and individual character set out for Community designs.

An unregistered Community design is given protection for a period of three years from the date on which the design was made available to the public. The scope of protection for an unregistered Community design is more limited than for a registered Community design.

Community designs are registered by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain.

Who can apply?

In practice, almost anyone can apply for a Community design.

How can I apply?

File your application for a registered Community design directly with the EUIPO. The easiest way is to use the online application form. Pay the application fee to the EUIPO's account.

You must pay the registration fee and the publication fee before filing the application. If the application includes a request for deferment, the deferment fee replaces the publication fee. The EUIPO will not issue requests for payment.

How long will the Community design be valid?

Your registered Community design will remain valid for five years from the date of application. You can renew it four times, so the Community design can be valid for a maximum of 25 years.

Which countries are covered by the registration?

The registration gives protection in all member countries of the EU. Read more on the EUIPO website.Open link in a new tab

What does it cost?

See the fees on the EUIPO websiteOpen link in a new tab.

Designview database

Use the Designview service to search for Community designs and applications recorded in the EU’s Community design register. The service is free of charge. Go to the search page.Open link in a new tab


Printable version Latest update 24.07.2019