Design Search and Registration

How it works
This web site describes the design search and registration process, collects all the necessary information from you, and takes your application online. But the design search and registration process, unlike the trademark search and registration process, is not online. The design needs to be physically delivered to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), so you’ll have to email the design to us; we will then print it and mail it directly to the IPO. We will follow up to confirm they have received it, and that the process is underway. Designs are registered in a specific geographic area, and it is possible to file for multiple unrelated designs on the same application; we offer a discount for multiple designs.

EU or UK only
You’ll need to decide whether to search and register your design for protection in the UK, or apply for EU registration and coverage, which includes the UK, but is more expensive. The pricing for both is set out below.

The Process
A design specialist at the IPO has up to two months to consider the application, and decide whether it infringes on another design or whether it should be granted. If the officer decides that infringement is possible, we will be told and will communicate that to you. You then have three months to convince the officer (with our help of course!) that it should be registered. We’ll bring our legal resources to bear to provide a clear and informed opinion to the IPO, and ensure that your insight and knowledge relative to the design is brought to bear.

If we have not cautioned you that the IPO may present an objection, and it does, we will refund our fees to you. We will not, however, refund the fees paid to the registrar. If the registration process results in a dispute, we will not act on your behalf, but will refer you to a UK registered trademark lawyer. Of course, if the officer decides against your application, you do have legal recourse, and in this instance we will refer you to an appropriate lawyer.

As with any of our services, we can answer your questions on email, or using our Live Support chat facility. If necessary, we will refer your questions to our legal resources. And, as with the trademark search and registration process, we will utilise our CRM system to communicate with you and the IPO officer, and copy this correspondence into your CRM account so we can track and manage the whole process efficiently and effectively, until the process has been completed.

You can download the application form here, or click on the icon below to order online

For additional information visit our Reading Room.

*VAT as applicable not included. Terms and conditions apply.

*VAT as applicable not included. Terms and conditions apply