Page 27 - BOSS Today Issue 21

“The immediate fear

is that - once it is out in
the market - all your

competitors will copy

your idea.”

THE SINCEREST

FLATTERY?

Worked hard on s we saw at the BOSS United Kingdom Designs must create a different overall
AAwards, BOSS members Registry, which is a part of the impression on an informed user.
a new product? are an innovative and creative UK Intellectual Property Office. Although a design
Make sure you bunch of people, coming A UK Design Registration covers application can be filed up
to one year after the design
up with all sorts of new and
England, Scotland, Wales and
protect your unique products, whether to fill Northern Ireland and the Isle of has been made public, it
a customer’s requirements or Man. is preferable for a design
investment! simply to bring a new product application to be filed as soon
to market. However, having What’s New? as the design is created. Once
designed and created your new It grants the owner an exclusive accepted, a Design Registration
and remarkable product, the right over the appearance of can last up to 25 years,
immediate fear is that - once the whole or part of a product although the registration has
it is out in the market - all your resulting from the features of, to be renewed every five years
competitors will copy your in particular, the lines, contours, within the 25 year period.
idea and get the benefit of all colours, shape, texture and And don’t forget, you
your hard work in research and materials of the product or its may be entitled to some tax
development. ornamentation. credits for all that research and
So, before you launch your Only new designs with development work that you did
new product into the market, individual character can be in coming up with your new
you should consider registering protected by registration. designs!
your new design under the To be accepted as ‘new’, the
Copyright Designs and Patents design is required to differ from n FOR FURTHER
Act. known designs by more than INFORMATION CONTACT
Applications for registration ‘immaterial details’. To have THE BOSS LEGAL TEAM ON
of a design are filed at the individual character, a design 0845 450 1565

February/March 2014 | BOSS TODAY 27

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