ARTICLE18 February 2021

Modernization of the design protection

It is called for a modernization of the design protection. The most important part is to also harmonize the protection of spare parts.

By the end of 2020, the European Commission opened two roadmaps. One roadmap concerned harmonization of geographical indication protection for non-agricultural products. The other one concerned a review of the design protection. The feedback period closed in the middle of January.

The harmonized design protection within the EU has been a success in many ways. Before the harmonized rules there were countries that had a copyright approach to the design protection, whereas other countries had a patent approach. Neither of those approaches were really fit for purpose. With the harmonized protection a protection with a design approach was created.

However, it is called for a modernization of the design protection. The most important part is to also harmonize the protection of spare parts. In the desire to create a more circular economy it is important that companies actively working with the design of spare parts can obtain a protection.

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Contact our EU Office

Address

Rue du Luxembourg 3
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Subscribe to our Swedish newsletter
Contact our EU Office

Address

Rue du Luxembourg 3
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Subscribe to our Swedish newsletter
Contact our EU Office

Address

Rue du Luxembourg 3
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Subscribe to our Swedish newsletter
Publisher and editor-in-chief Anna Dalqvist