How to register a design
How to file a design registration application in the UK or in the EU, and where to get help with the process
You can register a design in a number of ways, depending on where you want the registration to apply.
Registering a design in the UK
You will have to file an application with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to register your design in the UK. You can.
To register your design, you will need to:
- include up to 12 illustrations (or more if you are applying by post)
- pay a registration fee
- have a credit or debit card to complete the payment (if you're applying online)
See how to .
How much does it cost to register a design?
The application fee for design registration is:
- £50 for your first design
- £70 for up to 10 designs
- £90 for up to 20 designs
- £110 for up to 30 designs
- £130 for up to 40 designs
- £150 for up to 50 designs
Find out more about registered designs.
Registering a design in the EU
Applications for registered community designs (RCDs) are filed at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The easiest way to file an application is to apply online, although other ways are possible.
Your application must include:
- a depiction of the design, eg a drawing or photograph
- a fee payment - from €350 for a single design
Learn how to or read more about registered community designs.
Some areas of design law have been affected by EU Exit from 1 January 2021. For current information on these, see: changes to unregistered designs from 1 January 2021 and changes to EU and international designs and trade mark protection from 1 January 2021.
Registering a design overseas
The Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs allows you to simultaneously apply for a design in many different countries or territories through a single application. Read more about the .
From 1 January 2021, protected international design registrations designating the EU are no longer valid in the UK. These rights have been automatically replaced by UK rights. For current information on these, see: international EU protected designs after 1 January 2021.
Advice on design registration
Design registration can be complex - trade mark attorneys and patent attorneys are lawyers who specialise in this area. or a .
You can also seek advice about intellectual property (IP) protection from .