Other IP rights · Designs
Protect the shape and look of your products
A design protects the outward appearance of a product: its shape, contours, colours, texture or ornamentation, not how it works. You can register it at OSIM for Romania, at EUIPO for the whole European Union, or through the Hague System for several countries. Brand New IP checks novelty, prepares the views and files the application, for protection of up to 25 years, renewed every 5 years.
We register designs at OSIM, EU designs at EUIPO and international designs through the Hague System, for products, packaging and interfaces.
Your first consultation is free.
Who it’s for
This is for you if…
- Makers of furniture, packaging, jewellery, textiles or design objects
- Designers who want protection before a launch or a trade fair
- Online sellers worried about cheap copies of their products
- Teams creating user interfaces, icons or typefaces
What’s included
What we do for you
- Checking the design's novelty and individual character
- Choosing the territory: OSIM, EU design at EUIPO, the Hague System
- Preparing drawings or photographs that meet the office's requirements
- Listing the products under the Locarno Classification
- Filing, following the procedure and obtaining the certificate
- Multiple applications when you protect a whole collection
- Tracking renewals every 5 years, up to 25 years
How it works
The steps, one by one
Step 1: Talk about the product
You show us the design and tell us where and when you plan to sell it. We check whether you've already made it public.
Step 2: Search and strategy
We look for similar earlier designs and choose the territory and type of application.
Step 3: The views
We decide which views are needed, drawings or photos, because they define exactly what is protected.
Step 4: Filing
We file the application and deal with any objections from the office.
Typical time: Roughly a few weeks at EUIPO, a few months at OSIM
Step 5: Certificate and renewals
You receive the certificate, and we note the renewal dates every 5 years.
Designs
Already shown the product?
A design has to be new on the filing date. EU and Romanian law still give you a 12-month grace period: if you made the design public yourself, say at a trade fair, on Instagram or on your website, you can still file within 12 months of that first disclosure.
In the EU, an unfiled design also gets automatic protection as an unregistered design for 3 years from first disclosure in the Union. It only protects you against copying, not against designs created independently, and it's harder to prove. If the product matters to your business, registration is the safer choice.
Documents
What we need from you
- Photos or drawings of the product from every relevant angle
- The list of products the design applies to
- The date and place of first disclosure, if the design is already public
- The designer's name and, if it isn't you, the contract transferring the rights to you
Frequently asked questions
Questions about designs
What does a registered design protect?
It protects the outward appearance of a product or part of it: its lines, contours, shape, colours, texture, materials and ornamentation. It doesn't protect the technical function or the idea behind the product; for a new technical solution you need a patent or a utility model. Packaging, graphic symbols, icons and user interfaces can also be protected.
How long does design protection last?
At both OSIM and EUIPO, a registered design is protected for 5 years from the filing date and can be renewed for further 5-year periods, up to a maximum of 25 years. After that, the design falls into the public domain and anyone can use it. We keep track of the renewal dates for you.
Should I register my design at OSIM or EUIPO?
OSIM gives you protection in Romania only. An EU design registered at EUIPO covers every member state with one application. If you sell, or plan to sell, in other EU countries, EUIPO usually works out better. For markets outside the EU, the Hague System run by WIPO lets you file one international application covering several countries.
Can I register a design I've already posted on Instagram?
Yes, as long as you file within 12 months of the first disclosure made by you or with your consent. That's the grace period under EU and Romanian law. After 12 months, even your own post destroys the design's novelty. Some countries outside the EU have stricter rules, so plan the filing before launch if you sell internationally.
Can I register several designs in one application?
Yes. OSIM and EUIPO both accept multiple applications covering several designs, for example a furniture collection or a packaging range. Each office has its own rules on how many designs you can group and how the fees are calculated. We'll tell you what can go together before filing.
Related services
- PatentsWe help you find out whether your invention is patentable and coordinate the filing at OSIM, the European Patent Office or via PCT, with patent specialists.
- CopyrightWe explain what copyright protects, how to build proof of prior creation, how to transfer or license the rights and what to do when your work is copied.
- EU trademark registration (EUIPO)We file your EU trademark with EUIPO and follow it through to registration. A fixed fee with one Nice class included.
Let’s talk about your trademark.
The first consultation is free. We’ll tell you honestly what can be protected, how and what it costs, before you pay anything.