UK IP Office Proposes Overhaul of Design ‘Patents’ System

The UK Government has launched a consultation, open through this November, aiming to begin an overhaul of the country’s design protection system. Central to the proposals are measures to combat abuse—such as registering designs that were not actually created by the applicant—and to simplify the patchwork of overlapping rights. The reforms also aim to ensure design protection keeps pace with digital innovation and post‑Brexit realities.

For technology entrepreneurs, the key takeaway is that the UK appears likely to be moving toward a more rigorous, transparent design rights regime. This means stronger protection for genuine innovators, but also stricter scrutiny of applications. Entrepreneurs will need to carefully navigate these changing rules to avoid procedural pitfalls, which may include preparing their filings to meet higher standards of novelty and ownership, and positioning their portfolios for both protection and monetisation in a more robust system.

To discuss how to prepare your IP strategy for these reforms, please contact a member of Synchrony IP.

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