The European Commission has initiated a public consultation to collect stakeholders’ evidence on the legal protection of design in the EU. The objective of this process is to evaluate if existing rules are still fit for purpose. The result may feed into an impact assessment and possible amendment to the current legislation.
There are currently two set of legislations that regulate design protection in the EU. The Design Directive deals with the legal protection of designs. The Community Design Regulation focuses on community design. Both are vital for design protection and encourage innovation and development.
Due to this important role, the European Commission is considering the need for improvements modernisation and deeper harmonisation at the EU level. Industry, business and individuals should participate in the call that will stay open till the end of March 2019.