The regulation introduces significant changes to the EU design protection system, modernizing the registration process and technical requirements. The key modifications include:
- Design applications must now be filed directly with the EU Intellectual Property Office, removing the previous option to submit through national offices
- Applications can include up to 50 designs in a single multiple application
- Physical specimens are no longer accepted – all designs must be submitted as digital representations
- Product descriptions are now limited to 100 words
- Mandatory classification of products according to the Locarno system
- Updated terminology, replacing “Community design” with “EU design” throughout
- New territorial references aligned with the European Economic Area (EEA)
The regulation also establishes new procedures for:
- Processing international design registrations
- Managing publication deferrals
- Handling electronic communications
- Maintaining the designs register
- Qualifying and registering professional representatives for design matters
Review of each of legal acts published today:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/73 of 17 January 2025 amending Regulation (EC) No 2245/2002 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 on Community designs
This Regulation amends the implementing rules for EU design protection system to align them with recent reforms in EU design legislation. It updates terminology and streamlines registration procedures for EU designs.The act primarily focuses on technical amendments to Regulation (EC) No 2245/2002, including changes in terminology from ‘Community design’ to ‘EU design’, alignment with the European Economic Area (EEA) territory references, and updates to rules about design applications and representations.The main structural changes include:
– Removal of the option to file specimens instead of design representations
– Deletion of the option to file EU design applications through national offices
– Updates to rules about multiple applications (up to 50 designs)
– New provisions for professional representatives in design matters
– Modified requirements for design descriptions and product classifications
– Updated rules for electronic communications and register entriesKey provisions for practical implementation:
– Applications must include clear representations of designs
– Product descriptions are limited to 100 words
– Products must be classified according to the Locarno classification
– New procedures for international registrations and their refusal
– Modified rules for publication after deferment
– Updated requirements for professional representatives, including their qualification and registration
