Intellectual Property Law · European Union
Protect the Design That Makes Your Product Stand Out
Customers often choose a product for how it looks — and competitors know it. We match you, free of charge, with an industrial designs lawyer who protects the appearance of your products across Europe every day.
- Product appearance & surface design
- Registered & unregistered rights
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
If your product’s look is part of its value, an industrial design is how you own it
Industrial design protection covers the appearance of a product — its shape, contours, patterns, colours and ornamentation — as distinct from how it works, which is the territory of patents. It is what lets a furniture maker, a fashion label, a consumer-electronics brand or a packaging designer stop competitors from selling products that look confusingly similar to theirs. In Europe, design rights can arise automatically in some cases, but registered protection typically offers a stronger, clearer and easier-to-enforce right across the markets you choose. Design law sits between the functional and the aesthetic: it does not protect technical features, but it does protect the visual impression that makes your product recognisable on a shelf or a screen. We match you with an industrial designs lawyer who can identify what is protectable in your products, secure the right registrations and act when a lookalike appears.
Why designs get copied
A distinctive design invites imitation — and imitations are hard to stop without a registered right.
Most designers find that out too late.
Copycats rarely copy the function; they copy the look. Without clear, registered protection, proving that a lookalike infringes is an uphill battle.
Lookalikes that dilute your brand
A competitor ships a product that is not identical but close enough to confuse buyers, riding on the reputation of your design. Without a registered right, proving infringement can turn on subjective comparisons that are slow and uncertain.
Designs disclosed before protection
Revealing your design publicly — at a trade fair, in a catalogue or on a crowdfunding page — before filing can, in many systems, destroy the novelty you need for registration, leaving you with no right to fall back on.
Not knowing which parts are protectable
Design rights cover appearance, not function, and some features are excluded by technical necessity. Mistaking what is protectable can lead you to file for the wrong things, or to miss the elements that actually deter copying.
What you get
An industrial designs lawyer who protects what makes your product yours
We only match you with lawyers who handle design rights, registration and enforcement for product designers and manufacturers.
Protectability review
Your lawyer identifies which visual elements of your products — shape, pattern, colour or a combination — can realistically be protected, and flags any features that are excluded for technical reasons.
Registered & unregistered strategy
Get a clear plan balancing registered design rights with any automatic unregistered protection available, so you hold the strongest possible position in your key markets at a sensible cost.
Filing & portfolio management
Your lawyer files and maintains your design registrations across the territories you need, managing renewals and priority claims so your rights stay current and enforceable.
Enforcement against copycats
When a lookalike appears, your lawyer assesses the visual similarity, sends the right demands and pursues infringement action where warranted, so imitators are stopped before they capture your market.
Coverage
Industrial designs lawyers across Europe
Design protection can be secured nationally or through the EU-wide system, and enforcement practice differs by country. We match designers and manufacturers with lawyers in the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Industrial designs — common questions
What does industrial design protection cover?
It typically covers the appearance of a product — its shape, contours, lines, colours, texture and ornamentation — but not its technical function. The key is that it protects the visual impression your product creates, which is what distinguishes it from a patent.
What is the difference between registered and unregistered design rights?
A registered design gives you a formal, renewable right that is generally easier to enforce, while some unregistered protection arises automatically in certain countries but is usually shorter and harder to rely on. Registration is usually the stronger option for a commercially important design.
Can I protect a design that is also functional?
You can protect the appearance of a functional product, but purely technical features that exist only to make it work are generally excluded from design protection — those may be a matter for patent law. A lawyer can help you separate the protectable look from the unprotected function.
How long does design protection last?
This varies by country and by whether the design is registered, with registered designs typically renewable up to a maximum of around 25 years in many European systems, subject to renewal fees. Unregistered rights are usually much shorter. Your lawyer can confirm the exact terms for your territory.
What should I do if someone sells a product that looks like mine?
Gather evidence of the similarity and the dates of use, then have a lawyer assess whether it creates the same overall impression as your protected design. Acting early and correctly matters — a premature or poorly framed claim can weaken your position.
Do I need to register my design before showing it publicly?
In most systems, disclosing your design before filing can destroy its novelty and prevent registration, so it is wise to file first or seek advice before any public launch, trade fair or online publication. Some limited grace periods exist in certain countries.
Free case review
A distinctive design is an asset — protect it before the copycats do
Tell us what you design and where you sell it, and we will connect you with an industrial designs lawyer who handles your product category every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.