Design Rights Solicitors
Intellecutal Property
- The protection of industrial designs and design patents.
- Help on design registration and enforcement against infringement.
Legal Protection for Your Product Designs, Backed by Commercial Know-How
Your product’s appearance is a genuine business asset. Whether you are an SME bringing a new product range to market, a brand owner protecting your visual identity, or a manufacturer defending against copycat competitors, Gurve Legal’s design rights solicitors in London provide the specialist advice you need to protect what you have built.
We act for business owners, directors, and product companies at every stage: from registration and strategy through to enforcement and dispute resolution. Our approach is commercial and straightforward, focused on keeping your designs protected and your business moving forward.
Design rights law can be deceptively complex. The rules governing registered and unregistered protection differ significantly, and the consequences of getting it wrong, whether you are enforcing rights you do not fully own or failing to register before a competitor does, can be costly. We help you navigate those risks from the outset.
Our Design Rights Services
Registered Design Rights
Registering your design provides the strongest form of protection, covering both 2D and 3D designs for up to 25 years (renewable every five years). Our solicitors guide you through the registration process with the UK Intellectual Property Office and, where appropriate, the European Union Intellectual Property Office or via WIPO for wider international coverage.
- Assessing eligibility and registrability
- Preparing and filing applications with the UK IPO
- International and EU registration routes
- Priority filing strategy across jurisdictions
- Renewals and portfolio management
Unregistered Design Rights
Unregistered design rights arise automatically when you create an original three-dimensional design, providing protection for up to 15 years from creation or 10 years from first commercial sale. Supplementary unregistered design right, covering 2D and 3D designs made public in the UK, provides additional protection for three years. We help you understand what automatic protection you already have and where registration would significantly strengthen your position.
- Establishing and evidencing when rights arose
- Advising on the scope of unregistered protection
- Assessing whether supplementary unregistered design right applies
- Guidance on design marking and documentation
Design Ownership and Contracts
One of the most common and costly disputes in design law arises from uncertainty over who owns a design. If your in-house design team or a freelance designer created work on a commission basis, the rules on ownership may not work as you expect. Our commercial contracts team works alongside our IP solicitors to ensure ownership is clearly established and legally protected from the outset.
- Design assignment agreements
- Contractor and freelancer IP clauses
- Employee IP policies and contracts
- Confidentiality and NDA protection during design development
Design Right Enforcement
If a competitor is copying your product design, swift legal action is often essential to prevent lasting commercial damage. We advise business owners and brand managers on the most effective strategy for enforcement, from cease and desist letters and negotiated settlements through to court proceedings at the Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court. Our enforcement and anti-counterfeiting work extends to online infringement, including counterfeit product listings and cross-border copying.
- Cease and desist letters
- Negotiated settlements and out-of-court resolution
- IPEC and High Court proceedings
- Interim injunctions to stop ongoing infringement
- Online takedown and platform enforcement
Defending Design Right Claims
If your business is facing an allegation of design right infringement, taking legal advice quickly is critical. We assess the validity of the claim, identify available defences, and work to resolve matters in a way that protects your commercial interests and minimises disruption. You can also find broader support through our IP disputes team for matters that extend beyond design rights alone.
- Assessing the strength and validity of claims made against you
- Prior art and design freedom analysis
- Negotiating settlements and licence arrangements
- Representation in infringement proceedings
Design Licensing and Commercial Exploitation
A registered design is not just a defensive tool; it is a commercial asset that can generate revenue. We help businesses structure licensing arrangements that allow others to use your designs commercially, under terms that protect your ownership and deliver value. This sits alongside our wider IP licensing and transfer service for businesses looking to commercialise their intellectual property.
- Drafting and negotiating design licence agreements
- Exclusive and non-exclusive licensing structures
- Design assignment and sale
- IP due diligence for transactions and investment rounds
Why Choose Gurve Legal
Commercial Focus on Business Owners and Product Companies
Our design rights advice is built around the needs of SMEs, product businesses, and brand owners, not consumers or individuals. We understand the commercial pressures behind a design protection decision, whether that is speed to market, budget constraints, or the risk of a competitor undercutting you with a copied product. You get advice that is grounded in business reality, not legal theory.
Both Sides of Every Dispute
We act for businesses enforcing their design rights and for businesses defending against infringement claims. This dual experience means we understand both sides of the argument and can give you an honest assessment of your position, whether you are pursuing a claim or facing one. That practical perspective shapes the advice we give and the strategies we recommend.
IP Protection Joined Up Across Your Business
Design rights rarely exist in isolation. A product may be protected by a registered design, a trade mark, copyright, and confidential information agreements all at once. Our IP team covers the full range of intellectual property, from trade mark registration and copyright protection to trade secrets, so your protection is coordinated rather than piecemeal.
Plain Advice, No Unnecessary Complexity
Design rights law involves technical rules and nuanced distinctions between different types of protection. We explain your options clearly, in plain English, so you can make informed decisions without needing a law degree to follow the advice. Our goal is to give you the information you need to act confidently and protect your business effectively.
Speak to Our Design Rights Solicitors Today
Whether you are looking to register a new design, respond to an infringement, or get your IP ownership agreements in order, our team is ready to help. We work with SMEs, product businesses, and brand owners across a wide range of sectors, providing practical and commercially focused legal support.
Get in touch today for a free initial consultation.