Design & Model Law

Get protection for your designs and models

Whether you are a startup, SME, large company, or even an amateur artist, protecting the ornamental shape and contours of a product you create can add significant value.

What is design & model law?

The protection of designs and models involves securing a title that safeguards the “design” or appearance of an industrial or handmade product, or a part of it, including its lines, contours, colors, shapes, and textures.

Whether it’s the design of a product’s packaging, the look of furniture, or a vehicle, the possibilities are vast as long as the product meets protection requirements.

Design & model law is also a key component of fashion and luxury law, where aesthetic innovation and distinctive design are crucial for standing out in a highly competitive market. Establishing a robust protection strategy from the early stages of creation is essential to avoid potential conflicts in this highly litigious field. This involves not only filing designs and models with relevant industrial property offices but also clearly defining ownership rights from the outset of the creations.

Why register designs & models?

The appearance of your products is a significant commercial asset, distinguishing you from competitors and building your identity.

Designs and models are industrial property titles that grant a five-year exclusive exploitation monopoly on a product’s appearance. This exclusive right can be renewed in successive five-year periods, providing continuous protection for up to twenty-five years.

The appearance of your product can be protected by a design & model and, if it is an original work, also qualify for copyright protection. This dual protection is common in the fashion world.

Additionally, graphic elements like logos can be protected by registering them as trademarks.

Under what conditions?

To register a design or model, your creation must be both new and have a unique character. This means it should not evoke a sense of déjà vu among informed public members nor have a common appearance in the relevant sector. To maintain its novelty, it is crucial not to publicly disclose or share your creation in any form before its official registration as a design or model.

Ensuring the newness of your creation involves conducting a prior rights search to verify that no identical or very similar designs or models have been previously disclosed. If similar elements exist, your creation may not qualify for protection.

Dreyfus, in collaboration with its global network of specialized intellectual property lawyers, can assist you at every step of the design and model protection process.

Protect your creations with our design & model expertise

Dreyfus offers its internationally renowned expertise to clients

  • Design and model registration

    We assist in registering your designs and models to ensure effective and recognized legal protection nationally and internationally.

  • Portfolio management

    We provide portfolio management services, including renewal tracking and strategy implementation to enhance your creations.

  • Design and model litigation

    We represent clients in design and model disputes, including infringement actions, opposition procedures, and nullity actions.

  • Protection and defense strategy

    We develop customized strategies to protect your designs and models against unauthorized copying and use.

  • Compliance and innovation advice

    Our experts advise on regulatory compliance and best practices for safe innovation.

  • Monitoring and surveillance

    We conduct continuous monitoring to detect any rights violations and act quickly to enforce them.

FAQ on design & model rights