By equating intellectual property (IP) rights solely with patents and trademarks, businesses often overlook the incredible potential of design rights. Design rights are not only simpler and more cost-effective to obtain, but they also work in harmony with trademarks and patents. They are crucial in building a robust IP portfolio and should not be overlooked when launching new products. Owing to the fast-paced 3-D printed product iterations, it is all the more important to seek protection for new designs for a product as a whole or in parts, as well as for 3D printers themselves.
Susan Bradley shares trends and insights with the readers of TCT magazine covering a review of in-force design registrations at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) using “3D Printers” as the “indication of product”.
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Design rights in 3D-printed products
...compared to the 196,639 trade marks filed at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) in 2021, only 72,157 registered design applications were filed. This may be because registered designs have traditionally been associated with creative industries, such as fashion and graphics.
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