European Design - RCD (Registered Community Design)

Filing of a European design application is a very fast and inexpensive way of protecting a design in Europe. The RCD covers all 27 EU member states and may be granted to protect a design, like a product shape or pattern, a few weeks after an application is filed. The European design is directly enforceable in each EU member state and the area of protection increases each time the EU enlarges. The RCD has equal effect throughout the European Community. If there is no particular reason to file national design applications, the European design system should be used.

European design protection is in many ways complementary to the European trademark (CTM). Logos, colors, ornamentation etc. are often eligible for protection under both systems. While trademark registration may become the more valuable intellectual property right in a longer perspective, the European design has the advantage that registration is granted very quickly. Therefore, the RCD is great tool to use before introducing a new design to the market, as it lowers the risk of infringement and prevents immediate copying of your design, whether it is a clothing article, a utility design, a graphical interface or any other design type.

To be registered as a European design, the design must be new. The design will be considered new for one year after disclosure, which means that a European design application must be filed within that period.