Reviewing the designs framework: Call for views

Overview

An effective intellectual property (IP) system is vital to the government’s ambition for the UK to be the best place in the world to innovate. Great design helps UK products stand out, demonstrate quality, and find consumers in a competitive global marketplace.

In 2018 the Design Council reported that the design economy generated £85.2bn in gross value added (GVA) to the UK in 2016, equivalent to 7% of UK GVA. This demonstrates the importance of designs to the United Kingdom both now and in the future.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the government agency responsible for ensuring the designs framework enables rights holders to protect designs and enforce their rights. We want the IP system to be responsive to the changing needs of UK innovators, creators, businesses and consumers. As such, the IPO is carrying out a review to ensure the UK’s domestic designs framework is fit for the future. This will allow IP to continue incentivising innovation and contribute to the post-pandemic recovery as the UK builds back better.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU), the UK is no longer subject to EU law. There is also no longer a need for harmonisation with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). This gives the UK new flexibilities and opportunities to define the domestic design regime. As we negotiate trade deals with international partners, we want to ensure the UK system supports UK designers and encourages overseas investment in the UK. This will give the UK a competitive edge and allow designers to get the most from new opportunities.

Why your views matter

This call for views seeks views on opportunities to improve the designs system in the UK. We seek evidence on the potential to improve the designs systems’ contribution to UK economic growth, and to inform decisions on legislative action. We welcome responses from individual designers, small and large businesses, legal professionals, rights holders, and all interested parties.

A summary of responses to this consultation will be published on GOV.UK. The government considers it important in the interests of transparency that the public can see who has responded to government consultations and what their views are.

By responding to this consultation, you acknowledge that your response, along with your name and/or organisation may be made public when a response to the consultation is published in accordance with the access to information regimes. These are primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Additionally, information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information or commercially sensitive information, may be made available to the public on request in accordance with the requirements of FOIA and EIR.

If you wish to highlight that information is confidential or sensitive, please advise us in writing when you provide your response. If there is a request to make any confidential information publicly available, we will consider the request according to the appropriate legislation. We will treat each request individually and in line with any request to maintain confidentiality.

The government may also publish consultation responses in response to any FOIA/EIR requests on GOV.UK.

Please read the privacy statement and privacy notice for consultations for more information.