Existing EU designs

Transitional period

The firm expectation is that the European Union will agree with the British Government on a transitional period, which will run from 30 March 2019 to 31 December 2020. During this period the United Kingdom will remain part of the EU, so that European trademark registrations will be valid in the UK.

After Brexit

The draft agreement between the EU and the UK provides a number of important subjects for the protection of EU designs in the UK, after Brexit:

• After the transitional period, all EU models will receive equivalent protection automatically, including non-registered design rights;
• The relevant dates (filing date, renewal date) remain unchanged.

Conclusion

The current European design registrations will automatically be converted into national  UK design rights after Brexit. A design registration in the UK can therefore still be obtained by means of an EU design application. Of course it is also possible to file a national  UK design application.