Design Law

The Intellectual Property Lawyer’s Association (IPLA) has submitted a response to the UK Intellectual Property Office Consultation on the reform of the UK Designs Legal Framework

Following the Government’s review of intellectual property by Professor Ian Hargreaves CBE-MA Cambridge in May 2011, there has been an acknowledgement of the importance of design rights to growth and the Government is now looking for improvement within the designs intellectual property framework.

The IPO has published a series of proposals [www.ipo.gov.uk/consult-2012-designs.pdf] and has called upon interested parties and influential bodies in UK intellectual property to respond.  The IPLA is made up of those firms of solicitors (and some patent attorneys) in England and Wales, with significant intellectual property practices.  It acts as a centralised voice for lobbying for improvements in the law and practice in the UK.

Stephen Welfare, Head of IP at Royds, was a member of the IPLA Working Party on the Design Law consultation.

For further details on any of the issues covered in this update please contact Stephen Welfare, Head of IP at Royds on 020 7583 2222 or [email protected]