Businesses often invest substantial resources in the development of new, innovative products, with intensive development and testing on the functionality and the aesthetic appeal of those products.

Design protection, both registered and unregistered, is used to protect the appearance of new, original and individual product designs. 

Our team is involved in all aspects of effective design protection. We have worked with clients with substantial design portfolios, across a range of sectors. Our rounded experience enables us advise clients through creation, protection, exploitation and enforcement of their design rights. 

We work with clients to identify products attracting unregistered design rights, and advise on the subsistence of these rights. We have experience working with clients to secure registered protection to protect key designs their offering and often increase the length of a design's exclusivity. 

We also have experience of implementing licensing arrangements, and advising on validity, ownership/entitlement and infringement of design rights. 

Our work includes: 

  • managing the international registered design portfolio for clothing manufacturer R. H. Smith & Sons (Wigmakers) Ltd t/a Smiffys
  • advising premium fashion label ME+EM on design protection and clearance issues 
  • providing enforcement advise to international clients including sports retailer Decathlon and mattress manufacturer Tempur-Sealy. 

Businesses often invest substantial resources in the development of new, innovative products, with intensive development and testing on the functionality and the aesthetic appeal of those products.

Design protection, both registered and unregistered, is used to protect the appearance of new, original and individual product designs.

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Our expertise in design protection

Our team is involved in all aspects of effective design protection. We have worked with clients with substantial design portfolios, across a range of sectors. Our rounded experience enables us advise clients through creation, protection, exploitation and enforcement of their design rights. 

We work with clients to identify products attracting unregistered design rights, and advise on the subsistence of these rights. We have experience working with clients to secure registered protection to protect key designs their offering and often increase the length of a design's exclusivity. 

We also have experience of implementing licensing arrangements, and advising on validity, ownership/entitlement and infringement of design rights. 

Our work includes: 

  • Managing the international registered design portfolio for clothing manufacturer R. H. Smith & Sons (Wigmakers) Ltd t/a Smiffys
  • Advising premium fashion label ME+EM on design protection and clearance issues 
  • Providing enforcement advise to international clients including sports retailer Decathlon and mattress manufacturer Tempur-Sealy. 
In need of a design protection lawyer? Look no further.
At Womble Bond Dickinson we have an exceptional team of talented lawyers and business professionals who can offer guidance and find the solutions right for your business. We have both broad and niche expertise across all our UK and US offices.
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