This guide was last updated in January 2018.
A Registered Community Design (RCD) covers all 28 member states of the European Union. The Community Design System runs parallel to the Design Legislation of each national EU member state.
A RCD is a monopoly right for the appearance of the whole or part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and materials of the product and/or its ornamentation.
To be registrable a design must be new and have individual character. To be new, the design is required to differ from known designs by more than "immaterial details". To have individual character a design must create a different overall impression on an informed user. Although a design application can be filed up to one year after the design has been made public; it is preferable that a design application is filed as soon as the design is created.
There is a €350 fee for one RCD application, and an additional fee for each extra design applied for.
A RCD can last up to 25 years (the Registration has to be renewed for a fee every five years within the 25 year period). Member states of the European Union:
Information required to file application: