UKIPO launches consultation seeking designers’ views on changes to UK designs system

As part of the UKIPO’s ongoing review of the UK designs system, it has recently launched a consultation seeking views from designers on how to improve the UK designs system and ensure that it best supports UK businesses.

This consultation follows a 2022 call for views and a 2025 survey on priorities in respect of these changes, and addresses several key topics under review by the UKIPO. These include:

• How to deal with anti-competitive design registrations
• Proposed changes to the deferment period for registered designs
• Options for helping designers register GUIs and animated designs
• How to deal with AI generated designs
• Simplification of the unregistered designs system
• Whether and how to address post-EU exit issues relating to unregistered designs

The changes being considered here could have significant implications for users of the UK’s designs system. Options being considered for implementation include:

• The introduction of a two-stage filing system that requires a full search and examination in order to enforce a design.
• The possibility for designers to represent their designs using CAD file or video file formats.
• The introduction of an opposition or observation period for registered designs.
• Abolishing the so-called “design right” form of unregistered protection.

Any reform of the UK design system brings with it the possibility of significant advantages as well as disadvantages for users of the system, and so we expect many businesses will want to ensure their voices are heard on these prospective changes.

Details of the consultation can be found on the UKIPO’s website. For those looking to contribute, the consultation closes on 27 November 2025.

If you would like to discuss your response to this consultation with us, or would like to discuss design protection more generally, please contact your usual GJE attorney, or email gje@gje.com.