The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published a new survey aimed at designers, design businesses, legal professionals and anyone interested in design. This will explore the principles which should shape the future of the UK designs system.

The deadline for responses is 1 April 2025.

The IPO believes that the UK designs protection system should help people grow the economy through investment in innovation and creativity. It is reviewing the UK designs framework to make sure it is fit for the future and supports designs businesses of all sizes. A call for views and government response were published in 2022.

Ahead of a formal consultation later in the year, we want to understand more about users’ priorities for the system.

To ensure we have the basics right and are guided by the right priorities, the IPO has identified 5 principles which we think are important to users. The 5 principles are:

• Cost – the system should offer value for money
• Validity – the system should provide appropriate level of validity and clarity about existence of IP rights of rights.
• Speed – design protection should be quick to obtain and enforce.
• Choice – the system should provide choice for designers.
• Simplicity – the system should be as simple as possible.

The IPO is asking businesses and designers of all sizes, and from a wide range of sectors which use design protection – whether an individual entrepreneur, start-up, established firm or large corporate -to share their views by taking part in a short survey.

TAKE THE SURVEY