DESIGN OR MODEL

Every firm must:
- Protect its investments in research and development of the shape and design of its products;
- Safeguard and increase the value of its innovations economically;
- Defend itself against counterfeiting from competitors.

The Design or Registered Model is the main instrument for achieving these objectives, having the purpose of protecting the appearance of the product or a part of it, as results in particular from the lines, the contours, the colours, and the shape of the product itself or its ornament.

The Design or Registered Model is valid for 5 years from the date of filing the application, with the possibility of extension for one or more five-year periods, up to a maximum of 25 years.

Requirements to register a design or a model:

• Novelty:
  A design or a model is new if no identical design has been made available prior to the date of filing the application for registration. The design or the model is deemed to be identical if their features differ only in irrelevant details.
• Individual character:
  The design or the model has individual character if the general impression it produces on the informed users differs from the general impression produced on such users by any design or model known before the date of filing the application for registration.

Propria provides a complete assistance and advice to protect your design and model by implementing the following processes:

• Filing and follow-up of design and model applications in Italy;
• Filing and follow-up of design and model applications in the European Community;
• Filing and follow-up of international design and model applications (The Hague Convention);
• Filing and follow-up of design and model applications in foreign countries;
• Management of the design and model portfolio.