UK Design Law Reform - What the UKIPO Response Means for You

Introduction

The UK Intellectual Property Office (‘UKIPO’) closed a consultation on changes to UK design law in November 2025. This covered potential legislative changes to design laws in the UK on search and examination, how to address bad faith filings, searching certain filings, deferred registration, graphical user interfaces and animated designs, how to handle AI-based filings and computer-generated designs, along with the overlap between copyright and unregistered designs.

Many groups, firms and individuals responded to the consultation, and the official response provides guidance on where UK design law can expect to be adapted over the coming years. With the potential for some significant changes in practice proposed in the consultation, the response helps identify what can be expected, allowing rights owners and attorneys to plan for future developments in the law.

This new virtual classroom seminar will delve into the details of the UKIPO response, providing a review of the details, how these may affect practice, and reactions to how the response could be implemented.

The session will include detailed discussions of how this modifies the current system, and considerations for future filings and enforcement, as well as exploring the second phase details known by this stage.

It is suitable for UK and EU patent, design and trade mark attorneys, as well as IP solicitors, and you should have at least a basic understanding of UK design law before attending this session.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive course will cover the following:

• Review of the UKIPO consultation response - A detailed walkthrough of the official guidance and the areas of greatest impact for rights owners and attorneys
• Analysis of proposed changes to procedure and policy - The implications for examination, searching, deferred registration, and addressing bad faith filings, including AI and computer-generated designs
• Implementation timeline and strategic considerations - The projected schedule for reforms, transitional periods, and practical advice on adapting filing and enforcement strategies

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.