The Registered Designs Rules 2006

Made: 27th July 2006

Laid before Parliament: 28th July 2006

Coming into force: 1st October 2006

The Secretary of State makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 29 to 31 and 36 of the Registered Designs Act 1949 .

In accordance with section 8(1) of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 the Secretary of State has consulted the Council on Tribunals.

PART 1 — INTRODUCTORY

Citation and commencement

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These Rules may be cited as the Registered Designs Rules 2006 and shall come into force on 1st October 2006.

Interpretation

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• (1) In these Rules—

• “the Act” means the Registered Designs Act 1949;

• “the journal” means the journal published under rule 44(1); and

• “section” means a section of the Act.

• (2) Where a time or period has been altered under rules 19(1) or 39 to 41, any reference in these Rules to the time or period shall be construed as a reference to the time or period as altered.

Forms

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• (1) The forms of which the use is required by these Rules are those set out in Schedule 1.

• (2) Such a requirement to use a form is satisfied by the use of a form which is acceptable to the registrar and contains the information required by the form as so set out.

PART 2 — APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION

Applications for registration and formal requirements

Applications

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• (1) An application for the registration of a design or designs shall be made on Form DF2A and—

• (a) shall include the identity of the person making the application; and

• (b) in relation to each design, shall either—

• (i) include a representation of the design; or

• (ii) be accompanied by a specimen of the design,

and it shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

• (2) But an application for the registration of a design or designs, which is a subsequent application for the purposes of section 3B(3), shall be made on Form DF2B and be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

• (3) Where an application includes a representation of the design, the applicant may give his consent for its publication on Form DF2A or Form DF2B.

• (4) Where a person purports to file something under section 3(1) and—

• (a) it is not in the form prescribed by either paragraph (1) or (2); or

• (b) it is not accompanied by the prescribed fee,

the registrar shall notify that person accordingly.

• (5) A representation or specimen filed under paragraph (1)(b) may be accompanied by a brief description of the design.

• (6) A specimen may not be filed under paragraph (1)(b) if it is hazardous or perishable; and where such a specimen is so filed it shall be disregarded.

• (7) An application for the registration of a design which is a repeating surface pattern shall only be treated as such if—

• (a) the representation or specimen filed under paragraph (1)(b) includes the complete pattern and a sufficient portion of the repeat in length and width to show how the pattern repeats; and

• (b) the application contains a statement that it relates to a repeating surface pattern.

Formal requirements

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• (1) An application for the registration of a design shall comply with the first and second requirement.

• (2) The first requirement is that the applicant has specified the product to which the design is intended to be applied or in which it is intended to be incorporated.

• (3) The second requirement is that the dimensions of any specimen of the design filed under rule 4(1)(b)(ii) shall not exceed 29.7cm x 21cm x 1cm.

• (4) Where the applicant files a representation of the design after being notified under rule 8(1) that the application does not comply with the second requirement—

• (a) that representation shall be deemed to have been filed under rule 4(1)(b)(i); and

• (b) any specimen filed under rule 4(1)(b)(ii) shall be treated as not having been filed.

• (5) Nothing done to comply with the first requirement shall be taken to affect the scope of the protection conferred by the registration of a design.

Disclaimers

Partial disclaimers

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An application for the registration of a design may be accompanied by a disclaimer which—

• (a) limits the scope or extent of protection being applied for in relation to the design; or

• (b) indicates that the application for registration relates to a design that forms only a part of the appearance of a product.

Convention applications

Convention applications

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• (1) Where an application for the registration of a design or designs is made by virtue of section 14 the applicant shall comply with the following provisions.

• (2) The application shall contain a declaration specifying—

• (a) the date of making of each convention application; and

• (b) the country it was made in or in respect of.

• (3) The applicant shall, before the end of the period of 3 months beginning immediately after the date on which the application was filed, file at the Patent Office a copy of the representation of the design that was the subject of each convention application.

• (4) A copy of the representation filed under paragraph (3) shall be—

• (a) duly certified by the authority with which it was filed; or

• (b) verified to the satisfaction of the registrar.

• (5) Paragraph (3) shall not apply where a copy of the convention application is kept at the Patent Office.

• (6) Where any document relating to the convention application is in a language other than English or Welsh, the registrar may direct the applicant to provide a translation of the whole or any part of that document.

• (7) The translation shall be filed before the end of the period of 3 months beginning immediately after the date of the direction.

• (8) Where the applicant—

• (a) fails to file a copy of the representation of the design which has been certified or verified in accordance with paragraph (4); or

• (b) fails to comply with a direction given under paragraph (6),

the convention application shall be disregarded for the purposes of section 14(2).

• (9) In this rule “convention application” means an application for the protection of a design which has been made in a convention country.

Examination of application, representations for publication and time limits

Substantive and formal examination of application

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• (1) Where it appears to the registrar that he should refuse to register a design included in an application—

• (a) by reason of the application for the registration of that design not being made in accordance with any of these Rules, other than rule 9(2) (see section 3A(2)); or

• (b) by reason of section 3A(3) or (4),

he shall notify the applicant accordingly.

• (2) The notification shall include a statement of why it appears to the registrar that he should refuse to register the design (for the purposes of this rule the “statement of objections”).

• (3) The applicant may, before the end of the period of 2 months beginning immediately after the date of the notification, send his written observations on the statement of objections to the registrar.

• (4) The registrar shall give the applicant an opportunity to be heard.

• (5) Where the registrar refuses to register a design included in an application, he shall send to the applicant the written reasons for his decision.

• (6) The date on which the written reasons were sent to the applicant shall be deemed to be the date of the decision for the purposes of any appeal.

Representation of design for publication

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• (1) Where the registrar decides that he should not refuse to register the design for the reasons mentioned in rule 8(1)(a) or (b) and—

• (a) no representation of the design has been filed; or

• (b) a representation has been filed but it is not suitable for publication,

the registrar shall direct the applicant to provide a suitable representation.

• (2) Where a direction is given, the applicant shall, before the end of the period of 3 months beginning immediately after the direction, file a suitable representation (otherwise the registrar may refuse to register the design: see section 3A(2)).

• (3) Where a suitable representation has been filed, the applicant shall file his consent for its publication on Form DF2C.

• (4) But paragraph (3) shall not apply where the applicant consented to publication in accordance with rule 4(3).

• (5) In this rule “suitable representation” means a representation of the design which is suitable for publication.

Time limits under section 3(5) and section 3B

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• (1) The time prescribed for the purposes of section 3(5) shall be 12 months beginning immediately after the date on which the application for registration of the design was made or treated as made (disregarding section 14).

• (2) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 3B(3) shall be the period of 2 months beginning immediately after the date on which the earlier application was modified under section 3B(3).

PART 3 — DESIGNS AFTER REGISTRATION

Publication

Publication

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• (1) When a design has been registered, the registrar shall publish a representation of that design in the journal as soon as possible after the certificate of registration is granted.

• (2) When the registrar publishes the representation, he may also publish any other information he thinks is relevant to that design.

• (3) The representation published under paragraph (1) shall be the representation filed under rule 4(1)(b)(i) or 9(2) or as mentioned in rule 5(4).

Duration of rights and surrender

Extension of duration of right in registered design

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• (1) An application for an extension under section 8(2) or 8(4) shall be made on Form DF9A.

• (2) An application under section 8(2) may only be made during the period of 6 months ending with the date on which the relevant period of 5 years expires.

• (3) On receipt of the prescribed renewal fee the registrar shall notify the registered proprietor of the extension of the right in the registered design.

• (4) Where the right in a registered design has ceased to have effect by reason of section 8(3), the registrar shall, before the end of the period of 6 weeks beginning immediately after the date on which the right ceased, send written notice to the registered proprietor of that fact.

• (5) But paragraph (4) shall not apply where the renewal fee and the prescribed additional fee is paid before a notice is sent.

Restoration of a lapsed right in a design under section 8A

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• (1) An application for the restoration of the right in a design under section 8A shall—

• (a) be made on Form DF29; and

• (b) be supported by evidence of the statements made in the application.

• (2) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 8A(1) shall be the period of 12 months beginning immediately after the date on which the registered design ceased to have effect except where the registered design is a re-registered design or a re-registered international design where the duration of the right in the design ends within the period of six months beginning with IP completion day (as defined in section 20(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) and ending with the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after that on which IP completion day falls (a “relevant re-registered design”)

• (2A) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 8A(1) in respect of a relevant re-registered design or a re-registered international design shall be the period of 12 months beginning immediately after the date on which the registrar gave notice under section 8(3).

• (3) The notice of the application shall be published in the journal.

• (4) Where, upon consideration of that evidence, the registrar is not satisfied that a case for an order under section 8A has been made out, he shall notify the applicant accordingly.

• (5) The applicant may, before the end of the period of 1 month beginning immediately after the date of that notification, request to be heard by the registrar.

• (6) Where the applicant requests a hearing, the registrar shall give him an opportunity to be heard; after which the registrar shall determine whether the application under section 8A shall be granted or refused.

• (7) Where the registrar decides not to make the order he shall give the applicant written reasons for his refusal.

Cancellation of registration

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A request under section 11 to cancel the registration of a design shall be made on Form DF19C.

PART 4 — PROCEEDINGS HEARD BEFORE THE REGISTRAR

Conduct of proceedings

Procedure for applying for a declaration of invalidity

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• (1) An application for a declaration of invalidity under section 11ZB shall—

• (a) be made on Form DF19A; and

• (b) include a statement of the grounds on which the application is made.

• (2) The statement of grounds shall include a concise statement of the facts and grounds on which the applicant relies and shall be verified by a statement of truth.

• (3) The registrar shall send a copy of Form DF19A and the statement of case to the registered proprietor.

• (4) The registrar shall specify a period within which the registered proprietor shall file a counter-statement.

• (5) The registered proprietor, within that period, shall—

• (a) file his counter-statement on Form DF19B; and

• (b) send a copy of it to the applicant,

otherwise the registrar may treat him as not opposing the application.

• (6) In his counter-statement the registered proprietor shall—

• (a) include a concise statement of the facts on which he relies;

• (b) state which of the allegations in the statement of grounds he denies;

• (c) state which of the allegations he is unable to admit or deny, but which he requires the applicant to prove;

• (d) state which allegations he admits,

and it shall be verified by a statement of truth.

• (7) In this Part—

• (a) “statement of case” means the statement of grounds filed by the applicant or the counter-statement filed by the registered proprietor; and

• (b) references to the statement of case include part of the statement of case.

Evidence rounds

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• (1) When the period specified under rule 15(4) has expired, the registrar shall specify the periods within which evidence may be filed by the parties.

• (2) Where the applicant for a declaration of invalidity files no evidence (other than his statement of grounds) in support of his application, the registrar may treat him as having withdrawn his application.

• (3) The registrar may, at any time if he thinks fit, give leave to either party to file evidence upon such terms as he thinks fit.

• (4) Under this rule, evidence shall only be considered to be filed when—

• (a) it has been received by the registrar; and

• (b) it has been sent to all other parties to the proceedings.

• (5) The registrar shall give the parties an opportunity to be heard.

• (6) Where any party requests to be heard, the registrar shall send to the parties notice of a date for the hearing.

Decision of registrar on invalidity

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• (1) When the registrar has made a decision on the application for a declaration of invalidity, he shall send to the parties written notice of it, stating the reasons for his decision.

• (2) The date on which the decision was sent to the applicant shall be deemed to be the date of the decision for the purposes of any appeal.

Exercise of discretionary powers of registrar

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The registrar shall give to any applicant for registration of a design an opportunity to be heard before exercising adversely to the applicant any discretion vested in the registrar by or under the Act.

General powers of registrar in relation to proceedings before him

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• (1) The registrar may extend or shorten (or further extend or shorten) any period which has been specified under any provision of this Part.

• (2) At any stage of proceedings before him, the registrar may direct that the parties to the proceedings attend a case management conference or pre-hearing review.

• (3) Except where the Act or these Rules otherwise provide, the registrar may give such directions as to the management of the proceedings as he thinks fit, and in particular he may—

• (a) require a document, information or evidence to be filed;

• (b) require a translation of any document;

• (c) require a party or a party's legal representative to attend a hearing;

• (d) hold a hearing and receive evidence by telephone or by using any other method of direct oral communication;

• (e) allow a statement of case to be amended;

• (f) stay the whole, or any part, of the proceedings either generally or until a specified date or event;

• (g) consolidate proceedings;

• (h) direct that part of any proceedings be dealt with as separate proceedings.

• (4) The registrar may control the evidence by giving directions as to—

• (a) the issues on which he requires evidence;

• (b) the nature of the evidence which he requires to decide those issues; and

• (c) the way in which the evidence is to be placed before him,

and the registrar may use his power under this paragraph to exclude evidence which would otherwise be admissible.

• (5) When the registrar gives directions under any provision of this Part, he may—

• (a) make them subject to conditions; and

• (b) specify the consequences of failure to comply with the directions or a condition.

Hearings in public

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