The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights.
The UK’s design system has not been updated since limited changes were made in 2016.
To make sure that the regime is fit for the future and supports the designs sector, the UK government is reviewing the UK designs system.
The increased use of digital technology since then and the UK’s departure from the EU mean that a comprehensive review is needed to ensure that the framework best supports UK designs businesses. The UK intellectual property system for the protection of designs is complex and users consider it difficult to navigate, especially small businesses which represent the majority of the sector.
To understand what users want, the IPO is carrying out a consultation of the UK designs system. The consultation is wide-ranging and technical in nature to make the system more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to protect and enforce their Intellectual IP rights more easily and efficiently. This will ensure the IP framework gives the UK a competitive edge by encouraging greater innovation and growth in the sector.
The consultation closes on 27 November 2025: Consultation on changes to the UK designs framework - Intellectual Property Office - Citizen Space.