Guide to Changes in Design Law

The Intellectual Property Office has published a guide to changes in the law relating to designs. These were introduced by the Intellectual Property Act 2014, which received the Royal Assent on 14 May 2014 and comes into effect on 1 October 2014.



The principal change in the law is that from 1 October a person commissioned to produce a design will own the intellectual property (IP) in the design unless their contract with the other party states otherwise. This does not apply to designs created by employees, where the IP will be owned – as now – by the employer, unless a specific agreement to the contrary has been agreed.