As of October 2014, people who intentionally copy UK-registered designs will face criminal charges under the new Intellectual Property Act 2014, which received Royal Assent last week.
A key part of the Act is the creation of new powers for the UK to implement the Unified Patent Court Agreement. This is a central part of introducing a single patent across almost all EU countries, which the Government says could lead to savings of “up to £40 million per year” for UK businesses.
The Act also provides new protections for designers, as well as removing red tape and some of the uncertainties for small and medium-sized businesses when protecting their designs, and will introduce a number of online services to help businesses better manage their intellectual property (IP).
According to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the Act also implements the reforms to the design IP framework that flow from the Hargreaves review of Intellectual Property and Growth in 2011.
These mean that the design industry will now enjoy similar protection to the music industry and trademarks that protect brands, both of which are also covered by criminal sanctions.
The Act is also introducing a ‘Design Opinions Service’, run by the IPO, which will provide low-cost, non-binding and impartial advice on potential design duplicates.
Speaking about the Royal Assent, minister for intellectual property, Lord Younger, said that continued investment in IP is vital to businesses, as it contributes some £16bn to the economy every year.
He added that the Act will further strengthen the UK’s world-class IP system, from researching to marketing products, and will help businesses of all sizes continue to thrive.