UK Proposes To Allow Designers To Mark Their Products With A Web Link

The United Kingdom government is calling for evidence on a proposal to provide designers with an option to mark their products with a web link instead of stamping the product or attaching a label with registered design numbers to provide public notice of registered design rights.


The problem, as per UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), is that multiple IP rights may be applicable to a single product, which “may lapse or be revoked at different points in time.” Rights owners have made claims to the UK IPO that the re-marking of products due to any change takes time and is very costly.


The proposal would amend UK’s Registered Designs Act 1949. Similar changes were introduced last year to patent rights through UK’s Intellectual Property Act 2014. The proposal explains that these changes enable “patent owners to stamp or label their UK products with a web address (next to the word ‘patent’ or ‘patented’) in order to provide constructive notice.”


According to the UKIPO, the call for evidence closes on 10 August 2015.