National Laws
National systems of registered designs remain in place alongside the system of Community designs: registration in a small number of countries is cheaper than Community registration, and may be more appropriate for smaller manufacturers. National laws are harmonized by the Directive on the legal protection of designs (98/71/EC): the criteria for eligibility and the duration of protection are the same as for registered Community designs. Many Member States also protect unregistered design rights under their national law, but these are not covered by the Directive.
Read more about this topic: Industrial Design Rights In The European Union
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