The UK Government has launched a 12-week consultation to modernise the country's design protection system, aiming to strengthen the design sector, which contributes nearly £100 billion annually to the economy and supports almost 2 million jobs.
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Led by the Intellectual Property Office, the consultation proposes reforms to simplify rights, curb design theft, and modernise protections for the digital age. Suggestions include search and examination powers to reject designs lacking originality, new rules to tackle dishonest applications, and clearer processes to replace the current patchwork of rights. Proposals also explore introducing deferment provisions, adapting protections for post-Brexit markets, and expanding file formats such as CAD and video. The government is also considering whether AI-generated designs should qualify for protection.
The consultation, running from 4 September to 27 November 2025, seeks input from designers, businesses, and legal professionals.
Feryal Clark MP, Minister for Intellectual Property, said reforms would make it easier for creators "of all shapes and sizes to protect their creations," while Chris Bryant MP highlighted the need to "remove the barriers that hold back creators." IPO CEO Adam Williams added that the changes aim to build a system "fit for tomorrow" to protect innovation and prevent abuse.
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