Design protection
Protect Chinese designs in France and the European Union
Design protection can secure the visual appearance of a product, packaging, pattern, interface or collection before competitors copy it. Dreyfus supports Chinese IP firms, manufacturers and design owners with French, EU and international filing strategy.
The plan should be reviewed before disclosure or launch. Images, product variants, priority and publication choices can materially affect the scope and enforceability of the resulting rights.
Matter essentials
What the instruction requires
The sections below clarify the route, documents, decisions and local workstream for this specific matter.
What can form part of a design strategy
- product shape and configuration;
- packaging, labels and ornamentation;
- patterns, graphic symbols and visual assets;
- screen displays and graphical interfaces;
- families of variants within a product collection;
- combined protection through designs, trademarks and copyright.
France, EU or Hague System?
French design
A national filing can support a France-focused launch or enforcement plan.
Registered EU design
An EU filing can provide one registration route across EU member states. The representations and product indications should be prepared for the intended enforcement scope.
International design
The Hague System can centralise applications for selected territories. Local examination, objections and enforcement still require jurisdiction-specific advice.
Information to send before filing
- clear images or drawings of each design;
- the Chinese applicant’s exact legal details;
- any earlier Chinese filing and priority date;
- first disclosure, exhibition or launch information;
- target countries, products and planned variants;
- known competitors or copied products.
From registration to enforcement
Dreyfus can coordinate clearance, filing, office actions, recordals and renewals, then connect the design portfolio with customs action, online enforcement and French litigation.
For Chinese IP firms
We can act as local counsel, review image sets, identify priority or ownership gaps and provide an English filing report that can be shared with the client.
Design protection
Start a design filing
Send the matter reference, relevant rights, territory and any known deadline. We will confirm the appropriate first scope.
