Register a European Union Design (REUD): How to file an EU design to the EUIPO

Register a European Union Design (REUD): How to file an EU design to the EUIPO

A Registered European Union Design (REUD) gives you one registration that covers all 27 EU Member States – making it one of the most efficient ways to protect the appearance of your product across Europe. PATENTBOX Kancelaria Patentowa from Poznań is an IP law firm that supports end-to-end design registration in the EU – from assessing registrability and preparing graphic files to filing before EUIPO and advising on deferment of publication strategy.

This guide explains what a European Union design is, how to file a registered design step by step, what the filing costs are, how deferment of publication works, and when you should involve a Polish attorney.

What is a Registered European Union Design (REUD)?

An EU design protects the appearance of a product- its lines, contours, colours, shape, texture, materials and decoration. Since the EU Design Reform (Regulation 2024/2822), the definition also explicitly covers movement, transition and animation, which means dynamic user interfaces, animated logos and 3D digital models are now within the scope of design registration in Europe.

The term “product” under the new regulation is broad. It covers:

• Physical manufactured and handcrafted goods – packaging, furniture, tools, electronics, clothing accessories
• Parts of complex products and sets of articles intended to form an interior or exterior environment
• Graphic works, symbols, logos (in their visual/design aspect), surface patterns, typographic typefaces
• Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and – for the first time explicitly – non-physical items such as virtual goods, animations and digital products

A registered design is distinct from a patent. Patents protect inventions (technical solutions); designs protect visual appearance. There is no such thing in the European law as “a patent for a design”: designs are registered, not patented.

Examples of registered EU designs

To illustrate the breadth of what can be protected through design registration in the EU, here are examples of Registered European Union Designs from the EUIPO register:

REUD-001929464-0001 Armchair / seating	REUD-003458918-0006 Tap / faucet	REUD-015140999-0001 Soft toys / Figurines	REUD-000600242-0002 Bottle / container

These examples show that a European design can protect anything from consumer goods and packaging to decorative objects — the key is that the appearance must be new and have individual character at the time of filing.

Requirements: What can be registered as an EU design?

For a design to qualify for registration at EUIPO, it must satisfy two conditions:

1. Novelty

The design must be new: no identical design (or one differing only in immaterial details) may have been made publicly available before the filing date (or priority date, if priority is claimed).

2. Individual character

The design must produce a different overall impression on the “informed user” compared to any design previously available to the public. The degree of freedom a designer has in a given product sector is taken into account – in crowded sectors (e.g. fashion accessories), even small differences may suffice; in open fields, more distinctiveness is expected.

What is NOT protected by a registered design

• Features dictated solely by technical function
• Features that must be reproduced exactly to connect mechanically with another product (the “must-fit” exclusion)
• Text, names or word elements – those are protectable only as trademarks
• Internal structure or mechanisms not visible in the registered views

How to file an EU Design: step-by-step

Step 1 – Assess registrability

Before filing, check whether your design is genuinely new. Unlike trademark registration, there is no formal EUIPO examination for novelty – but invalidity proceedings can be requested by third parties after registration. A Polish IP attorney at PATENTBOX can search the EUIPO DesignView database and assess the risk of a validity challenge before you invest in registration.

Step 2 – Prepare the graphic representation

Protection covers only what is visible in the filed images. There is no written description of the design – the representation is the scope of protection. Key requirements for image files:

• Format: JPG (JPEG)
• Resolution: minimum 72 dpi; 300 dpi recommended
• Maximum file size: 2 MB per image
• Background: solid, neutral (preferably white) — no watermarks, frames, logos or text overlaid on the image
• Number of views: up to 7 views currently (front, back, sides, top, bottom, perspective) – all in the same technique (all photos or all drawings)
• From 1 July 2026 (Phase II of the reform), the 7-view limit will be lifted and new file formats including MP4 for animated designs will be accepted

Practical tip: Use white backgrounds and consistent lighting across all views. Inconsistencies between views – different scale, angle inconsistencies, or shadows that obscure contours – are a common cause of formal objections.

Step 3 – Classify the design using the Locarno system

EUIPO uses the Locarno Classification to categorise the products in which the design is incorporated. Unlike trademarks, you indicate the type of product for reference purposes – but under the new Regulation (2024/2822), the scope of protection is not limited to the indicated product class. If someone copies your registered bottle design into a soap dispenser, they can still infringe your REUD.

Also since 1 May 2025, the unity of class requirement has been abolished: a single multiple application can now include up to 50 designs covering products from different Locarno classes.

Step 4 – File the application and pay the official fees

Applications are filed directly with EUIPO – since 1 May 2025, filing via national IP offices is no longer possible. The online e-filing portal is the standard route.

The fee must be paid within one month of filing (payment is a condition for a filing date to be accorded).

Step 5 – Examination and registration

EUIPO examines the application for formal requirements only – there is no substantive novelty examination and no opposition period. If formal requirements are met, the design is registered and published in the EUIPO register, typically within one to two weeks of filing. This speed is one of the key practical advantages of design registration in Europe compared to trademark registration (which can take six months or longer due to the opposition window).

EU design registration cost (2026 Fees)

The current fee structure following the 1 May 2025 reform is as follows:

Filing fees (application fee)

Example: A company launching a new furniture line registers 5 designs in a single multiple application. The total official filing fee is: €350 + (4 × €125) = €850 for five EU-wide design registrations. Compare this with filing separately in five EU countries – a multi-application at EUIPO is almost always the more cost-effective route for design registration in Europe.

Renewal fees (per design, from 1 May 2025)

A registered EU design can be protected for up to 25 years, renewed every 5 years. The renewal fees increased significantly as of 1 May 2025:

The above are official EUIPO fees only. Attorney fees are additional. Contact PATENTBOX for a full cost estimate for your specific situation, including the number of designs and whether deferment is appropriate.

SME Fund – grants for design registration

The EUIPO SME Fund offers grants to small and medium-sized enterprises to co-finance official IP registration fees, including for design registration. Availability is limited and subject to annual funding. Ask PATENTBOX whether your company qualifies.

Deferment of publication: What it is and when to use it

Deferment of publication is one of the most strategically important – and frequently misunderstood – features of the EU design registration system. Here is a plain-language explanation.

What deferment of publication means

When you register an EU design, the EUIPO normally publishes the design’s representations in its public register immediately after registration. This means competitors can see your design from the moment it is registered.

By requesting deferment of publication at the time of filing, you can keep the visual representations confidential for up to 30 months from the filing date (or priority date). During this period:

• The design is registered and you hold the IP right
• The EUIPO publishes a mention that a design application exists, but the images are not visible
• You can rely on the registration date for priority purposes
• You can use the Ⓓ symbol to indicate that the product is design-protected

Why deferment of publication is used

Deferment is particularly valuable in industries where time-to-market secrecy matters:

• Fashion and textiles – protect the design of a new collection before the season launch without alerting competitors
• Consumer electronics – file a design for an unreleased product and keep its appearance confidential until launch
• Automotive and industrial design – secure protection early in the development cycle without disclosing the final look prematurely
• Packaging – register new packaging designs before rolling them out commercially

Key rules for deferment under the 2025 reform

The rules for deferment changed with the 1 May 2025 reform. Here is what applies to applications filed from that date:

• The deferment fee (€40 for the first design, €20 per additional design) must be paid at the time of filing. Failure to pay leads to rejection of the application.
• At the end of the 30-month period, publication is automatic – no further action is needed for the design to be published.
• If you wish to publish earlier than 30 months, you can ask EUIPO to publish the design at any time during the deferment period.
• If you do not want the design to be published at all (for example, because the product was discontinued or the design is no longer used), you must file a formal surrender of the registration. The deadline to do so is 27 months from filing – i.e. at least 3 months before the end of the deferment period. Missing this deadline means the design will be published automatically.
• Under the old rules (pre-May 2025), non-payment of the publication fee was sufficient to prevent publication. This is no longer the case. Active surrender is now required.

Practical tip: If you request deferment, set a calendar reminder at 24-26 months from filing. You need to decide by 27 months: either let the design publish automatically (no action needed), request early publication, or surrender the design. A Polish trademark and design attorney at PATENTBOX can monitor this deadline on your behalf.

How long does EU design protection last?

A registered EU design is protected from the filing date for an initial period of 5 years. It can be renewed, in 5-year increments, for a maximum total term of 25 years.

Since the 1 May 2025 reform, renewal falls due on the anniversary of the filing date (not the end of the calendar month as under the old rules). A 6-month grace period applies, but a late surcharge is payable. A PATENTBOX patent attorney will track these deadlines so you never inadvertently lose a registered design through missed renewal.

Design registration in Poland: the national route

If your business operates primarily in Poland and EU-wide protection is not yet a priority, design registration in Poland with the Polish Patent Office (UPRP – Urząd Patentowy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) is an alternative. A national Polish design registration (Rp. number) provides protection limited to the territory of Poland and is governed by the Polish Industrial Property Law.

In practice, most Polish companies that compete across the EU or sell cross-border choose the REUD route – EU-wide protection through a single EUIPO filing, handled by a Polish attorney, offers substantially better value than registering separately in multiple countries. PATENTBOX handles both national design registration in Poland and EU-wide REUD filing.

EU design vs. EU trademark: What is the difference?

Trademarks and industrial designs are distinct IP rights that sometimes overlap – for example, a distinctive product shape or a logo’s visual appearance can potentially be protected by both. The table below summarises the key practical differences:

For a detailed comparison of a design registration with a utility model, see our article on industrial design registration.

Rights conferred by a registered EU design

A registered EU design grants its holder the exclusive right to use the design and to prevent any third party from using it without consent throughout the entire European Union. “Use” in this context includes: manufacturing, offering, placing on the market, importing, exporting, stocking and using a product that incorporates the registered design.

An important feature of the EU design system is that the scope of protection is not limited to the product type indicated in the application. If someone applies your registered furniture design to a kitchen accessory, they may still infringe your REUD – it is the visual appearance that is protected, not the product category.

In case of infringement, the rights holder can seek injunctions and financial compensation before EU Design Courts. Since the 2025 reform, the regulation also explicitly provides an infringement right in relation to 3D printing – unauthorised production of a product incorporating the registered design via 3D printing constitutes infringement.

The new Ⓓ symbol

Since 1 May 2025, holders of registered EU designs can use the Ⓓ symbol on their products to signal that the appearance is protected by a registered EU design. This is the design equivalent of the ® symbol used for registered trademarks and helps deter copying by making the protected status immediately visible.

Should you register your EU design?

The answer is yes if any of the following apply:

• Your product has an original, recognisable appearance that sets it apart from competitors
• You sell or plan to sell in more than one EU country
• You operate in a sector where design is a key competitive differentiator – fashion, electronics, furniture, packaging, consumer goods
• You want legal tools to stop copycat products or counterfeits on EU territory
• You are launching a new product and need IP protection in place before the launch date

Design registration is also fast and relatively affordable. At €350 for a single EU-wide registration, it provides excellent geographic coverage at a fraction of the cost of patent protection.

Register a European Union Design with PATENTBOX: What we do

Working with PATENTBOX Kancelaria Patentowa – an IP law firm based in Poznań, Poland — means you get coordinated, end-to-end support for EU design registration from a team experienced in EUIPO procedure. A Polish attorney at our firm handles:

• Assessment of registrability (novelty check, individual character analysis)
• Preparation and review of graphic representations to minimise the risk of formal deficiencies
• Locarno classification and product description
• Filing the REUD application before EUIPO and managing all formal correspondence
• Strategic advice on deferment of publication – whether to request it, and calendar management of the surrender/publication deadline
• Multiple application strategy for portfolios covering several designs
• National design registration in Poland with the UPRP where relevant
• International design registration via the Hague system (WIPO) for non-EU markets
• Renewal tracking and design portfolio management
• Enforcement support – drafting cease-and-desist letters and advising on infringement proceedings

PATENTBOX is listed in the WTR 1000 ranking (Barbara Suszczewicz individually recognised; Monika Harasimowicz nominated). We represent clients from Poland and internationally before EUIPO and the Polish Patent Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Registered Community Design (RCD) and a Registered European Union Design (REUD)?

They are the same right, renamed. As of 1 May 2025, what was called a Registered Community Design (RCD) is now officially called a Registered European Union Design (REUD). All existing RCDs automatically became REUDs on that date.

Can anyone from outside the EU register an EU design?

Yes. Any natural person or legal entity from any country in the world can apply for an EU design registration. However, applicants not domiciled or established in the EU must appoint a professional representative (attorney) authorised to practise before EUIPO.

Is there an unregistered EU design right?

Yes. An Unregistered European Union Design (UEUD) arises automatically when a design is first made publicly available in the EU. It provides protection for 3 years from that date, without any fees or formalities. However, the scope of protection is narrower than for a registered design — it only covers against copying (intentional copying must be proved), whereas a REUD provides protection against independent creation of an identical or similar design. For meaningful long-term protection, registered design is strongly preferable.

How long does it take to register an EU design?

Typically one to two weeks from filing, assuming the formal requirements are met. There is no substantive examination and no opposition period, which makes EU design registration significantly faster than EU trademark registration.

Can I register a logo as an EU design?

Yes — graphic works, symbols and logos can be registered as EU designs (in their visual/design aspect). However, the design right does not protect the name or textual elements in a logo. For protecting a name or word element, trademark registration is the appropriate route. For comprehensive brand protection, combining both an EU trademark and an EU design registration is often recommended by a patent attorney.

Also check

Industrial design registration – how to protect the look of your product?
A comprehensive guide to what industrial designs protect, what they do not, and when to choose design registration over a patent or utility model.

Design registration in the EU – PATENTBOX services
Overview of PATENTBOX’s design registration services, including EU, Polish and international (Hague) filings.

Register a European Union trademark (EUTM): How to file an EU trademark
Step-by-step guide to EU trademark registration – Nice classification, opposition, monitoring and strategy.

Formal requirements for EU design registration
Detailed breakdown of EUIPO graphic file specifications and formal requirements for a successful REUD application.