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Design protection in Europe – Atlanta

March 2019

Event date: 7th March 2019

Thomas Horstemeyer LLP will be hosting a Lunch and Learn on Thursday 7th March in Atlanta. HGF Partner Richard Wylie will be presenting on “Design protection in Europe: Getting the most from the EU system”.

Whether providing additional protection for a product itself, or providing cost effective protection to elements of trade dress or even trade marks, Registered Designs can be the unsung hero of EU protection strategy. Designs are being used in Europe to gain a competitive advantage across a range of industries, from luxury goods to medical devices.

Whilst the protection provided by Registered Designs is somewhat akin to that of a Design Patent, the processes and procedures differ to those of design patents in the USA. In this talk, Richard Wylie will discuss the EU and UK design process, how US companies and practitioners can get the most from the systems and avoid common pitfalls. The talk will look at practical and strategic aspects of the European design law and practice, including recent developments.

The talk will also look at Brexit and what is in store for the design protection system as the UK leaves the EU.

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