TITLE II

THE LAW RELATING TO DESIGNS
Section 5

Invalidity

Declaration of invalidity
Article 24
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
A supplementary unregistered design may be declared invalid even after it has lapsed ....
3
An unregistered supplementary unregistered design shall be declared invalid by a ... design court on application to such a court or on the basis of a counterclaim in infringement proceedings.

Grounds for invalidity
Article 25
1
A supplementary unregistered design may be declared invalid only in the following cases:
a
if the design does not correspond to the definition under Article 3(a);
b
if it does not fulfil the requirements of Articles 4 to 9;
c
if, by virtue of a court decision, the right holder is not entitled to the ... design under Article 14;
d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
e
if a distinctive sign is used in a subsequent design, and ... the law ... governing that sign confers on the right holder of the sign the right to prohibit such use;
f
if the design constitutes an unauthorised use of a work protected under ... copyright law ...;
g
if the design constitutes an improper use of any of the items listed in Article 6ter of the ‘Paris Convention’ for the Protection of Industrial Property hereafter referred to as the ‘Paris Convention’, or of badges, emblems and escutcheons other than those covered by the said Article 6ter and which are of particular public interest in the United Kingdom, a qualifying country or a qualifying territory.
2
The ground provided for in paragraph (1)(c) may be invoked solely by the person who is entitled to the supplementary unregistered design under Article 14.
3
The grounds provided for in paragraph (1) ..., (e) and (f) may be invoked solely by ... holder of the earlier right.
4
The ground provided for in paragraph (1)(g) may be invoked solely by the person or entity concerned by the use.
5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consequences of invalidity
Article 26
1
A supplementary unregistered design shall be deemed not to have had, as from the outset, the effects specified in this Regulation, to the extent that it has been declared invalid.
2
Subject to ... claims for compensation for damage caused by negligence or lack of good faith on the part of the holder of the supplementary unregistered design, or to unjust enrichment, the retroactive effect of invalidity of the supplementary unregistered design shall not affect:
a
any decision on infringement which has acquired the authority of a final decision and been enforced prior to the invalidity decision;
b
any contract concluded prior to the invalidity decision, in so far as it has been performed before the decision; however, repayment, to an extent justified by the circumstances, of sums paid under the relevant contract may be claimed on grounds of equity.
Art. 24(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(a) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 25(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 26(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 23(b)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 26(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 23(a) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 24(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(b)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 24(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(b)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 24(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(c)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 25(6) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(d) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 25(1)(g) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(vi) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 25(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(c)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 25(1)(e) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(iv)(aa) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 25(1)(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(v)(bb) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 25(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(b) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 25(5) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(d) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 26(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 23(b)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 24(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(c)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 25(1)(e) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(iv)(bb) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 25(1)(d) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(iii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 25(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(c)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 25(1)(c) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 24(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(b)(iii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 25(1)(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(v)(aa) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)