Search Legislation

Registered Designs Act 1949

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Status:

Point in time view as at 01/10/2009.

Changes to legislation:

Registered Designs Act 1949, Cross Heading: Supplemental is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 May 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

SupplementalU.K.

39 Hours of business and excluded days.U.K.

(1)Rules made by [F1the Secretary of State] under this Act may specify the hour at which the Patent Office shall be deemed to be closed on any day for purposes of the transaction by the public of business under this Act or of any class of such business, and may specify days as excluded days for any such purposes.

(2)Any business done under this Act on any day after the hour specified as aforesaid in relation to business of that class, or on a day which is an excluded day in relation to business of that class, shall be deemed to have been done on the next following day not being an excluded day; and where the time for doing anything under this Act expires on an excluded day, that time shall be extended to the next following day not being an excluded day.

40 Fees.U.K.

There shall be paid in respect of the registration of designs and applications therefor, and in respect of other matters relating to designs arising under this Act, such fees as may be prescribed by rules made by [F2the Secretary of State] with the consent of the Treasury.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1S. 40: s. 36 (with ss. 40 and 44(1)) power exercised by S.I. 1991/1628

P2S. 40: for previous exercises of this power see Index to Government Orders.

Textual Amendments

41 Service of notices, etc., by post.U.K.

Any notice required or authorised to be given by or under this Act, and any application or other document so authorised or required to be made or filed, may be given, made or filed by post.

42 Annual report of registrar.U.K.

The Comptroller—General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks shall, in his annual report with respect to the execution of [F3the M1Patents Act 1977], include a report with respect to the execution of this Act as if it formed a part of or was included in that Act.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

43 Savings.U.K.

F4(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of the Crown or of any person deriving title directly or indirectly from the Crown to sell or use [F5products] forfeited under the laws relating to customs or excise.

Textual Amendments

F4S. 43(1) repealed (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(2), Sch. 2 (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

F5Word in s. 43(2) substituted (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(1), Sch. 1 para. 13 (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

44 Interpretation.U.K.

(1)In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned by them, that is to say

  • F6[F7Appeal Tribunal ” means the Appeal Tribunal constituted and acting in accordance with section 28 of this Act as amended by the M2 Administration of Justice Act 1969; ]

  • F8. . .

  • F8. . .

  • assignee” includes the personal representative of a deceased assignee, and references to the assignee of any person include references to the assignee of the personal representative or assignee of that person;

  • [F9author ”in relation to a design, has the meaning given by section 2(3) and (4); ]

  • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10

  • F8. . .

  • [F7the court ” shall be construed in accordance with section 27 of this Act; ]

  • [F11 “Community Design Regulation” means Council Regulation ( EC ) 6/2002 of 12th December 2001 on Community Designs ; ]

  • [F12“complex product” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(3) of this Act;]

  • design” has the meaning assigned to it by [F13[F14section 1(2)] of this Act];

  • [F15“electronic communication” has the same meaning as in the Electronic Communications Act 2000;]

  • [F16employee ”, “ employment ”, and “ employer ” refer to employment under a contract of service or of apprenticeship, ]

  • [F12“national unregistered design right” means design right within the meaning of Part III of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;]

  • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F17

  • prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by [F18the Secretary of State] under this Act;

  • [F12“product” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(3) of this Act;]

  • proprietor” has the meaning assigned to it by section two of this Act;

  • [F11“registered Community design” means a design that complies with the conditions contained in, and is registered in the manner provided for in, the Community Design Regulation;]

  • registered proprietor” means the person or persons for the time being entered in the register of designs as proprietor of the design;

  • registrar” means the Comptroller-General of Patents Designs and Trade Marks;

  • F8. . .

F19(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F19(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)For the purposes of subsection (1) of [F20section 14 of this Act], the expression “personal representative”, in relation to a deceased person, includes the legal representative of the deceased appointed in any country outside the United Kingdom.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P3S. 44: power previously exercised by 1989/1105, 1131 and 1990/1698

P4S. 44(1): s. 36 (with ss. 40 and 44(1)) power exercised by S.I. 1991/1628

Textual Amendments

F6Definition substituted by Administration of Justice Act 1969 (c. 58) Sch. 1

F8S. 44: definitions of“article”,“artistic work”,“corresponding design” and“set of articles” repealed (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(2), Sch. 2 (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

F11Words in s. 44(1) inserted (1.4.2003) by Registered Designs Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/550), regs. 1(1), 2(5) (with regs. 3-5)

F12S. 44(1): definitions of“complex product”,“national unregistered design right” and“product” inserted (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(1), Sch. 1 para. 14(3) (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

F14S. 44(1): words in the definition of“design” substituted (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(1), Sch. 1 para. 14(2) (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

F19S. 44(2)(3) repealed (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(2), Sch. 2 (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

F20Words in s. 44(4) substituted (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(1), Sch. 1 para. 14(4) (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

Marginal Citations

[F2145 Application to ScotlandU.K.

(1)In the application of this Act to Scotland—

  • “account of profits” means accounting and payment of profits;

  • “accounts” means count, reckoning and payment;

  • “arbitrator” means arbiter;

  • “assignment” means assignation;

  • “claimant” means pursuer;

  • “costs” means expenses;

  • “defendant” means defender;

  • “delivery up” means delivery;

  • “injunction” means interdict;

  • “interlocutory relief” means interim remedy.

(2)References to the Crown shall be construed as including references to the Crown in right of the Scottish Administration.]

46 Application to Northern Ireland.U.K.

In the application of this Act to Northern Ireland—

(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22

(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22

[F23(3)References to enactments include enactments comprised in Northern Ireland legislation:]

[F24(3A)References to the Crown include the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in Northern Ireland:]

(4)References to a Government department shall be construed as including references to [F25a Northern Ireland department][F26and in relation to a Northern Ireland department references to the Treasury shall be construed as references to the Department of Finance and Personnel]:

[F27(4A)Any reference to a claimant includes a reference to a plaintiff.]

(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F28

[F2947 Application to Isle of Man.U.K.

This Act extends to the Isle of Man, subject to any modifications contained in an Order made by Her Majesty in Council, and accordingly, subject to any such Order, references in this Act to the United Kingdom shall be construed as including the Isle of Man.]

[F3047A Territorial waters and the Continental shelf.U.K.

(1)For the purposes of this Act the territorial waters of the United Kingdom shall be treated as part of the United Kingdom.

(2)This Act applies to things done in the United Kingdom sector of the continental shelf on a structure or vessel which is present there for purposes directly connected with the exploration of the sea bed or subsoil or the exploitation of their natural resources as it applies to things done in the United Kingdom.

(3)The United Kingdom sector of the continental shelf means the areas designated by order under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964.]

48 Repeals, savings, and transitional provisions.U.K.

(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F31

(2)Subject to the provisions of this section, any Order in Council, rule, order, requirement, certificate, notice, decision, direction, authorisation, consent, application, request or thing made, issued, given or done under any enactment repealed by this Act shall, if in force at the commencement of this Act, and so far as it could have been made, issued, given or done under this Act, continue in force and have effect as if made, issued, given or done under the corresponding enactment of this Act.

(3)Any register kept under the M3Patents and Designs Act 1907, shall be deemed to form part of the corresponding register under this Act.

(4)Any design registered before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be registered under this Act in respect of articles of the class in which it is registered.

F32(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)Any document referring to any enactment repealed by this Act shall be construed as referring to the corresponding enactment of this Act.

(7)Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be taken as prejudicing the operation of [F33section 16(1) and section 17(2)(a) of the M4Interpretation Act 1978], (which [F33relate] to the effect of repeals).

Textual Amendments

F32S. 48(5) repealed (9.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3949, reg. 9(2), Sch. 2 (with transitional provisions in regs. 10-14)

F33Words substituted by virtue of Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), s. 25(2)

Marginal Citations

49 Short title and commencement.U.K.

(1)This Act may be cited as the Registered Designs Act 1949.

(2)This Act shall come into operation on the first day of January, nineteen hundred and fifty, immediately after the coming into operation of the M5Patents and Designs Act 1949.

Marginal Citations

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources