The Registered Designs Rules 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules consolidate, with modifications, the Registered Designs Rules 1989 (SI 1989/1105) as amended. In addition to minor amendments, they make the following changes of substance—

(a) the forms prescribed under the Registered Designs Act 1949 (“the Act”) have been reduced in number and modified (rule 4 and Schedule 1);

(b) revised provision is made in respect of the address for service to be provided by applicants for registration and by persons concerned in any proceedings to which any of the Rules relate (rule 8);

(c) revised provision is made in respect of the procedure to be followed by applicants when responding to objections made to an application by the registrar (rule 29);

(d) the provision concerning time limits for completing an application is revised to refer also to applications for registration of a design excluded from an earlier application (rule 36);

(e) revised provision is made in respect of applications for the registration of title by any person becoming entitled amongst other things by assignment, transmission or operation of law (rule 42);

(f) the provision concerning requests to alter or correct a person’s address or address for service in the register, or on an application or other document, is revised to require also that the relevant entry be identified in the register, application or document (rule 46(3));

A compliance cost assessment is available, copies of which have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies of the assessment are also available from the Intellectual Property Policy Directorate of the Patent Office, Room 4/3 Hazlitt House, 45 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1AR.

The Rules take effect on 4 December 1995.

At the date of making these Rules the address of the Patent Office is Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 1RH and 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1AY.