Pay attention to new changes in EU design

The EU Design, which will come into effect on May 1, 2025, will combine the previous "grant fee" and "publication fee" into a single application fee, which will be paid in full when a new application is submitted. This change will affect applicants who have requested a delay in publication for a design. Applicants who are accustomed to requesting a delay in publication and choose to waive their rights before publication to avoid paying the publication fee will no longer be able to do so after the new law comes into effect. In addition, applicants will no longer be able to prevent the publication of design patent applications by not paying the publication fee. This means that any applicant who wishes to prevent the publication of a design application, if they do not want their design to be disclosed, will need to make a voluntary waiver request.

In addition, changes in official fees include:

• The official fee for additional designs will be simplified. EUIPO will no longer offer official fee discounts for applications containing more than 10 additional designs, but will charge a fixed application fee for each additional design.
• Reduced invalidation request fees and appeal fees
• Elimination of official fees for recordation of change of ownership
• Elimination of license cancellation fees
• Elimination of document inspection and information provision fees
• Elimination of the Certification/Unofficial Copy Fee