Hague System – ratification by Great Britain and Northern Ireland

As of June 13, 2018, the users of the Hague System concerning the international registration of industrial designs can designate the United Kingdom in their design applications.

1. On March 13, 2018, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland deposited with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) its instrument of ratification of the Geneva (1999) Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.
2. The instrument of ratification was accompanied by the following declarations:

– the declaration referred to in Article 4(1)(b) of the 1999 Act, whereby international applications may not be filed through its Office;

– the declaration referred to in Article 11(1)(a) of the 1999 Act, whereby the maximum period for the deferment of the publication of an industrial design where the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is designated in an international registration is 12 months from the filing date;

– the declaration as required under Article 17(3)(c) of the 1999 Act, specifying that the maximum duration of protection provided for by the legislation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of industrial designs is 25 years.

3. In accordance with Article 28(3)(b) of the 1999 Act, the 1999 Act and the declarations made will enter into force with respect to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on June 13, 2018.
4. The ratification of the 1999 Act by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland brings the number of Contracting Parties to this Act to 54 and the total number of Contracting Parties to the Hague Agreement to 68.

Source: WIPO