A major Government consultation launched by the Intellectual Property Office aims to modernise Britain’s design protection system and strengthen the UK’s position as a global design powerhouse.
Industry analysis estimates that the design sector contributes nearly £100 billion annually to the UK economy, with around 80,000 design businesses supporting nearly 2 million jobs. The UK’s creative industries are global leaders. Spanning everything from traditional craftsmanship to cutting-edge digital design, British creativity helps shape the world.
Strong intellectual property protection, including design rights, creates the legal foundation that enables British designers to compete and innovate. It allows them to license their work and take action to stop others copying them without their permission.
However, to maintain this competitive edge, the UK’s design protection framework requires modernisation. The UK has a complex patchwork of overlapping rights, which can create confusion for design businesses including the small firms that make up 92% of the sector. This can leave many unclear about which protections apply to their work or how to navigate the system.
There is evidence that some applicants are registering designs for products that aren’t theirs, with limited ways to stop this abuse under current law. Brexit has also created new complexities, as designs can no longer get automatic protection in both UK and EU markets. Meanwhile, the system struggles to keep pace with digital innovation, making it harder to protect animated designs and modern interfaces.
These proposals could lead to the most significant transformation of UK design protection in decades, creating a modern framework fit for the digital age.
Main areas for potential reform
The consultation covers specific areas of potential reform including:
Fighting design theft – Proposing search and examination powers to identify and reject designs that lack novelty or individual character, particularly targeting anti-competitive filings. The government is also proposing bad faith provisions to prevent dishonest applications for well-known products or designs not owned by the applicant.
Streamlining processes – Potential changes to make the system simpler, including harmonising time limits and procedures across different types of design protection, consolidating the complex patchwork of unregistered designs and providing clearer guidance that can be understood without requiring legal expertise. We are also considering introducing formal deferment provisions allowing applicants to keep designs confidential for up to 18 months. This may particularly benefit sectors with long production cycles.
Resolving post-Brexit complexities – Providing certainty for UK businesses who operate internationally. The government is exploring practical solutions to address challenges where designs can no longer gain automatic protection across UK and EU markets through single disclosure.
Strengthening enforcement and access to justice – Exploring creating a small claims court track within the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court specifically for design disputes, making enforcement more accessible and affordable for small businesses.
Modernising for the digital age – Proposals include allowing applicants to submit new file formats such as video clips and CAD files when applying for design protection. The government is also consulting on updating legal definitions to ensure future industries and technologies can benefit from design protection. Additionally, the government is considering whether designs created entirely by AI should receive protection.
The consultation runs for 12 weeks from 4 September 2025 until 27 November 2025.
The government is seeking responses from design professionals across all sectors – from independent designers and luxury brands to automotive manufacturers, digital agencies, and interior design studios. Legal professionals and other stakeholders interested in protecting creative work are also encouraged to share their views on these important reforms.
Consultation responses will help inform policy options that Ministers may take forward.
Feryal Clark MP, Minister for Intellectual Property, said: “From Mini to Burberry and the London Underground map, British design is renowned worldwide for its creativity and innovation. It contributes almost £100 billion to our economy – supporting the growth which is powering this government’s Plan for Change.
“These reforms will help remove barriers and make it easier for designers of all shapes and sizes to protect their creations – cementing our position as one of the world’s leading destinations for design investment and innovation.”
Chris Bryant MP, Minister for the Creative Industries, said: “Design is at the heart of everything we do as a creative nation. Whether it’s the chair you’re sitting on, the app on your phone, or the car you drive to work, someone has imagined it, crafted it, and brought it to life. However, protecting brilliant design ideas has become unnecessarily complex. If you’re a small business or start-up with an innovative idea, you shouldn’t need extensive legal expertise just to navigate the system.
“That’s why we’re consulting on simplifying our designs framework. We want to remove the barriers that hold back creators and make protection straightforward and accessible. Because when we get this right, we’re not just supporting individual designers – we’re building the foundation for the next wave of British innovation that will drive growth right across the country.”
Adam Williams, CEO of the Intellectual Property Office, said: “The UK’s design sector contributes nearly £100 billion to our economy annually, yet too many creators – particularly smaller businesses and independent designers – find our current system confusing and difficult to navigate. In a rapidly evolving global marketplace, we need a framework that’s not just fit for today, but ready for tomorrow.
“This comprehensive consultation demonstrates our commitment to building a modern, accessible system that protects creativity and innovation while preventing anti-competitive abuse. Whether you’re an independent designer with a breakthrough idea or major manufacturer protecting established products, our design system should work for you. I encourage everyone across the design community to share their views and insights and help shape the future of UK design protection.”
