The UK Government has initiated a significant 12-week consultation period, running from September 4 to November 27, 2025, aimed at revamping the country’s design protection framework and fortifying its £100 billion (~$135.08 billion) design sector.
The Intellectual Property Office is seeking feedback from independent creators, luxury brand representatives, and various industry professionals. With approximately 80,000 businesses and nearly 2 million jobs, this sector is a vital contributor to economic growth.
From the catwalks of London Fashion Week to the excellence of British automotive design, British creativity is influential on an international scale, shaping trends and fueling economic development. The Intellectual Property Office emphasized this in a recent statement.
“From the iconic Mini to Burberry and the London Underground map, British design is celebrated around the globe for its creativity and innovation. These reforms will dismantle barriers and simplify the process for designers of all types to safeguard their work, further establishing our status as a premier destination for design investment and innovation,” stated Feryal Clark MP, Minister for Intellectual Property.
The UK design protection reform consultation aims to tackle several core issues, including a convoluted tapestry of overlapping rights that causes confusion, instances of bad faith through fraudulent filings, complications arising from Brexit, and antiquated regulations that fail to protect contemporary digital and AI-generated designs.
Proposed measures include enhancing capabilities to combat design theft through improved search and examination powers, strengthening provisions against bad faith claims, and rejecting registrations that do not demonstrate novelty.
Another emphasis is on streamlining procedures by harmonizing processes, consolidating unregistered rights, providing clearer guidance, and introducing deferment options for up to 18 months. The proposals also aim to address Brexit-related challenges by supplying practical remedies for designs that lost their automatic UK–EU protections.
Regarding enforcement and adjudication, the suggestion includes creating a new small claims track within the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court to facilitate affordable resolutions for design disputes. Additionally, to adapt to digital advancements, the proposals advocate for the acceptance of CAD files and video evidence, updating legal definitions, and re-evaluating the scope of protection for designs generated by AI.
“Design is central to our identity as a creative nation. However, the complexities of protecting innovative design ideas have become excessive. Small businesses and startups with novel concepts shouldn’t require extensive legal knowledge just to navigate the system. This is why we are engaging in a consultation to simplify our design framework. Our goal is to eliminate obstacles that hinder creators and make the protection process clear and accessible. When we achieve this, we’re not just aiding individual designers – we’re laying the groundwork for the next wave of British innovation that will stimulate growth across the country,” noted Chris Bryant MP, Minister for the Creative Industries.
Officials assert that these amendments could represent the most significant reform in decades, equipping British designers to effectively compete on a global stage. Responses collected during the UK design protection reform consultation will inform final policy proposals for Ministers.
Paul Alger MBE, international business director of the UK Fashion & Textile Association, remarked, “The UK Fashion & Textile Association welcomes this consultation and is committed to collaborating with the IPO to ensure strong design rights and effective protective mechanisms that support UK creatives and help establish a world-class design rights framework.”
Helen Dickinson OBE, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, added, “The British Retail Consortium supports the Government’s consultation on modernizing the UK’s design protection system. Design is essential for retail success, influencing everything from innovative packaging and store layouts to digital interfaces that enhance the customer experience.”
