General

The new physical rendition of an implement or appliance, such as an electric shaver, a pair of trousers, a lamp, a glass or a chair, can be protected as a model. The same protection is awarded to a two-dimensional pattern on material or the design of wallpaper; these can be protected as drawings.

Designers and industrial designers invest a lot of time,

money and energy in the appearance of a product. An attractive form is one of the reasons why a consumer decides to buy the product. For some products, it is even the main reason - e.g. a settee. In order to prevent the model being copied by competitors, it is possible to protect the product using a model registration. The holder of the registered model may act if someone else commercially operates the same object (or an object with only minor differences). This way the designer's or manufacturer's investment is protected for a certain period of time.

Abroad

With one registration you receive protection for the whole of the Benelux. If you require protection in other countries, you can ask for an international registration. With one international registration therefore you are able to register your model in more than 30 countries. You then decide in which of the 30 countries you wish to have your model registered, for example in Germany, France, Italy, or Switzerland; countries that, among others, have signed a treaty. Other countries require national registration, and de Merkplaats can assist you with that too. We like to use our network of foreign agents and agencies to obtain optimum protection for your models abroad.