Industrial Designs or Models
An Industrial Design or an Industrial Model is the outward visible appearance of the whole or part of a product resulting from the specific features thereof, such as lines, shape, colour etc.
Examples of products that can be granted protection as Designs or Models are jewelry, garments and shoes, machines and constructions, furniture and toys.
A Design or a Model can be protected if it is new and has an individual character. The owner of a protection title has the exclusive right to use the Design or Model, i.e. to put it onto the market, export it etc., in this way preventing any third party not having his consent from using it.
NATIONAL DESIGNS OR MODELS
In Greece, applications for protection of Industrial Designs or Models are filed with the Organization of Industrial Property (www.obi.gr). The protection title is valid for up to 25 years as from the application date, if the owner so wishes, whereas the protection fee is renewed every five years.
EUROPEAN UNION DESIGNS OR MODELS
The European Union Designs are protected in all countries of the European Union only with one application for registration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office in Alicante, Spain (www.euipo.europa.eu). A registered European Union Design is initially valid for five years from the date of filing and can be renewed in blocks of five years up to a maximum of 25 years.
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN APPLICATIONS
Owners can extend the protection of their Design or Model outside their country by filing an international application.
The filing of the international application aims at the simultaneous (through a single application) seeking of a Design protection in each of a number of countries all over the world under the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs. An international deposit produces the same effects in each of the countries concerned as if the Design had been deposited there directly, unless protection is refused by the competent Office of that country. The duration of the international protection is respective to that national.
The applicant has to file a single international application with the International Bureau in Geneva (www.wipo.int). Alternatively, he can file it with the national Office of a contracting state, which will act as a “Receiving Office”, where the law of such state so permits.
STATES THAT CAN BE DESIGNATED IN AN
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN APPLICATION
(under the HAGUE AGREEMENT )
status in April 2026
| African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) | Mali |
| Albania | Mauritius |
| Armenia | Mexico |
| Azerbaijan | Monaco |
| Belarus | Mongolia |
| Belgium | Montenegro |
| Belize | Morocco |
| Benin | Namibia |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Netherlands |
| Botswana | Niger |
| Brazil | Norway |
| Brunei Darussalam | Oman |
| Bulgaria | Poland |
| Cambodia | Republic of Korea |
| Canada | Republic of Moldova |
| China | Republic of North Macedonia |
| Cote d'Ivoire | Romania |
| Croatia | Russian Federation |
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Rwanda |
| Denmark | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Egypt | Samoa |
| Estonia | San Marino |
| European Union | Sao Tome & Principe |
| Finland | Saudi Arabia |
| France | Senegal |
| Gabon | Serbia |
| Georgia | Singapore |
| Germany | Slovenia |
| Ghana | Spain |
| Greece | Suriname |
| Hungary | Switzerland |
| Iceland | Syrian Arab Republic |
| Israel | Tajikistan |
| Italy | Tunisia |
| Jamaica | Turkey |
| Japan | Turkmenistan |
| Kyrgyzstan | Ukraine |
| Latvia | United Kingdom |
| Liechtenstein | United States of America |
| Lithuania | Uzbekistan |
| Luxembourg | Vietnam |
82 states/regions
See More Practice Areas
Trademarks
Have every Trademark protected in order to ensure the exclusive right of its use and to prevent unfair competitors from using identical or similar ones for inferior products or services.
Patents
The owner of a Patent is granted the exclusive right to make full use of it and, without the Patent owner’s consent, the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed or sold.
Utility Models
Utility Model Certificates can be granted to the inventors of three-dimensional objects with definite shape and form, capable of giving a solution to a technical problem, and ensure the exclusive right of their use.
Unfair Competition
Any action opposed to the morals of industry and commerce practice is considered as an action of unfair competition. Legal steps against the infringers will force them to refrain from the illegal actions against their competitors.
Internet Domain Names
Whether it’s large enterprises or individuals, everyone should secure their presence in the Internet and protect themselves from infringements of their Domain Names.
Copyright
The original creators of literary and artistic works hold the exclusive right to use them. They can, consequently, obtain court orders to stop production or possession of “pirated” goods related to protected works, as well as seek damages for loss of financial rewards and recognition.
See More Practice Areas
Trademarks
Have every Trademark protected in order to ensure the exclusive right of its use and to prevent unfair competitors from using identical or similar ones for inferior products or services.
Patents
The owner of a Patent is granted the exclusive right to make full use of it and, without the Patent owner’s consent, the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed or sold.
Utility Models
Utility Model Certificates can be granted to the inventors of three-dimensional objects with definite shape and form, capable of giving a solution to a technical problem, and ensure the exclusive right of their use.
Unfair Competition
Any action opposed to the morals of industry and commerce practice is considered as an action of unfair competition. Legal steps against the infringers will force them to refrain from the illegal actions against their competitors.
Internet Domain Names
Whether it’s large enterprises or individuals, everyone should secure their presence in the Internet and protect themselves from infringements of their Domain Names.
Copyright
The original creators of literary and artistic works hold the exclusive right to use them. They can, consequently, obtain court orders to stop production or possession of “pirated” goods related to protected works, as well as seek damages for loss of financial rewards and recognition.