Designs and models attorney
Design is an asset. Protect it.
Our firm is distinguished by its deep expertise in design and model law. Thanks to our extensive network of partners and experts, we can offer effective protection in different countries, thus guaranteeing the security of your designs and models on global markets.
served
rating
appearances
Alexandre Bigot-Joly
Partner
Music law, influence, media & communications. Lecturer at CELSA, ISCOM and ESP.
Raphaël Molina
Partner
Intellectual property, digital law & influencer law. Contributor to the 2023 influencer legislation.
Maria Berrada
Partner
Intellectual property, AI, Web3, GDPR & eSports. Legal counsel for the French Video Game Federation.
Our services
How we can help you.
Practical examples
Protection of furniture design copied by a retailer
A furniture designer found a major retailer selling a near-identical copy of their iconic chair. Using the registered Community design, product withdrawal and €60,000 in compensation were obtained.
International filing of an innovative packaging design
A cosmetics brand wanted to protect its original bottle in 15 countries. A filing strategy through the Hague system was developed and protection secured in all targeted territories.
Client reviews
What our clients say about us.
“Great responsiveness from all team members, with solutions found quickly and efficiently.”
Christ C.
“We entrusted INFLUXIO with a complex case. Their technical expertise, strategic vision and the quality of their legal briefs were decisive.”
Mia-Line C.
Contact
Contact INFLUXIO.
Would you like to schedule a meeting or get a quote?
We respond within 24 hours.
Insights
Learn more about this area.
Our services in designs and models law.
Personalized legal advice.
Our firm offers personalized legal advice to meet your specific needs in design and model law. Whether you are an individual creator or a business, we guide you through the intricacies of this field.
Design and model filing and registration.
We assist you in the filing and registration process for your designs and models, ensuring your rights are properly registered and protected.
Management and defense of your rights.
Managing and defending your rights is at the core of our concerns. In case of violation, we implement necessary actions to protect your interests and defend your rights in court.
Counterfeiting and unfair competition actions.
In case of counterfeiting or unfair competition, we intervene quickly to enforce your rights and obtain appropriate compensation for damages suffered.
Protection in France and internationally.
Whether you need protection in France or internationally, we ensure your rights are respected wherever you are.
The Legal Framework for Designs and Models.
Design and model law is governed in France by Articles L.511-1 to L.511-4 of the Intellectual Property Code (Code de la propriété intellectuelle).
To benefit from protection, a design or model must satisfy two cumulative conditions: novelty (Article L.511-2 CPI, no identical design must have been disclosed to the public previously) and individual character (Article L.511-4 CPI, the overall visual impression must differ from that produced by any previously disclosed design).
At the European level, Community Regulation No. 6/2002 of December 12, 2001 establishes a dual protection system: registered Community design (protection up to 25 years in 5-year periods, via filing with EUIPO) and unregistered Community design (3-year protection from first disclosure in the EU, against slavish copying only).
The international Hague System, administered by WIPO under the 1999 Geneva Act, enables protection in multiple countries through a single filing.
Cumulative Protection: A Tailored Strategy.
One of the major advantages of French law lies in the ability to cumulate several protection regimes for the same creation. Copyright protects original creations without filing formalities, for 70 years after the author's death (Article L.123-1 CPI). Design and model law offers protection for 5 years, renewable up to a maximum of 25 years.
A three-dimensional trademark can protect the shape of a product indefinitely, subject to decennial renewals.
The Cofemel ruling (CJEU, September 12, 2019, C-683/17) clarified the articulation between these regimes at the European level, confirming that the sole criterion for copyright protection is originality, thus dismissing the requirement for a 'degree of creativity' or additional 'aesthetic effect.' This cumulation of protections constitutes an essential strategic tool for creators and businesses, enabling legal defense to be adapted to each situation: design counterfeiting action (proof facilitated by registration), copyright infringement action (longer protection duration), or unfair competition action (subsidiarily).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Yes, it is possible to protect a design or model internationally by filing with competent authorities, including WIPO (global) and EUIPO (European).
Copyright protects artistic and literary works, while design and model protection concerns industrial or artisanal creations with a new visual aspect and individual character (Articles L.511-2 and following of the Intellectual Property Code).
In case of unauthorized use violating design protection, you can pursue counterfeiting actions to enforce your rights. Our firm also defends your registered trademark with INPI or EUIPO.
A designs and models attorney is an industrial property expert who accompanies you in filing and registering your creations and intervenes in case of counterfeiting or disputes.
A registered design in France (INPI) or Europe (EUIPO) is protected for an initial period of 5 years from filing, renewable in 5-year periods up to a maximum of 25 years. An unregistered Community design benefits from 3 years of protection from its first disclosure in the EU.
Related publications
