Collection

Designs practice notices

Design Practice Notices (DPNs) are used to notify our stakeholders of changes in relation to examination practice.

• From: Intellectual Property Office
• Published: 5 September 2014
• Last updated: 1 August 2024 — See all updates

We issue new notices when practice changes.

Designs Practice Notice 2024

• Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 01/24: Practice in respect of the examination of a product consisting of multiple components
  • 1 August 2024
  • Statutory guidance

Designs Practice Notice 2022

• Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 02/22: Application forms, deferring publication, and time periods for replying to objections
  • 2 November 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 01/22: Designs Journal and online search facility
  • 21 September 2022
  • Statutory guidance

Designs Practice Notice 2016

• Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 1/16: Use of representations in design applications
  • 1 June 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Designs Practice Notice 2009

• Designs Practice Notice 1/09: Convention country priority claims
  • 28 July 2009
  • Statutory guidance

Designs Practice Notice 2006

• Designs Practice Notice 6/06: Use of colour in designs applications
  • 4 January 2008
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 5/06: The Registered Designs Rules 2006
  • 20 November 2007
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 4/06: Facilitating restoration of lapsed registrations
  • 20 November 2007
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 3/06: Deferment of publication
  • 20 November 2007
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 2/06: Allowing multiple applications
  • 20 November 2007
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 1/06: Ending examination on novelty grounds
  • 20 November 2007
  • Statutory guidance

Designs Practice Notice 2004

• Designs Practice Notice 2/04: US priority claims and supporting documents
  • 3 September 2003
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 1/04: Filing requirements for design applications
  • 3 September 2006
  • Statutory guidance

Designs Practice Notice 2003

• Designs Practice Notice 5/03: Designs dictated by technical function
  • 18 August 2003
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 3/03: Dividing-out design applications
  • 21 March 2003
  • Statutory guidance
• Designs Practice Notice 2/03: Apply to register part of a product
  • 7 January 2003
  • Statutory guidance

Published 5 September 2014
Last updated 1 August 2024 + show all updates

1. 1 August 2024

   Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 01/24: Practice in respect of the examination of a product consisting of multiple components added.

2. 3 January 2023

   Compliance periods on divisional applications has been removed and has been included in the Patents practice notices.

3. 3 January 2023

   Compliance periods on divisional applications added.

4. 2 November 2022

   Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 02/22: Application forms, deferring publication, and time periods for replying to objections added.

5. 1 November 2022

   Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 02/22: Designs Journal and online search facility added.

6. 21 September 2022

   Designs Practice Notice (DPN) 01/22: Designs Journal and online search facility added.

7. 1 June 2016

   Practice notice1/16 added.

8. 5 September 2014

   First published.