Industrial design protection in the United States and Europe: A primer for small businesses

On May 10, 2024, the USPTO hosted a webinar that focused on the importance and protection of industrial designs to small and medium-sized enterprises doing business in the United States or the European Union (EU). 

Featuring presentations by experts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the program examined:

• The importance of intellectual property for designers 
• How to identify if your company has a protectable design
• The industrial design patent process in the United States
• The industrial design registration process in the EU
• Resources to help you navigate the industrial design systems in both the United States and the EU

This webinar was organized by the USPTO in collaboration with the EUIPO. 

Video

A video recording of the webinar is now available.

Additional information

This program was presented by the USPTO’s Global Intellectual Property Academy, a unit of the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA). The office advises the administration and other federal government departments and agencies on domestic and international intellectual property (IP) legal and policy issues. It also provides technical assistance and training on IP-related matters to U.S. stakeholders and both U.S. and foreign government officials.