The recently-published WIPO Technology Trends: Future of
Transportation report takes a look at the IP and technology
trends shaping the future of this broad and exciting technological
field, which includes automotive, marine, aviation and space.
Looking beyond patents to industrial designs, the report notes
the importance of designs within the transportation sector, largely
due to their ability to enhance functionality and customer
appeal.
An industrial design covers the visual aspects of a product
– its shape, lines, patterns and overall look –
elements which are key in a competitive landscape where aesthetics
can matter as much as technical function.
The WIPO report uses data relating to industrial designs filed
under Locarno Class 12 (transportation). This data
shows the changes in design registrations over the past decade.
Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in registered design
filings, with a noticeable dip around the pandemic period.
Image source: WIPO
The report also provides data on the origin of these design
filings. As you might expect, China, the United States, the
European Union, the Republic of Korea and Japan lead the way, all
countries or regions with large automotive industries. Arguably,
the UK and Singapore are punching above their weight, given their
comparatively small size. And in Europe, Germany is the run-away
leader in transportation design filings.
Image source: WIPO
These statistics on registered designs are interesting,
particularly as closely-related Locarno classes, such as Class 21
(furniture and articles not classified elsewhere) and Class 8 (hand
tools and implements) have shown similar growth trends, perhaps
indicating the way in which design fields can influence one
another.
The steady increase in filings may also indicate that more
innovators in the transportation sector are beginning to catch on
to the value of registered designs, which – compared to patents -
can in certain jurisdictions, such as the UK and the EU, be
relatively quick and inexpensive to file, last for up to 25 years
and require renewing only once every 5 years.
Of course, patents and registered designs protect different
aspects of intellectual property. However, with careful planning,
both can be used together, in combination with trade marks, to provide
broad and robust protection for innovation in this sector.
And with the recent changes to design rules in the EU,
which broaden the definition of “design” to include
digital and virtual designs, graphical user interfaces, and so on,
and extend the scope of protection to cover the creation and
sharing of 3D print files, we can expect the filings of registered
designs to continue to grow in the transportation sector.
Are you missing out on registered design protection? We have
just what you need – a dedicated team of design specialists, who can
also advise you on patents and trade marks. Get in touch with us
today for a free, no-obligation discussion.
In the automotive industry, for example, a well-designed
car is not just visually appealing; it often reflects brand
identity, safety and innovation.
www.wipo.int/…
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
link
