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[February 2002]
Design Directive
Ceramics designs are to receive uniform legal protection across the European Union in the future because of the agreement by the EU Council of Ministers of a new Regulation on the subject; it accords designers legal protection from the theft of their ideas - short of patent or copyright protection - but significant enough to deter plagiarists.Until now, said the Commission, design rules have varied significantly within the EU, meaning that ceramic manufacturers faced a long and costly process to secure legal protection for their designs in every Member State.
The new system creates an automatic three-year protection for any published design and a registration system enabling companies to prolong protection until 25 years has passed. A European Commission statement said that the law was a "long awaited legal instrument which is necessary for the protection of creations and investments". It added: "Industrial designs have become increasingly important recently and their protection is vital for many sectors such as… tableware and ceramics."
ENDS