5,0/5 Google · 167 reviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.Period: October 2016 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
Have your design registered
A good design is not yet a strong IP right.
We examine which design is to be registered, whether the images capture the subject matter of protection and whether publication, variants, chain of rights and target markets fit the application.
Initial contact is free of charge. Should any costs arise, we will inform you expressly in advance.
Response within 24 hours on working daysTo the design law main page
As of: 23 October 2026
Design application: lamp series A1 of 6
- Views and renderings availablePresent
- Subject matter: shape or surface?Define characteristic featuresCheck
- Three colour variants organisedSingle or multiple applicationMissing
- Trade fair appearance in March documentedClassify disclosureCheck
- Rights of the design agency transferredContract missingMissing
- Territory: DPMA or EUIPOCheck
Point of review: Clarify chain of rights and prior publication before filing
- 1Review designDesign, variants, rights
- 2Plan applicationRepresentation and protection route
- 3FileThe office decides
Schematic illustration of application preparation. Simplified example. The office decides on registration.
We support design registrations for
- Product teams
- Start-ups
- Agencies
- Online retailers
- SMEs
Key points at a glance
- A design is not strongly protected just because it looks good; what matters are the subject matter of protection, representations, disclosure, chain of rights and target market.
- At ITMR, we examine these points before filing and choose with you the appropriate protection route via the DPMA, EUIPO or international registration for markets worldwide.
- The result is an application that fits launch, sales, licensing and later enforcement.
- The competent office decides on registration, and in the event of a dispute a court decides on validity.
- Your contact is Jean Paul Bohne and his team. He is a specialist lawyer for IT law and for copyright and media law. Response within 24 hours on working days.
- DPMA
- German Patent and Trade Mark Office. German trademarks and designs are registered there.
- EUIPO
- European Union Intellectual Property Office. EU trademarks and EU designs are registered there.
Mandate moment
When should a design application be prepared?
Design protection becomes particularly relevant when the design shapes market position, recognition, sales or valuation beyond aesthetics.
In our experience, a quick online application is often not enough, because subject matter, representation, disclosure and chain of rights must fit together.
We support businesses, start-ups, agencies, product teams and rights holders with design registration in Germany, the European Union and via international protection routes.
The focus is not on merely filing an application but on a sound protection decision before launch, platform sales, trade fair, pitch, licensing or scaling.
The design register provides visibility and a formal legal position. In our experience, whether this position holds up later is often decided before filing, with the representations, choice of variants, prior publications and ownership.
- What the office examines
- In the registration procedure, the office does not comprehensively examine whether the design is actually new and has individual character.
- What follows from this
- Registering only formally can result in a register entry that remains open to attack in the event of a conflict.
- Where we start
- Legal support starts earlier, with protectability, scope of protection, rights and later usability.
What is settled at the end of the review
Which visible features are to establish protection, i.e. shape, lines, contours, surface, packaging, pattern, icon, screen or UI element.
Which views, renderings, product images or screens belong in the application and which variants need their own protection.
Whether the DPMA, EUIPO or international registration is the better choice depends on market, timing, budget, sales and later enforcement.
More than a register entry A good design application creates clarity about which design is registered, why this protection route is chosen and what still needs to be secured before publication or sale.
Brief assessment before the initial conversation
Send us images and the planned launch. We will tell you which questions take priority before filing.
How it works
How does design registration work in three steps?
After your enquiry, we will get back to you within 24 hours on working days.
01
Review design You send us images, renderings, product photos, UI screens, packaging or variants. We examine which design matters economically and whether design law is the appropriate protection route.
- Design
- Lamp, three colours
- Launch
- Trade fair in spring
02
Plan application We structure representations, variants, product indications, disclosure, territory and chain of rights. This turns a design into a better starting position.
- VariantsMultiple application
- Chain of rightsAgency contract
03
File We prepare the application with the DPMA, the EUIPO or via international routes and assess follow-up questions. The office decides on registration.
What you have in hand at the end of the review
- 1
Defined subject matter Decision on which visible features are to establish protection.
- 2
Variant matrix Which views, renderings or screens belong in the application and which variants need their own protection.
- 3
Protection route recommendation DPMA, EUIPO or international registration, aligned with market, timing, budget and sales.
- 4
Launch check Earlier publications, planned pitches, trade fair appearances or shop listings are included in planning the application.
- 5
Clarification of the chain of rights Agency, freelancer, employment or cooperation contracts are assessed as to whether the desired owner can file the application.
- 6
Application preparation Formal filing, protection strategy and economic use support each other.
Service package
What do we take on in a design registration?
Service package: design registration
Review of the design We review product images, renderings, screens, packaging, patterns, icons or variants and define the possible subject matter of protection.
Protectability and risk We assess novelty, individual character, disclosure, design density and possible points of attack for the specific mandate.
Structure of representations and variants We clarify which views, versions or design families should be registered and in what form.
Choice of protection route We assess whether a national application, an EU design or an international registration fits the market and sales strategy.
Chain of rights check We take into account whether drafts come from agencies, freelancers, employees, founders or partners and in whose name the application should be filed.
Preparation of and support for the application We prepare the application as lawyers, support the filing and assess follow-up questions on use, licensing or enforcement.
- For whom
- Businesses that want to use a design as a robust IP right in sales, portfolio, negotiation or conflict
- Service
- Review, structuring and preparation of the design application with the DPMA, EUIPO or internationally
- First response
- within 24 hours on working days
- Initial contact
- free of charge, to assess the design, launch and protection route
- Costs
- Official fees and lawyers' fees depend on the territory and number of designs. We will inform you expressly beforehand.
- Not included
- Invalidity proceedings and enforcement against imitators. This is a separate service, on request and as needed.
Who delivers what and who decides
- Images, renderings or screens
- Variants and prototypes
- Previous publications
- Contracts with agency or freelancers
- Subject matter and variant matrix
- Disclosure and launch check
- Protection route recommendation
- Application preparation and support
- You, on scope and territory
- The office, on registration
How does the engagement work?
- 1
First assessment We review your information and tell you whether the package fits or another route makes more sense.
- 2
Offer for the package If the package fits, you receive an offer for review, preparation and filing of the application. We only start once you agree.
- 3
Court steps separately Opposition, invalidity and infringement proceedings and representation before the office or court are not part of the package. We agree these steps separately.
Typical occasions
In which situations does the application need preparation?
In these situations, the value of the application depends on decisions made before filing.
Product or packaging before launch A new product, packaging or design line is to be published. Beforehand, it must be clear which design is being protected.
Digital interface or icon set App screens, dashboards, icons, display elements or digital product worlds shape recognition and should not remain copyable without a protection concept.
Variants, series, design families Several prototypes, renderings, colour variants or product lines raise the question of which versions are registered and which only play a supporting role.
Trade fair, pitch or shop listing If publication, a retailer presentation or a platform listing is imminent, the order of documentation, application and communication counts.
Agency, freelancer, in-house team It should be clarified beforehand who is to be the owner and whether the rights to the draft, variants and use were properly transferred.
EU sales or scaling Germany is not always enough. Platform sales, licensing, EU roll-out or foreign markets may require a different protection route.
Alternatives
Online application or application prepared by a lawyer?
A simple register application can be sufficient if the subject matter, representations, owner, market and publication status are clear. In business cases, the added value comes from the right protection decision beforehand.
| Criterion | Online application only | Prepared by a lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| What is protected? | Submitted views without in-depth review of the scope of protection | Subject matter is structured on the basis of economically characteristic features |
| Which variants? | Pragmatic selection based on available material | Variants, product families and multiple applications are organised strategically |
| Prior publications? | General note on novelty | Disclosure, grace period, provability and timing are specifically assessed |
| Who may file? | Ownership is only entered formally | The chain of rights from agency, freelancer, employee, founders or partners is taken into account |
| Which territory? | Germany or EU is chosen based on cost | DPMA, EUIPO or international route based on market, sales and scaling |
DPMA · EUIPO · international
German design, EU design or international?
A German design suits national markets, test phases or narrowly limited product launches. An EU design is more obvious if several EU markets are affected. International routes come into consideration for relevant foreign markets.
| Protection route | Typical situation | Practical benefit | What matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPMA design | Protection with effect for Germany | National products, first series, test markets, German sales priority | Representations, product indication, fee deadline, disclosure situation |
| EU design | Uniform protection in the EU | EU sales, platform trading, several target markets, cross-border marketing | Scope of protection, multiple application, deferment of publication, renewal |
| International registration | Target countries outside or in addition to the EU | Foreign markets, licensing partners, production or sales in several territories | Target countries, priority, costs, local requirements, sequence |
| Unregistered EU design | Short-lived designs with rapid publication | Helps in fast markets; in our experience, rarely replaces the register strategy for important designs | Provability, proof of copying, time of disclosure, short term of protection |
Documents
What information does the initial review need?
It takes few documents, but the right ones. We clarify which design is to be protected, where it was visible and which markets are planned.
Images, renderings, photos or screens They show what may later be considered as the subject matter of protection.Variants, prototypes or design families They make visible whether a single application is enough or several designs should be organised.Details of creators and contracts Agency, freelancer, employment or cooperation contracts clarify who may file and exploit the design.
Planned launch and publication Relevant for timing, disclosure, priority and approval of communication.Previous publications Shop, social media, trade fair, pitch, catalogue or press can be important for assessing novelty.Target markets and sales channels You help decide whether Germany, the EU or international registration makes more sense.
Right route
When is another ITMR page a better fit?
Design registration is the right route if a specific visible design is to be protected. For disputes, trade marks, copyright, imitation or IP strategy, a different entry point gets you further faster.
Design law for businesses When it is about scope of protection, enforcement, defence, contracts or design strategy as a whole.
Trade mark law When name, logo, product name, series mark or indication of origin are in the foreground.
Copyright law When creative works, images, campaign motifs, content or creative production chains form the core.
Competition law When product imitation, deception as to origin or exploitation of reputation must be examined without a robust registered right.
Fashion law When fashion, collections, drops, lookbooks or fast product cycles shape the case.
Intellectual property and competition When design, trade mark, competition, licensing, know-how and IP strategy are considered together.
Legal framework
What does the EU design reform change?
The European design law reform is modernising EU design law step by step. Representations, digital forms of appearance, multiple applications and territory should therefore be structured early, especially for UI, icons, animations, virtual products, 3D files or product families. Under Section 2 DesignG (German Design Act), a design is only protected if it is new and has individual character.
For EU-oriented products, the strategy should not be decided solely on official fees or speed. We examine whether the application reflects real market use, digital representation, variants and later enforcement.
- DPMA: requirements for protection Official guidance on novelty, individual character and examination in the registration procedure.
- DPMA: fees for design protection Official fee overview for national design applications and maintenance.
- EUR-Lex: Community designs Official overview of the EU Design Regulation and the reform.
- Section 2 DesignG: protected design Novelty and individual character as requirements for protection.
Limits
What the application does not achieve
A register entry is a formal position. In our experience, whether it holds up often only becomes clear in a conflict.
- 1
No official novelty examination The DPMA does not comprehensively examine novelty and individual character. In our experience, these questions often only become relevant in invalidity proceedings or infringement disputes.
- 2
No promised result Whether a design is registered and later holds up is decided by the office and the court. We improve the starting position.
- 3
No substitute for strategy The application does not replace an overarching IP strategy covering trade marks, copyright and competition law.
Why design applications lose value
- Only a marketing view is registered, although other views would capture the subject matter better.
- Several variants are filed in a disorganised way, although individual versions are economically relevant in their own right.
- The design was shown in a shop, pitch, social media or trade fair documents without properly documenting the disclosure situation.
- The rights of the agency, freelancer, in-house team or founders have not been fully transferred or not documented in a provable way.
- Germany is registered, although sales are planned EU-wide or internationally from the outset.
- The application is treated as a cost item, not as the basis for later negotiation, licensing and enforcement.
Your contact
Lawyer and mediator · Partner · Specialist lawyer for IT law · Specialist lawyer for copyright and media law
View profile Düsseldorf, Schirmerstraße 80 · Hamburg, Palmaille 124
TOP lawyer 2027 · Business lawyers · Intellectual property
F.A.Z.-Institut and QuantiQuest. Based on recommendations from peers and assessments by in-house counsel. Source (opens in a new tab)
ReviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.
What clients say
5,0 von 5 · 71 Bewertungen auf anwalt.dePeriod: October 2018 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
“I can only recommend Mr Bohne to anyone who has a concern and is looking for an experienced lawyer in the field of design law etc. He explained everything to me in great detail in every respect and also took the time to make it understandable. …” (translated from German)
“Jean Paul Bohne, lawyer, took a lot of time for the consultation and explained everything well. Even after two years, he still advised me and gave me tips, and as a goodwill gesture even without charge. My conclusion: ITMR can be recommended without reservation, especially Mr Bohne.” (translated from German)
“Jean Paul Bohne, lawyer, carried out the trade mark registration very quickly, competently and flawlessly. Communication was very good and reliable at all times. His friendly and uncomplicated manner also completely convinced me. …” (translated from German)
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about design registration with a lawyer
When should a design be registered?
Ideally before the design is widely published, sold or disclosed to partners without clear protection and confidentiality rules. The protection route should be clarified especially before a launch, trade fair, shop listing, platform sales or investor meeting.
Can you provide support at short notice before a launch?
Yes, if images, variants, publication status and target markets can be provided at short notice. In urgent cases, we first clarify which application can still sensibly and realistically be prepared before publication.
What happens if the design has already been published?
Publication does not automatically rule out protection but can affect novelty, provability and strategy. We then examine when, where, by whom and in what form the design was made visible.
Does the DPMA check whether my design is really new and has individual character?
No. In the registration procedure, the DPMA does not comprehensively examine whether novelty and individual character actually exist.
When is a legal review worthwhile instead of a simple online application?
Above all for important designs, several variants, an unclear chain of rights, EU or foreign markets, imminent publication or an intention to enforce later. Then the risk is not the form but the wrong protection decision.
Can you structure several designs or a design family?
Yes. For product families, series, colour variants, packaging lines, icons or UI sets, we examine which versions belong together, which are independently relevant and which scope of application makes economic sense.
When is an EU design more sensible than a German design?
An EU design is the obvious choice if sales, platform presence, licensing or expansion affect several EU markets from the outset. For purely national tests, a German design may be enough. It depends on the specific market and protection strategy.
Can a digital interface also be protected?
Yes, user interfaces, icons, display elements or graphic symbol systems can be relevant under design law if they are properly captured as a specific visible design.
How are the costs made up?
Of official fees and lawyers' fees. The amount depends on whether the application is national, EU-wide or international, how many designs are affected and which preliminary review is needed. We will inform you expressly beforehand.
Is enforcement against imitators part of the package?
No. Invalidity proceedings and enforcement against imitators are a separate service, on request and as needed.
Next step
Have your design reviewed before publication or sale
If a product, packaging, interface, icon, pattern or design line is economically relevant, the application should not be improvised after market launch. We review the subject matter, representations, variants, chain of rights, territory and next steps.
Enquire well prepared
- Images, renderings or screens
- Brief details of the planned launch
- Known publications
- Target markets
- Who created the design
An incomplete collection is enough to start. We will sort the rest together.
Have the protection route for your design reviewed
Briefly describe the design, launch and target markets.
Helpful are images, renderings or screens and details of previous publications.
Related services
Design law Scope of protection, enforcement, defence and design strategy.Trade mark law Name, logo, product name and indication of origin.Copyright law Creative works, images, content and production chains.Competition law Product imitation, deception as to origin and exploitation of reputation.Fashion law Fashion, collections and fast product cycles.Intellectual property and competition Design, trade mark, competition and licensing considered together.Register a trade mark Secure your own rights.
From our blog: USM Haller II