The Four-step form

With our Four-step application form, you can easily file a registered Community design in just four steps, in any of 23 EU languages. The form is designed for Fast Track, with built-in guidance and autocomplete options to help you register your design in two days or less.

For information on how we examine design applications, please read our Guidelines.

Step 1: Design details

• Languages and applicant reference

  First language
  Select a first language on the ‘Apply now' page from any of 23 EU languages.

  Second language
  You must choose a second language from one of the five working Office languages (ES, DE, EN, FR and IT). The second language must be different from the first language that you have chosen. Please remember that your design could be challenged in this second language. If you would like to receive official correspondence in your second language, select the corresponding checkbox.

  Note: If your first language is one of the Office's five official languages, you cannot choose the option to receive official correspondence in your second language. Therefore, the checkbox will not be displayed.

  Applicant reference
  Your reference should consist of up to 30 alphanumeric characters, using the Roman alphabet: a-z, A-Z, 0-9 and symbols. Do not use spaces.

  If you have any queries about your design in the future, please quote the RCD Application Number assigned by the Office.

• Design(s) information

  Add your design views in two ways:

  • add images (JPEG format),
  • add a three-dimensional dynamic view and static views obtained from it.

  Images
  Use the drag-and-drop function or browse on your computer to upload your design images. You can upload up to seven protected images and up to three unprotected ones.

  You cannot upload unprotected views until you have uploaded seven protected views.

  The requirements of the images to be uploaded are:

  • 2MB per image,
  • JPEG format
  • RGB, CMYK (which will be converted to RGB, possibly affecting the colours), Grayscale, BW or colour models. In order to avoid the automated conversion of colours and to keep their fidelity on the screen, it is recommended the use of RGB images, rather than CMYK.uploading of 3D dynamic views AND other static views is restricted,
  • printing resolution: min 72, max 300 DPI,
  • maximum image size: 5 000 x 5 000 pixels,
  • JPEG progressive images will be converted into baseline images.

  Attachment requirements (for priority claims, exhibition priorities, general authorisations for employee representatives):

  • PDF,
  • JPEG.

  Specifications
  The view must be reproduced on a neutral background and must be of a quality that allows all the details of the matter for which protection is sought to be clearly distinguished, and for it to be reduced or enlarged for entry in the Register and direct publication in the Community Designs Bulletin.

  The representation of the design may not contain any explanatory text, wording or symbols, or be numbered.

  Repeating surface patterns: Where registration of a design that consists of a repeating surface pattern is applied for, the representation of the design must show the complete pattern and a sufficient portion of the repeating surface.

  Typeface: Where registration of a design consisting of a typeface is applied for, the representation of the design must consist of a string of all the letters of the alphabet, upper case and lower case as applicable, and of all the Arabic numerals, as well as a text of five lines, all at 16-pitch.

  We recommend that you pay special attention to these specifications. Practice shows that non-compliance with them is one of the most frequent reasons for the Office to raise a deficiency, which inevitably leads to additional work and a considerable loss of time for our users.

  The use of other elements to help identify the features of a design
  The representation of a design should be limited to the features for which protection is sought. However, it may comprise other elements that help to identify the features of a design for which protection is sought. It is the applicant's responsibility to use, for example, dotted lines and boundaries in such a way as to make clear the features for which protection is sought.

  If you wish to highlight a certain part of the design, to show either that you are only claiming that specific part or that you are expressly not claiming it, you can use one of the following:

  • broken lines for indicating elements for which no protection is sought;

  • boundaries for surrounding features of the design for which you do want protection;

  • colour shading and blurring for excluding a number of features from protection;

  • separations for indicating that the precise length of the design is not claimed.

  No explanatory text, wording or additional symbols may be used in the design views.

  What are the key benefits of having images that are unprotected?

  • They are considered filed with the application form, which means that they can therefore form part of a priority claim in a subsequent application.
  • They can be used to explain the design and this may assist the examiner when assessing the protected images.
  • The applicant can review the images after uploading them and then change an unprotected view to a protected view and vice versa.

  Note: Views that are unprotected will be available in eSearch for design holders only.

  Three-dimensional dynamic views (3D dynamic views)
  RCD e-filing accepts a new representation type for views as a tool for obtaining views in the application: 3D dynamic views. If you upload a 3D dynamic view from your computer in OBJ, STL or X3D format, you will be able to obtain static views of protected or unprotected design images.

  3D dynamic views simulate 3D perspectives in 2D (the screen) because you can manipulate the view (by moving it or zooming in and out) to see the different perspectives. Any views captured from the 3D view cannot be manipulated (static views) and will be added to the form as a view for the corresponding design.

  Use the drag-and-drop function or browse your computer's files to upload 3D dynamic views of your design.

  3D dynamic views — technical specifications
  Once you have uploaded your 3D dynamic view to the RCD application form, it will be displayed with the following technical characteristics:

  • grey gradient background;
  • the 3D dynamic view itself is displayed in white;
  • 3D dynamic views can be uploaded in any of the following three formats: OBJ, STL or X3D;
  • maximum size for 3D models attachments -OBJ, STL, X3D- (for design views): 20MB;
  • static views obtained from the 3D dynamic view will be monochrome (in black and white only);
  • shading: highlighting the 3D dynamic view with the light source based on the perspective of the user;
  • size in pixels is 490 x 315 and remains fixed. In the frame, users can see that the area available for the 3D dynamic view remains fixed if they make their browser larger or smaller;
  • when using the 3D dynamic view option, all static views must be taken from the 3D view.

  Note: The X3D file type is not supported by Internet Explorer 10 or earlier.

  Note: Designs consisting in or containing a surface ornamentation should be submitted without using 3D dynamic views.

  Note: Binary STL is not supported. You may convert your binary STL to standard STL using conversion tools.

  What are the key benefits of using 3D dynamic views?

  • When the design is published, it will appear in eSearch and will be available not only for examiners but for all interested parties, such as third parties and judges.
  • It will be clear that the static images come from a single design.
  • It will help to understand how the different static views relate to each other.
  • It will be very unlikely that the representation of the design is deficient, which benefits both applicants and the Office.

  How to move a 3D dynamic view?
  With a 3D dynamic view you can present your design from different camera viewpoints.

  To move a 3D dynamic view
  Use the arrows (left, right, up, down) on the keyboard and/or the zoom.

  
   

  Or use your mouse and click on the view itself.

  
   

  To make it easier to change the camera viewpoints, use the ‘Basic keyboard controls' option and select one of the views.

  
   

  How to take images of the view you want
  There are two ways:

  
  
  

  • After choosing the view from your 3D dynamic view, click on the ‘Create view from this viewpoint' button. The image will then appear as below.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
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  • Click the ‘Create predefined views' button, which will automatically create all seven views shown on the basic keyboard controls. The images below will then appear.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
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  You can create up to seven protected images and also use the function to create three more unprotected images.

  Move, delete and open an image
  Click on the ‘Move' icon on the image to change the order of the design views and to change unprotected images to protected ones.

  Click on the ‘Delete' icon on the image to delete the design view.

  Click on the uploaded image and open it in full size.

• Product indication(s)/Locarno Classification

  Product indication
  You will need to add a product indication. This does not affect the scope of protection of the registered Community design, but is necessary for legal reasons. You must choose the product indication from the Eurolocarno list of products. You will have to provide a product indication for each design you are applying for.

  Classification
  By using Eurolocarno, you will automatically see which class of the Locarno classification the product belongs to.

• How can I add a product indication?

  Before explaining how to add a product indication it is important to know that:

  • one design cannot exceed five terms;
  • in a multiple application all the terms have to be in the same class, with the exception of Class 32, which can be entered additionally (because ornamentation is contained in Class 32).

  The product indication and Locarno classification can be added in two different ways by:

  1. Entering the product that your design represents and clicking on the ‘Add' button, the term will be autocompleted and verified according to the EuroLocarno list of products.

     
      

     If the product indication appears in a green box, this means that the terms have been validated correctly. The class and subclass numbers will automatically appear in the left-hand ‘Locarno Classification' column, as seen below:

     
      

  2. If you click on the ‘Browse' link: the whole list of Eurolocarno product indications will appear in a modal window.

     
     
     
      

     This tool helps you select the correct product indications, including classes and subclasses. You will need to enter the product indication in the search bar and click on the ‘Search' button or search by class/subclass.

     
      

     All the search results will then appear with their class and subclass identification. Tick the box on the left of the list of results to select the correct product indication. When you have completed your selection, you can review the whole list by clicking on ‘View your selection' or on the ‘Next' button. Then click on ‘Continue' to add the terms to your design application.

     If the term has been validated correctly, the correct indication of a product is presented in green dotted boxes and class and subclass numbers will appear automatically in the left-hand ‘Locarno Classification' column.

     
• Deferment and description

  Deferment
  When filing a Community design application, you can request that its publication be delayed for a period of up to 30 months. The product can therefore be kept confidential until you are ready to disclose it. If you choose not to publish the RCD at all, the registration will lapse at the end of the 30-month deferment period.

  You will need to pay the relevant publication fees to publish a design after a period of deferment of publication.

  Note: The publication fee can be paid together with the deferment fee when you submit the application. However, if you eventually decide not to publish, the publication fee will not be refunded.

  Description
  You can add a description of the representation of the design if you wish but this is optional.

  Article 1(2) CDIR states that the application may contain a single description per design not exceeding 100 words explaining the representation of the design or the specimen; the description must relate only to those features that appear in the reproductions of the design or the specimen; it should not contain statements as to the purported novelty or individual character of the design or its technical value.

  However, if the description does not comply with the Regulation, no objection is raised. The description is not examined, although the examiner may use it to resolve any doubts. For example, if there are two images showing different cards, the examiner must raise an objection, but if the description indicates that what is shown are two different sides of the same card, no objection needs to be raised.

  Note: Descriptions submitted after the date on which the application was filed will not be accepted.

  
• Designer(s) information

  This section is optional and the aim is to link the designer to the relevant design. However, if you select ‘Create new', you must provide the following information about the designer(s):

  • either the surname and first name of an individual designer;
  • or the name of the team of designers, where appropriate.

  
  
  
   

  If the Office has previously assigned an ID number to the designer, you will need to enter this number and the data will then be imported from the database.

  Where the designer has waived the right to be cited, please tick the appropriate box, ‘Waiver'.

  
• I want to claim priority

  If you have applied for the same design in the last six months, you can ask for a priority claim by clicking the ‘Add Priority' button:

  

  • select the 'Country of first filing' from the drop-down list;
  • type the priority number or design ID (the field will autocomplete if the design details are available in DesignView) and click on ‘Import'; or
  • enter the details manually by clicking on the ‘Create manually' button;
  • add the filing date and filing number. It is mandatory to attach the required documents at the time of application, except for cases where the country of first filing is the Office.

   

  Note: If the first filing was not in one of the official EU languages, then a copy of the translation must be attached.

• Save the design and copy from the design

  Once you have added all the required information about the design, save it. You will then be able to see a summary of your design information and edit it.

  
   

  To add a new design click on the ‘Add new' button or copy information from the design that you have already inserted by clicking on the ‘Copy from design' button. If you have already submitted more than one design, you can choose the number of the exact design whose information you would like to copy.

  

Step 2: Similar designs

• What is DesignView?

  DesignView is an online multilingual consultation tool that is easy to use. Using this tool any internet user can search, free of charge, the designs of all participating offices, including EUIPO and participating national offices.

  It gives access to design applications and registrations provided by the participating offices using a single and unique platform. Each office owns the content it makes available and is responsible for its daily update.

• What can DesignView do for you?
  1. Check the existing designs and market trends across Europe free of charge.
  2. Obtain easy access to post-registration services.
  3. Help to check the novelty of a design.
  4. Help customs in their procedures or judges, for example, in cases of conflict between parties in legal administrative and legal processes.
  5. Assist offices in carrying out an in-depth examination, for example, or help examiners to check earlier priority rights.

Step 3: Create an account/Log in

• Create an account/Log in

  You will have two options at this point:

  • if you do not have an Office account, click on the ‘Create account' button;
  • if you are an Office account holder, enter your details and click on the ‘Login' button.

  Your data will then be imported into the form.

  RCD applications for non-EU residents/companies
  You can apply for an RCD if you live outside the European Union (EU), but you will need to use the Advanced form and appoint a representative.

• Applicants and representatives

  An applicant and/or a representative can be included by:

  Adding an existing applicant/representative
  Type in the applicant/representative's name — a list of existing entries will be displayed — make your choice and click on ‘Import'. The applicant's/representative's details will be shown; you will need to click on the ‘Add' button to continue. This method can be used if the details have been entered on a previous occasion.

  Note: You can only add an existing representative if you are logged in as a representative.

  Adding a new applicant

  1. Click on the ‘Create new' button and enter the details.
  2. Select the type of applicant from the drop-down menu.
  3. Complete the rest of the form (mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk *).
  4. Click on the ‘Add' button to continue.

  Note: You cannot add new representatives when using the Four-step Fast Track form.

  Associations
  When filing an application on behalf of an association, please only enter the association ID.

• Drafts (save my application as a draft)
  When you are completing your application form, you can save the work already done at any time by saving the application as a draft. Click on the ‘Save application' button in the right-hand column of the application represented by this icon . The draft can be accessed from the ‘Drafts' section in your User Area.
• Reset application form

  If you want to start you application again, click on the ‘Reset application' button and all the previously completed fields will be cleared and the information deleted.

• Print my application

  You can print out your application form at any time during the application process.

Step 4: Confirm and pay

• Confirmation

  Review your details and your design details
  At this stage you can see the application details that you are about to submit; you can still modify these in ‘Design details' before submitting the application.

• Signature

  By completing the fields ‘First name and Surname' and ‘Capacity of signatory', you confirm that you have checked the details and wish to submit the design application.

  
   

  You can add one person as an additional signatory.

  Note: Remember that only physical persons are permitted to sign an application form.

  Once you have reviewed your application, click on the ‘Confirm and Pay' button.

  
   

  You will need to choose the payment method you wish to use in the payment window.

  Note: The option to pay by bank transfer is not available for the Four-step Fast Track application form.

  When you click on the ‘Confirm payment' button and ‘Continue' in the following window, your application will be submitted.

  
• What happens after I have submitted my application form?

  Once the submission process has been completed you will receive confirmation that your application has been correctly submitted, together with an official application number. You will also need to download your official receipt and confirmation in a single PDF file. Please note that the Office does not issue copies of receipts.