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Act on the Legal Protection of Designs
(Designgesetz – DesignG)

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Übersetzung durch Ute Reusch in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Deutschen Patent- und Markenamt

Translation provided by Ute Reusch in cooperation with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office

Stand: Die Übersetzung berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 10 des Gesetzes vom 10. August 2021 (BGBl. I S. 3490)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/geschmmg_2004/BJNR039010004.html.

Version information: The translation includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 10 of the Act of 10 August 2021 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 3490)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/geschmmg_2004/BJNR039010004.html.

Zur Nutzung dieser Übersetzung lesen Sie bitte den Hinweis unter "Translations".

For conditions governing use of this translation, please see the information provided under "Translations".

           
Division 1
Protection requirements
Section 1Definitions
Section 2Design protection
Section 3Exclusion from design protection
Section 4Components of complex products
Section 5Disclosure
Section 6Grace period for novelty
Division 2
Entitled persons
Section 7Right in registered design
Section 8Formal entitlement
Section 9Claims against non-entitled persons
Section 10Citation of designer
Division 3
Registration procedure
Section 11Application
Section 12Multiple applications
Section 13Date of filing
Section 14Foreign priority
Section 15Exhibition priority
Section 16Examination of application
Section 17Further processing of application
Section 18Grounds for non-registrability
Section 19Keeping of Register, registration and design information
Section 20Publication
Section 21Deferment of publication
Section 22Inspection of Register
Section 22aData protection
Section 23Procedural provisions, appeal and appeal on points of law
Section 24Legal aid
Section 25Electronic conduct of proceedings, authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 26Authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Division 4
Accrual and term of protection
Section 27Accrual and term of protection
Section 28Renewal
Division 5
Registered designs as objects of property
Section 29Succession in title
Section 30Rights in rem, levy of execution, insolvency proceedings
Section 31Licensing
Section 32Design application
Division 6
Invalidity and cancellation
Section 33Invalidity
Section 34Entitlement to institute invalidity proceedings
Section 34aInvalidity proceedings before German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Section 34bSuspension
Section 34cIntervention in invalidity proceedings
Section 35Partial maintenance
Section 36Cancellation
Division 7
Protective effects and limitation of protection
Section 37Object of protection
Section 38Rights conferred by registered design and scope of protection
Section 39Presumption of legal validity
Section 40Limitation of rights conferred by registered design
Section 40aRepairs clause
Section 41Right of prior use
Division 8
Legal infringements
Section 42Removal, cessation and desistance, and damages
Section 43Destruction, recall and release
Section 44Liability of owner of enterprise
Section 45Compensation
Section 46Information
Section 46aProduction and inspection
Section 46bSecuring claims for damages
Section 47Publication of judgment
Section 48Exhaustion
Section 49Limitation
Section 50Claims under other statutory provisions
Section 51Criminal provisions
Division 9
Proceedings in design litigation cases
Section 52Design litigation cases
Section 52aAssertion of invalidity
Section 52bCounterclaim for determination or declaration of invalidity
Section 53Place of jurisdiction for claims under this Act and under the Act Against Unfair Competition
Section 54Reduction of value in dispute
Division 10
Provisions regarding measures taken by customs authority
Section 55Seizure on import or export
Section 56Confiscation, objection
Section 57Jurisdictions, appellate remedies
Section 57aProcedure under Regulation (EU) No 608/2013
Division 11
Special provisions
Section 58Domestic representative
Section 59Arrogation of registered design
Section 60Registered designs under Extension Act
Section 61Typographic typefaces
Division 12
Community designs
Section 62Forwarding of application
Section 62aApplication of provisions of this Act to Community designs
Section 63Community design litigation
Section 63aCommunication to European Commission
Section 63bTerritorial jurisdiction of Community design courts
Section 63cInsolvency proceedings
Section 64Order for enforcement
Section 65Punishable infringement of Community design
Division 13
Protection of registered designs under Hague Agreement
Section 66Application of this Act
Section 67Filing of international application
Section 68Forwarding of international application
Section 69Examination of grounds for non-registrability
Section 70Subsequent withdrawal of protection
Section 71Effect of international registration
Division 14
Transitional provisions
Section 72Applicable law
Section 73Limitations of rights
Section 74Transitional provisions relating to the Act to Modernise the Design Act (Geschmacksmustergesetz) and to Amend the Regulations on Notifications of Exhibition Protection (Gesetz zur Modernisierung des Geschmacksmustergesetz sowie zur Änderung der Regelungen über die Bekanntmachungen zum Ausstellungsschutz)