PRODUCT DESIGN. SHAPE IS POWER.

Design is more than aesthetics. Design is emotional. Instinctive. Felt before it's understood.

It's the look, feel, and form of an idea brought to life. It's what makes people pause, notice, remember. It's all the things that add a little more to our lives – more ease, more beauty, more delight:

The product silhouette, the unique flow of curves and angles. The color story that carries the vibe. That texture you obsessed over. The detail you tweaked for weeks, until it had that perfect in-hand experience. That shape of interlocking parts you engineered to feel satisfying. The cut of packaging that makes unboxing feel like storytelling.

You gave them shape. We're here to add weight and legal edges, to protect their uniqueness and to make sure it stays yours.

Discover more examples of what qualifies as a protectable design here.

THE KEY BENEFITS OF DESIGN REGISTRATION – WHY PROTECT YOUR DESIGN?


Because copycats move fast. And design sells.

Most won´t copy your brand name first. It´s too obvious, and likely already trademarked. Instead, they go for the backdoor many overlook: the design, your brand's visual DNA. The vibe, the curves, the feel. That's the easier target. Design registration is how you close that door, simple and affordable.


TOP 5 STRATEGIC VALUE DRIVERS OF DESIGN REGISTRATION

◈ Exclusive Rights to Stop Knock-Offs Before They Scale
Without registration, enforcing your rights is slow, costly, and frankly, often impossible. A registered design gives you exclusive rights to your product's entire physical, visual, and emotional experience. The legal foundation to stop imitations before they grow.

◈ Strategic Moat and Warning Sign That Says: Don't Even Try, It's Taken.
Design registration strengthens your legal position in every market you enter. When competitors see that Ⓓ on your product, they know the territory is claimed. Making them think twice before encroaching on your visual space.

◈ Protected Market Lead and Defensible Competitive Edge
Brands with protected design elements are much harder to copy cheaply. This keeps your market share strong and your brand's uniqueness intact.

◈ Elevated Quality Perception and Trust Increase
Design naturally attracts attention and forms the bedrock of perceived product quality. Registering your design adds tangible premium value and deepens trust in your product's authenticity and craftsmanship.

Seeing the Ⓓ or "Registered Design" leaves a lasting impression: this is a meticulously crafted product, backed by a company that truly stands behind it.

This visibility also amplifies your brand message, reinforcing your narrative of excellence and care, while positioning your product as a reliable, premium choice.

◈ Valuable Business Asset: Fueling Growth and Attracting Investment
Design registration transforms your creative assets into a tangible, high-value business asset. It's a simple, affordable strategy to expand your Intellectual Property portfolio and directly enhance your company's overall valuation. It opens doors to new revenue streams through monetization, licensing, and premium partnerships.

Crucially, savvy investors view a robust portfolio of registered IP as a strong indicator of a founder's foresight, commitment to innovation, and a clear plan for defensible, long-term growth. It's a powerful signal: your company is built for the future and primed for success.

THE NEW Ⓓ SYMBOL FOR REGISTERED DESIGN

Just as the ® or ™ symbols instantly signal a protected brand, the distinctive Ⓓ design notice now clearly marks your product's aesthetic as legally protected. This official symbol, part of the new European Union Design Regulation effective May 1, 2025, is specifically designated for Registered European Union Designs.

As many EU countries are now working on implementing this at a national level, this new mark brings a modern, recognized layer of protection to your visual assets.


WHY USE THE Ⓓ SYMBOL ON YOUR PRODUCT?

◈ Instant Deterrence & Clear Signal:
The Ⓓ symbol immediately communicates that your design is officially registered and off-limits to imitators. Would-be copycats, scanning for easy targets, instantly understand they're encountering a legally defended product.

◈ Undeniable Proof of Protection:
In potential legal disputes, displaying the Ⓓ symbol serves as concrete evidence that you've formally notified the public of your design rights. This visible, legal claim strengthens your position, ensuring no one can credibly assert they "didn't know" your design was protected.

◈ Enhanced Legitimacy & Professionalism:
Using the Ⓓ symbol showcases your company's commitment to meticulous craftsmanship, product integrity, and company reputation. It aligns your design with respected brands that visibly mark their innovations as protected. Positioning your product confidently alongside market leaders as a professional, legally-defended innovation.

◈ Powerful Marketing Value & Trust Builder:
For consumers, the presence of the Ⓓ symbol acts as a subtle yet powerful premium badge. Much like ® and ™, it fosters a sense of legitimacy, quality, and trust. This visually recognized symbol carries a strong psychological message of authenticity and value, elevating customer perception. Making your product feel more exclusive and high-value.

ADD A Ⓓ TO YOUR DESIGN

REGISTER & PROTECT YOUR DESIGN

5 STEPS TO YOUR EXCLUSIVE DESIGN RIGHTS

Step 1: Startup founder shares design details YOU
SHARE
Step 2: GOLDENBERG IP refines design application WE
REFINE
Step 3: Filing design application with EUIPO or DPMA WE
FILE
Step 4: Design office examination process OFFICE
CHECKS
Step 5: Registered design certificate for startup IT´S
YOURS

HOW IT WORKS


Step 1: Startup founder shares design details

YOU SEND US THE ESSENTIALS

The name and address of the future owner. Your design visuals – from all key angles. And a short description of what your design is meant to be used on or with.

It doesn't have to be perfect. If anything's missing, we'll guide you through it – no guesswork needed.

Step 2: GOLDENBERG IP refines design application

WE REVIEW & REFINE

We check if your design meets the formal and legal requirements for registration. We review your visuals with an eye toward the strongest possible protection. And, we shape your product description into the right legal format and translate it into the correct class and subclass under the international design classification system.

You'll get feedback, suggestions, and helpful tips – designed to give your application the best possible ground to stand on.

Step 3: Filing design application with EUIPO or DPMA

WE FILE THE APPLICATION

Once we've got the details in shape, we handle the paperwork and submit your application to the intellectual property office – fully prepared and with everything in place.

You don't have to navigate the system. That's what we're here for.

Step 4: Design office examination process

THE OFFICE REVIEWS

The intellectual property office checks if your design meets all formal and legal requirements for registration. The visuals are reviewed especially closely, as they define the protection and form the core of your design application.

It's fairly common to receive a formal note asking for clarification or small modifications. We'll handle the reply and keep you in the loop.

That reply? One round is on us. No extra charge, no strings attached. Think of it as our version of "we've got your back."

Step 5: Registered design certificate for startup

REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATE

Your design is now officially registered.

You'll receive your registration certificate – confirmation that what you shaped now holds its own place.The form that carries your vision now carries legal weight, too.

What you created is yours to keep.

REGISTER THE UNIQUENESS OF YOUR DESIGN

DESIGN REGISTRATION

EASY - TRANSPARENT - FULL SERVICE

EUROPEAN UNION

Design Registration & Protection 940
  • Included exclusive design rights in 27 countries with 450 million consumers & unified market access
  • Included full registration process
  • Included official legal representation
  • Included check for formal and legal compliance
  • Included assessment of visuals & tips for strongest protection
  • Included handling all formalities with the EUIPO
  • Included 1 reply to office note or office objection
  • Included all legal and official fees for application & first 5 years of protection

optional add-ons:

Additional Design 290

Multiple Application - several designs in one go, from packaging to whole product lines

Deferment of Publication 100

Keep your design confidential for upto 30 months

GERMANY

Design Registration & Protection 650
  • Included design exclusivity in the 3rd biggest economy & central hub for growth and premium demand
  • Included full registration process
  • Included official legal representation
  • Included check for formal and legal compliance
  • Included assessment of visuals & tips for strongest protection
  • Included handling all formalities with the DPMA
  • Included 1 reply to office note or office objection
  • Included all legal and official fees for application & first 5 years of protection

optional add-ons:

Additional Design 160

Multiple Application - several designs in one go, from packaging to whole product lines

Deferment of Publication 90

Keep your design confidential for upto 30 months

currency: EURO | prices include all legal and official fees | plus VAT: additional VAT may apply depending on your location

MULTIPLE APPLICATION – FULL PROTECTION, HUGE SAVINGS

▼

ONE FILING. MANY DESIGNS. ALL IN ONE GO.

If you want to protect more than one design – a product series, a set of variations, or different elements of your product design – you don't have to file separately for each. Instead, you can register them all in one go.

Each additional design gets full, independent protection, yet the costs drop significantly.

A multiple application is ideal if:

  • You want to protect a collection or complete product line
  • You want to cover a set of alternative versions of your core design.
  • You've built a product ecosystem and want to secure several parts, like packaging, color-schemes, logos, badges, or the whole visual identity.

And now, since mid-2025, you're no longer limited to designs within the same category or product class. You can mix and match designs across any type, and still benefit from the reduced application fees.

DEFERMENT OF PUBLICATION – WHEN DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

▼

DESIGNED FOR MOMENTS WHEN TIMING IS PRECIOUS.

When you register your design, you can choose to delay its public release for up to 30 months before it appears in the public register.

Your design rights are legally protected from your filing date, but the design itself stays out of the spotlight until you're ready.

Deferment is a smart move when:

  • Your product isn't market-ready yet, but you want to secure your design rights without revealing too early.
  • You're planning a big launch and want to avoid tipping off competitors too soon.
  • You're timing your reveal with investment rounds, partnerships, or marketing campaigns.
  • You're developing several designs and want to keep your roadmap hidden until the moment is right.
  • You're protecting a product line, but want to unveil each piece in stages, on your terms.

Deferment gives you flexibility, strategic cover, and peace of mind, so you stay in control of how and when your designs go public.

MAKE IT OFFICIAL. REGISTER WHAT YOU´VE CREATED.