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A community design affords protection in the whole of the European Union (currently 27 states).
Non-registered community design: any design that is new and has individual character that is disclosed for the first time in any state of the European Union since March 6, 2002 enjoys for a limited period of 3 years a restricted protection (i.e. only against slavish copying) without any formalities. By applying for a registered community design, a wider scope of protection can be achieved for a duration of 25 years.
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Registered community design: since the beginning of 2003, it is possible to file community designs affording during 25 years (divided in five 5-year periods) a reinforced protection against similar later designs; a period of grace is provided that allows a non-registered design to be converted into a registered design if the latter is filed within 12 months following the disclosure.
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