Introducing the EU Designs Handbook

24th Mar 2026

The CITMA & CIPA Community Designs Handbook has been retitled the CITMA & CIPA European Union Designs Handbook, reflecting significant changes to EU designs.

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The handbook, published by Sweet & Maxwell in partnership with CITMA and CIPA, has been renamed to align with major legislative reforms for EU designs as part of a broader modernisation of the EU-wide design registration system.

Among the most significant changes is a shift in terminology. The Registered Community Design (RCD) is now formally known as the Registered EU Design (REUD), and Community design courts have been renamed EU design courts. The retitling of the handbook ensures it remains consistent with current legislation and practice.

The content of the publication is being updated to reflect the full scope of these reforms. Given the breadth of the changes, updates will be rolled out on a phased basis throughout 2026 and 2027.

Subscribers will receive a newly titled binder as part of this transition.

We remain committed, alongside our partners at CIPA and Sweet & Maxwell, to ensuring that this handbook continues to serve as a comprehensive and current resource for practitioners working in this evolving area of intellectual property law.

For any questions about the changes to the publication, subscribers can contact Sweet & Maxwell via the Thomson Reuters customer support page.

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The EU Trade Mark Handbook

This handbook offers everything you need to know about the EUTM system.

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The Trade Mark Handbook

Stay up-to-date with law and practice relating to trade marks.

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The EU Designs Handbook

This handbook provides a detailed description of law and practice relating to designs law in the European Union.