UK signs new international treaty to support designers

25th Jul 2025

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) has signed a new international design law treaty, taking steps towards simplifying global design protection for UK businesses and creators.

Intellectual Property Office IPO

The Riyadh Design Law Treaty (RDLT), negotiated and agreed at the World Intellectual Property Organisation Diplomatic Conference in Riyadh last autumn, aims to simplify application and renewal processes.

Following the signing, the UK IPO has said that it will begin engagement with stakeholders and work towards formal ratification of the treaty.

Once in force, the treaty aims to:

  • Limit the information required in applications
  • Simplify the requirements for obtaining a filing date
  • Provide harmonised timescales for requests for information and responses to design registrations

It will also encourage use of electronic filing and making digital databases publicly accessible. This transparency will help designers to ensure their ideas are original.

The UK IPO hopes that the RDLT will particularly benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them to secure international protection more efficiently and establish a more secure presence in overseas markets.

Adam Williams, the UK IPO’s Chief Executive Officer, signed the treaty earlier this month during the WIPO General Assembly in Geneva.

Commenting on the treaty, Adam said: “On behalf of Minister Feryal Clark and the UK government, I am pleased to sign the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (RDLT), which will make it easier for designers and businesses, particularly SMEs, to apply for, renew or maintain a registered design in other countries.

“It will simplify and standardise international design protection, making systems more navigable and will boost UK designers’ ability to safeguard their creations globally.

“The signing of this treaty demonstrates the UK’s commitment to supporting designers around the globe and striving for international design law harmonisation – and we encourage other nations to do the same.”

The UK joins a growing list of signatories, including Morocco, Paraguay, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan, among others.

Find out more about the Riyadh Design Law Treaty here.