News Patents and designs 2003

In accordance with this law, it is possible to protect a model or design, which has per se a creative character and an artistic value, not only with Design or Model Registration, but also with the copyright laws (law 633/41).

The duration of rights of a Model or Design protected by copyright for economic purposes, extends to twenty-five years after the author's death.

In order to formally obtain such an extension, the above mentioned law requires the submission of a special application to the Ministry of the Cultural Heritage:

by 30th March 2003 for Design or Model Registrations already granted and not yet expired;
Along with the Design or Model Registration application or in any case prior to the grant of Registration, for those applications submitted after the coming into force of the law and for those applications submitted prior to the coming into force of the above mentioned law and until the grant of Registration.
Information and documents needed to obtain said protection through the application are the following:

Name, surname, date and place of birth, address and nationality of the author;
Title of the work, manufacturing and marketing place;
Application form signed by the author.