The EU Design Law (effective May 1, 2025, with supporting updated provisions effective July 1, 2026).

The introduction of the EU Design Law aims to strengthen, simplify, and modernize the EU design system, harmonizing it with EU trademark rules. This new reform will provide design protection adapted to the digital design era and technological development trends.

This article will explore the impact of this reform on the automotive and mobility industries.

The amendments to the EU Design Law go far beyond administrative fine-tuning—the reform explicitly opens protection channels for core features that shape the driving experience and automotive brand identity, providing more powerful means to combat infringement, unauthorized use, and counterfeiting.

New Key Points: What Can Be Protected?

The EU Design Law opens up new possibilities for design protection: Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), dynamic effects and animations (including lighting effects), as well as non-physical digital products and digital spaces can now obtain design protection. Specifically, these include:

——Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

Graphical user interfaces in modern vehicles have transformed vehicle interiors into digital interaction spaces focused on safety, connectivity, and entertainment. According to the reform, the scope of protection has now been extended to:

· Menus, navigation, and vehicle control systems;

· Driving assistance and vehicle charging interaction interfaces;

· Dynamic display effects on screens;

· Unique visual styles that shape vehicle identity and the driving experience.

——Dynamic Effects and Animations (Including Lighting Effects)

Under the new EU design regime, dynamic three-dimensional presentations of vehicle interiors, exteriors, and components (such as animations and lighting effects) can also be registered for protection, including:

· Exterior lighting designs of the vehicle body;

· Interior lighting systems;

· Three-dimensional dynamic effects of the vehicle;

· Unique transition or vehicle effects, such as driving mode switching, parking assistance animations, etc.

——Digital Products and Digital Spaces

EU design protection now explicitly covers non-physical products and digital spaces, such as:

· Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) experiences in connected vehicles, such as parking imagery with overlays;

· Remote vehicle interaction systems;

· Digital twin technology.

New Repair Clause: What Is Not Protected?

The new EU design regime excludes so-called "must-match" spare parts from the scope of protection—that is, parts used for repair to restore the original appearance of a vehicle, the shape of which is dependent on the overall vehicle.

The relevant transition period lasts until December 9, 2032. During the transition period, existing national design rights protecting such parts can continue to be effective.

Significance for Stakeholders

Under the new EU design regime, the scope of protection for automotive companies goes far beyond static visual effects. Their exclusive rights can extend to the overall look and feel of the vehicle’s interior and exterior, including:

· Lighting effects (through dynamic 3D presentation, animation, dynamic changes, or interactive effects);

· Graphical user interfaces and interaction systems with distinctiveness and consumer recognition;

· Digital products and digital spaces that shape the driving experience, including AR/VR environments.

This will significantly enhance the ability of enterprises to combat unauthorized counterfeiting and plagiarism.

How to Protect These New Types of Designs

Technical standards for the presentation of dynamic and animated designs will be finalized by July 1, 2026.

Article 26 of the EU Design Directive already allows the use of generally available technologies (such as drawings, photographs, videos, or computer models) to represent static, dynamic, or animated designs. More reproduction formats will be added subsequently, with 3D reproduction formats (e.g., OBJ, STL) and video formats (e.g., MP4) expected to become core forms.

Recommendations of This Article

This reform provides an opportunity for enterprises to optimize their design protection strategies. They can fully utilize the new rules to legally protect core features that shape the driving experience and vehicle brand identity, preventing unauthorized use and counterfeiting.

The recommendations are as follows:

· Team Training: Popularize the new rules regarding the use of dynamic and animated reproduction technologies to apply for design protection in the EU among product R&D teams and patent/design teams.

· Asset Audit: Review core new models and their key components, GUIs, and unique effects to screen objects eligible for dynamic/animated protection (while keeping novelty requirements in mind).

· Formulate Strategy: Plan submission strategies for applying for additional design protection in the EU, especially considering that other jurisdictions have not yet opened up these new design formats.

· Continuous Tracking: Pay attention to the technical details to be released in July 2026 and the subsequent expansion of protection categories.

· Apply Early: For core visual features that shape the overall look and feel of the vehicle, initiate the design application process as soon as possible.

· Mark Design Protection Status: Consider using the newly added registration symbol Ⓓ to increase public awareness and deter infringers.