The protection of spare parts has for some time presented difficulties under UK Design and Copyright law. Spare parts are products which are intended to replace existing parts of larger products when, for example, they become worn out. Examples include spare parts for cars. Under the current law there is no specific exclusion to the registration of designs for spare parts, so they can be registered; however it is not possible to enforce a registration for a design of a component part which may be used for the repair of a larger product. Thus whilst designs for spare parts are registrable, the registrations so obtained are unenforceable.

For registered designs, design right and copyright, contact Chris Boydell or Sarah Perkins in our London office, or David Marles in our Bristol office.