In the United Kingdom, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has the jurisdiction to hear the following types of dispute:-
The subsistence of design right,
The term of design right,
The identity of the person in who design right first vested.
The decision of the UKIPO in relation to the above disputes is binding on the parties.
Registered Designs
The validity of a Registered Design may generally can be challenged either before a court or out of court on the following grounds:-
It lacks novelty, i.e. it was not new at the time registration was sought
It lacks individual character, its overall impression is the same as that of an earlier design
It is a functional design
It is contrary to public policy or morality,
The registrant is not entitled to the design
It is in conflict with an earlier published design.
Unlike Trade Marks, it is not possible for third parties to challenge an application for the registration of a design.