related
Guide:

Intellectual
Property

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Profiles:

Trademarks

Patents

Copyright
cases

IP chronology
 

     landmarks

This page highlights points in the evolution of designs law.

Context is provided by the multi-page communications & media timeline on this site and a more detailed intellectual property chronology.

     textiles

1787 Designing & Printing of Linen Act (UK) - 2 months protection for those in the "arts of designing and printing linens, cottons, calicos and muslin"

1787 exclusive rights to weaving patterns - 2 years (Florence)

1794 UK period of protection for textiles extended to 3 months

     prototype

1839 Copyright & Design Act 1839 (UK) - protection to new or original design, including textiles, with a system of registration

1842 Design Act 1842 (UK)

1843 Design Act 1843 (UK) - extends protection to designs composed of functional features

1851 Great Exhibition (UK)

1872 Gorham Mfg Co v. White (US)

1875 UK Designs Acts responsibilities transferred to The Patent Office

1876 Act "Relating to Designs, or Patterns, or Utility Models" (Germany)

     Paris

1883 Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property

1906 Designs Act 1906 (Aust)

1925 Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs

1949 Registered Design Act 1949 (UK)

1951 Dean Committee on industrial property (Aust)

1953 Re Wolanski's Registered Design (Aust)

1954 Royal Commission on Patents, Copyright & Industrial Design (Canada)

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