The outward appearance of a product or part of it, resulting from the lines, contours, colours, shape, textile material and/or its ornamentation are used to create the design of objects in order to make them appealing to consumers. Innovative design can be found in most of the objects that surround us in our daily lives, from clothes to shoes to furniture, from mobile phones to pens and pencils, from household ornaments to lighting fixtures, from family cars to jewellery items.
When a person copies someone else's design, that person would be illegally benefiting from the time money spent by the creator of the design. Therefore, by registering your new and original design you will have the exclusive right to its use for up to 25 years.
For design protection in Malta you can apply online with the Commerce Department at https://commerce.gov.mt. For protection in all EU Member States you can apply for a Registered Community Design (RCDs) with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) at www.euipo.europa.eu.