Design Agent: All our professional staff are qualified to act as agent for others for the purpose of applying for obtaining the registration of a design at the UK Designs Registry. There is no formal qualification for becoming a design agent, however many persons acting as agent for designs hold either a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, which includes examinations concerning designs, or have passed one of the foundation papers set by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) which also includes examination on designs.
European Design Attorney: The Office for the Harmonisation of the Internal Market (OHIM) keeps two lists of representatives, one for trade marks and one for designs. Entry onto either list entitles the person to act before the Community Designs Office in Alicante Spain, for the purpose of filing and prosecution of registered Community designs. UK registered patent agents can apply for entry on to the designs list, which exempts them from the need for the usual 5 years experience requirement before the national trade marks office.