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The Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union
Regulations
The RCD System was established by a basic Regulation of the Council of 2001, and several Regulations of the Commission, which have been amended on various occasions, establishing implementing rules, the rules on fees and the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal. Consolidated versions of the different Regulations are available, incorporating the changes made. The original versions of the different Regulations and their amending Regulations are also available.
Decisions and Communications of the President
The President of OHIM adopts Decisions and Communications to ensure the efficient functioning of the Office. Decisions are taken when foreseen in the Regulations. Communications are issued for other matters of interest to the public.
Guidelines
The President of OHIM adopts Guidelines concerning proceedings before the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs), after consultation with the Administrative Board.
The purpose of the guidelines is to indicate the practice of OHIM with regard to the Regulation on Community designs. They are drafted with a view to practical use both by the Office staff carrying out RCD procedures and by anyone dealing with the Office.
These guidelines can be regarded only as general instructions. They are not, therefore, legislative texts. The parties and OHIM must, where necessary, refer to the RCD Regulations.
Decisions of the Presidium of the Boards of Appeal
The Presidium is an authority chaired by the President of the Boards of Appeal and composed of elected Board members for each calendar year. It takes decisions by a majority vote on the allocation of cases among the Boards for the calendar year in question and rules on any conflicts which may arise regarding the allocation of cases. It designates the full and alternate members of each Board, lays down rules of procedure and internal rules, etc.
Directives
The RCD system coexists with national systems. The first directive was adopted in 1998 in order to align the laws of the Member States relating to designs.
National Law of EU Member States
The RCD system coexists with national systems. This section provides access, where possible, to the different national laws and regulations in the field of designs in the EU Member States.
Enforcement and IP Rights
In order to complete the harmonization of intellectual property laws, the European Community is involved in the enforcement of these laws in the internal market (link to the page of the Commission Directorate General Internal Market).