EUIPO’s 2026 guidelines updates applicable as of 1 July made EU design procedures more flexible and digital, with mandatory electronic filing, fewer formal requirements, and up to 50 designs per application without class limits. New refusal grounds now cover improper use of Paris Convention emblems and badges of public interest, while minor amendments to immaterial details are allowed and some invalidity proceedings can be prioritised. EUIPO also clarified that official online sources may be used as evidence, and warned that dynamic or animated representations may not be recognised outside the EU, so static views may be safer for priority purposes.
For more information please view the recorded webinar aired on 9 June at the EUIPO Learning Portal.
