Chapter III: Duration of protection

The extension of a design registration provided for in Article L. 513-1 results from a declaration by its holder drawn up under the conditions set by the decision referred to in Article R. 514-5. It may be specified that the extension is only valid for certain designs. The first extension may, however, be requested at the time of filing. The extension takes effect on the day following the expiry date…

A decision is taken on the declaration of extension within six months of its submission. This period is interrupted, where applicable, by the notification provided for in article R. 512-9, until the objection is withdrawn.

Failing an express decision within the time limit mentioned in Article R. 513-1-1, the declaration of extension is deemed to be rejected.

The holder of a published design registration may at any time renounce it, in whole or in part. The declaration of renunciation must, on pain of inadmissibility: 1° Be made by the holder of the registration entered, on the day of the declaration, in the National Designs Register or by his agent; 2° Be accompanied by proof of payment of the prescribed fee. The provisions of Article R. 512-9-1 shall…

Failing an express decision within the time limit mentioned in Article R. 513-2-1, the application is deemed accepted.

Inadmissible, rejected, lapsed, non-extended deposits, as well as those whose protection has expired, may be returned to their owner, at the owner’s request and expense. If they have not been claimed, they may be destroyed by the National Institute of Industrial Property after a period of one year for ineligible, rejected or forfeited deposits, or ten years for deposits that have not been extended or whose protection has expired.