Content Protecting games – IP issues and have individual character, Registered Community Designs and not be dictated by the technical (RCDs) and Unregistered Community function of the product. UKRDs can Designs (UCDs), unitary rights that be registered for a maximum of 25 cover the whole of the EU, no longer years. Conversely, SUDs subsist afford protection in the UK. only for three years from first However, the owners of RCDs disclosure and are only infringed registered on or before the end of if there is copying. the Brexit transition period were SUDs are a new form of unregistered given an equivalent registered right design which the UK agreed to in the UK (called a ‘Re-registered protect on Brexit – they therefore Design’). Re-registered Designs protect designs first disclosed after subsist for the same term as the the end of the Brexit transition period. corresponding RCD. The owners of They are called supplementary UCDs that existed on or before this unregistered designs to distinguish date were also given an equivalent them from the other form of unregistered right in the UK (called a unregistered design (called ‘Design ‘Continuing Unregistered Community Right’) that already existed in – and Design’) for the remaining term of the is unique to – the UK. Subject to corresponding UCD. Since UCDs only certain exceptions, design right can subsist for three years, all Continuing be used to protect ‘original’ designs Unregistered Community Designs comprising any aspect of the shape have now expired. or configuration of a product that is Both UKRD and RCDs can be not surface decoration. Design right protected by filing an application can sometimes protect designs in the with the relevant authority or through UK where SUDs would not arise. the international system administered On the whole, a registered design by WIPO. The latter can be quicker right gives the owner a greater scope and cheaper if registered design of protection than an unregistered protection is required in several design right. As with EU trade marks, countries/regions around the world. 129