Industrial property and user interface protection in applications
Most digital companies still miss out on this opportunity.
Yet it is a powerful lever for value creation.
Many think that only the brand or innovation can be legally protected.
In fact, under European law, a graphical user interface (UI) can be registered as a design when :
- that it presents a new appearance;
- and individual character.
Since the recent reform of design law, this protection explicitly covers digital and intangible products.
In concrete terms, this can cover :
- an application screen
- icons
- a SaaS dashboard
- visual components
- entertainment
- transitions
Apple has long protected the visual organization of its smartphones:
- the layout of icons in a grid,
- the shape of icons and pictograms,
- and even certain visual interaction gestures, such as swiping to scroll through screens (photo no.1).
Microsoft protects the appearance of certain software interfaces, such as the navigation sidebar with its central map area (photo #2).
The interest is anything but theoretical.
These rights are real competitive tools: they enable us to take action against interfaces that reproduce a similar visual impression, even when the code, functionality or hardware support have nothing in common.
In the Apple / Samsung dispute, design protection led to an award of several hundred million dollars, including around $399 million for design patent infringement.
However, the representation must remain sufficiently clear to define the object of protection, and only those features visible in the application will be protected.
Registration symbol :
The holder of a registered EU design may indicate to the public that the design is registered by displaying the letter D encircled by a circle on the product in which the design is incorporated or to which it is applied.
Your product’s interface represents considerable economic value, as long as it has a fresh look and individual character.
Protect it.