CUMULATIVE PROTECTION FOR DESIGNS

The cumulative protection finds its meaning in intellectual property law and design law. Due to the different characteristics of the designs, many legal protection may be in question. Thus, the design owner can also rely on copyright, trademark, patent-utility model and unfair competition provisions, as well as design law. Registered and unregistered designs are protected under intellectual property law. The relationship between intellectual property protection and unfair competition protection is a matter of debate. It is stated in the doctrine that the protection of designs ending intellectual property protection according to unfair competition law exceeds the purpose of design protection and adversely affects the competitive environment in the market. It is important to determine the conditions and limits of protection by considering the subject and purpose of protection to be applied in the cumulative protection of registered and unregistered designs