The registration as designs of computer icons, graphical user interfaces and webpages

Changes to national registered design laws in Europe and the introduction of the Community design have brought inexpensive means of obtaining monopoly protection for images produced by computer software such as computer icons, screen displays and webpage designs. Graphical user interfaces (‘GUIs’) are also potentially protectable, even down to little symbols displayed on mobile phones, indeed any image displayed on equipment with a visual display. Of course, not every such image can be registered as a design and there are a number of requirements for registration, such as novelty and individual character but any new and striking design for icons, etc. should be relatively easy to register. This article explores the issues involved.