Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.31141/zrpfs/2266
Legal Protection of Industrial Design – International, European and National Level
Blanka Mateša
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu
Petar Rašetina
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu
Ina Vrdoljak
Sažetak
Industrial design represents one of the key elements of market competitiveness, as the shape,
appearance, and visual identity of a product strongly influence consumer decisions when purchasing
a particular product. Industrial design is of particular importance given that, in today’s market,
the visual recognisability of a product has become a decisive factor in the purchasing process.
In the modern era, the aesthetic features of products have assumed the status of a strategic asset,
which requires the existence of an effective system of legal protection. The protection of industrial
design forms part of the broader system of intellectual property protection, and its development has
evolved historically—from national legislation to European and international regulations—thereby
establishing minimum standards of protection. This paper examines precisely such a multilayered
system of legal protection of industrial design. The key international instruments and European
Union acts analysed in the paper have established the fundamental standards and principles of
protection, which Member States are required to implement in their national legislation, which the
Republic of Croatia has done. The paper further analyses the case law of the Court of Justice of the
European Union and the jurisprudence of courts in the Republic of Croatia. The aim of the paper is
to demonstrate that industrial design is not merely a visual element, but a legal institute of strategic
market significance, one that ensures a return on investment, enhances competitiveness, stimulates
innovation, and stabilises market relations. An efficient, harmonised, and multilayered system of
industrial design protection represents a necessary precondition for the modern market order, while
industrial design serves as a means of generating added value and promoting the preservation of
market competition and economic growth.
Ključne riječi
industrial design; legal protection of industrial design; intellectual property
Hrčak ID:
352089
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.6.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *