On November 22, 2024, a WIPO Diplomatic Conference of Member States adopted a new Treaty referred to as “Riyadh Design Law Treaty”. The Treaty aims to make international design procedures more predictable, so that it will be easier for designers to achieve protection in several different jurisdictions. Among other things, the Treaty will provide for a grace period of 12 months following a first disclosure of the design, during which such disclosure will not affect its validity for registration. The Treaty also expressly interfaces design protection with the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, which may be relevant to the eligibility for registration of the design. The Treaty will require at least 15 contracting parties to enter into force.
