Changes from plenary report to adopted text

RemovedEXPLANATORY STATEMENT

RemovedThe Rapporteur takes a generally favourable view of the Commission’s proposal, which repeals and replaces the existing Directive 98/71/EC. It has the merit of adapting design protection to the evolution of digital technologies, in particular the appearance of 3D printers. It also seeks to further align national laws in order to enhance their interoperability and complementarity with the Community design system. Finally, it aims to complete the single market in repair spare parts by introducing a repair clause into the Directive as already contained in the Regulation.

RemovedThe proposed changes are guided by two general objectives: enhancing legal certainty and reiterating positions previously expressed by the European Parliament. The most important concern the replacement of the concept of ‘origin’ of the product, which is too vague, with the concept of ‘identity of the manufacturer’ of the product (Nos 8 and 14), and the relaxation of the ten-year period for the application of the repair clause to designs for which registration was sought before the entry into force of the new Directive, which was considered excessively rigid (No 15).