New IPO guidance on protecting icons, GUIs and animated designs
The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has updated its guidance on designs covering graphic symbols, icons, graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and animated designs. The update reflects a rise in applications in these areas and clarifies how the IPO examines them.
What has changed
The basic requirement has not changed. Anyone looking at the register must be able to understand the design’s overall impression clearly, easily and without needing a lot of interpretation.
In the update, the IPO confirms that GUIs and animated designs can be protected, but each application will be assessed on its own facts and must represent one single, unitary design.
For animated designs, applicants should normally use up to 12 separate views to show each stage of the animation. The application should also make clear, in the product field, that it is an animated design. A brief written disclaimer can help explain how the animation changes between views.
However, long or complicated disclaimers may cause an objection if they require too much interpretation. If extra representations or disclaimers are added after filing and they significantly change the design, the IPO may object or re-date the application.
More information is available in the IPO’s Design Practice Notice on GOV.UK website.
Important reminder
Design protection covers appearance only. Registering an animated icon or GUI does not protect its functionality. If you want to protect how an animated icon or GUI works, you will need to consider other rights such as patents, copyright, trade marks or trade secret protection, depending on what exactly you want to protect.
First published 29 May 2026
