Class 99 readers may be interested in an announcement from EUIPO that a new functionality of eSearch Plus was implemented on 14 November 2025, to improve the accessibility of Design-related non-confidential documents.

According to EUIPO, the documents are planned to be released in stages, starting with documents from 2025.

From January 2026, documents from previous years will gradually be added, resulting in access to all previous non-confidential documents during the first half of 2026.

Correspondence submitted after 4 November 2025 will become automatically publicly available unless marked as confidential.  

As indicated in EUIPO Guidelines on registered EU designs - Part A - General rules (chapter 3.1.6 Confidentiality) , users can request confidentiality when submitting a document and at a later stage.

In such cases, users contact the EUIPO Information Centre. The Office examines the confidentiality claim and marks the documents concerned according to the outcome.

This initiative is part of the EUIPO’s Strategic Plan 2030 and WP2025, reflecting the Office’s efforts to improve transparency and respond to user needs.

By making more design-related documents accessible, EUIPO says it aims to provide a more efficient, transparent and user-friendly experience for all stakeholders.

Mikas Miniotas, Co-Chair of the MARQUES Designs Team, commented: “We are pleased that design users’ concerns regarding accessibility of design-related documents have been addressed. Users will now be able to access documents related to designs as they have been long used to for trade marks.”