A new law concerning designs and models was issued and came into force last April 2001.
According to new provisions of the law, the protection duration has been extended from 15 to 25 years starting from the filing of the application, provided that the official fees are paid in advance at the expiration of each quinquennium.
As a consequence of the foregoing, designs not yet lapsed at the date of the coming into force of this law may benefit from an extension of their validity by requiring a renewal of protection.