Patents applied for in the UK will cover the UK only. Registered design Design registration establishes an exclusive right for a limited period over a particular outward appearance of a manufactured article. To qualify, an object's appearance must have an aesthetic component, above that it may need as a component of a larger article. Purely artistic works are not designs. Design registration is done through the Patent Office.
Protection is territorial and covers the UK only.
Copyright Copyright automatically exists over any written or artistic material, and gives rights to the creator or author. It does not have to be applied for or registered. Copyright applies to any literary or artistic works, publications recordings, films or computer programmes and is held by the author, publisher, broadcaster or the employer if the work is done under employment. In addition, a Design Right has recently been established which extends similar rights to producers of artefact designs. Like copyright this is automatic, but it provides less rights for the designer than a registered design.