The impact of digitalization on the legal protection of industrial designs in the context of industrial property

The article provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of digitalization processes on the evolution of legal protection for industrial designs within the framework of industrial property. The relevance of the study is determined by the rapid implementation of digital technologies, which have caused a radical transformation of traditional approaches to the protection of intellectual property objects. In light of the development of blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, and modern automation systems, the legal field faces the challenges of adaptation, requiring innovative solutions and theoretical rethinking. The purpose of the article is to analyze the interaction between digitalization processes and the legal mechanisms for protecting industrial designs, with an emphasis on their transformation in the post-industrial era. The study also aims to identify the dissonance between the speed of technological innovations and the pace of modernization in legal procedures, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing tools for protecting rights in the digital environment. The research methodology is based on a combination of diachronic and comparative analysis, allowing the examination of historical changes in intellectual property regulation under the influence of digital innovations. Additionally, systematic approaches and legal situation modeling methods are applied, enabling a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of existing legal protection mechanisms. The research results indicate a significant acceleration in the registration processes of industrial designs through digital platforms, leading to increased transparency and accessibility of legal protection. However, significant risks were also identified, related to the infiltration of digital piracy and the imperfections of global legal regulation mechanisms, complicating the fight against violations at the international level. In conclusion, the need for a conceptual rethinking of the role of digitalization in the legal protection of industrial designs is emphasized. It is crucial to develop new legislative acts that will harmonize national and international legal systems, ensuring more effective protection of intellectual property rights in the context of rapid technotronic progress.