Factory leaked prototype pictures: what should I do?
Preserve the pictures, captions, publication date and access conditions, then request removal and restrict further file access. Contact your UK intellectual property adviser urgently with the evidence and planned filing dates. Coordinate factory containment through Cambridge China Bridge.
Preserve the publication before it disappears
Capture the complete page, its address, account name, displayed publication date, captions, pictures and attachments. Record when you captured it and the time zone. Save original downloads alongside screenshots. Distinguish the displayed publication date from your discovery date; if the earliest publication is uncertain, record that uncertainty.
Record whether the material was accessible without signing in, through an account or only inside a restricted group. Identify the prototype revision and what each image reveals: external shape, decoration, internal parts, assembly or technical operation. Preserve relevant comments and reposts without publicly sharing the leak yourself.
Request removal while retaining private evidence
Send the factory manager a written request identifying the affected posts and files. Ask them to remove public access, stop further publication and forwarding, and identify everywhere the material was uploaded or sent. Request private retention of upload records, original files and related messages so removal does not erase the incident history.
Ask for written confirmation identifying what was removed and when. Check the original locations yourself, then look for marketplace listings, social accounts and known reposts. If the factory cannot remove a copy, ask the platform about its reporting process. Record unresolved copies rather than treating the factory's assurance as closure.
Restrict further access to prototype files
Disable shared links and remove unnecessary access to drawings, photographs and development folders. Preserve access logs before changing permissions. Keep a controlled evidence copy and provide factory staff only with the files needed for authorised work. Ask which subcontractors, photographers or sales staff received copies.
Pause fresh prototype photography and promotional use pending written approval. Review the agreed confidentiality instructions, authorised recipients and publication permissions using the confidentiality agreement guide. Name someone responsible for approving any future release.
Get an urgent UK protection assessment
UK design registration helps protect product appearance, and the design must be new. UK patent guidance also requires novelty: the invention must not have been made publicly available. Ask your adviser to assess the actual pictures and text against the appearance or technical features you intended to protect. Use the public design reveal guide and prototype patent demo guide for the wider planning questions.
Send the publication timeline, original development files, confidentiality agreement, sharing instructions and any existing application documents. Ask what can still be filed, whether any disclosure exception is relevant, what evidence is needed and what action is urgent. Patent examiners may ask for evidence to substantiate a breach-of-confidence allegation. Do not assume a design filing timetable also applies to a patent, or treat removal as proof that protection is safe.
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Decide what can resume
Keep removal checks, file access and the protection assessment on the same incident record. Ask your adviser for a written recommendation on filing and further disclosure. Separately record commercial consequences such as a retailer embargo, copied listings or a disrupted launch. Avoid settling the incident solely on the promise that the pictures are gone.
Resume sharing and publicity only through a documented approval. Cambridge China Bridge can use its staff in China to follow up with the factory, check removal and coordinate revised access instructions. Keep decisions on UK design or patent protection with your appointed adviser.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ask the factory to delete the pictures immediately?
Preserve the publication evidence first, then request removal immediately. Ask the factory to retain upload records and related messages privately while removing public access.
What if I cannot prove when the factory posted the pictures?
Record your discovery and capture times separately from the displayed date. Ask for upload records and check known reposts. Mark the earliest publication as uncertain rather than guessing.
Can I still apply for a UK patent after a factory leak?
Get an urgent assessment of the disclosed content, dates and confidentiality evidence. Ask your patent adviser what can still be filed and whether a disclosure exception is relevant.
Is removing the post enough to restart the launch?
Do not use removal alone as your restart decision. Check outstanding copies, restrict file access and obtain advice on planned protection before approving further publicity.