Design Registration & Protection

Protect the unique visual appearance of your products with comprehensive industrial design registration services in India and internationally.

What is a Registered Design?

An industrial design refers to the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of a product. Design registration protects the unique visual features – shape, configuration, pattern, ornamentation, composition of lines or colours – that give a product its distinctive appearance and appeal.

In India, design protection is governed by the Designs Act, 2000 and Designs Rules, 2001. A registered design gives the owner the exclusive right to apply the design to any article in the class in which the design is registered, preventing others from copying or substantially imitating the registered design.

Our Design Registration Services

Design novelty search and prior art analysis
Industrial design application filing with the Patent Office, India
International design registration (Hague System)
Design prosecution and examination response
Design portfolio management and renewal
Design infringement analysis and enforcement
Assignment and licensing of design rights
Design watch and monitoring services

What Designs Can Be Registered?

Product shapes, configurations, and contours
Surface patterns, ornamentation, and decorations
Colour combinations as applied to products
Packaging and container designs
Textile, fabric, and surface designs
Digital icons and graphical user interfaces
Furniture and interior design elements
Jewellery and fashion designs

Design vs. Other IP Rights

Design Registration: Protects the visual appearance of products – fastest and most cost-effective protection for product aesthetics
Copyright: Automatically protects artistic works, overlaps with design in some cases for artistic elements
Trademark: Protects brand identity – shape marks can complement design protection
Patent: Protects functional inventions – design patents protect ornamental aspects of utility items

Benefits of Design Registration

Exclusive right to use the design commercially
Protection against copying, imitation, and counterfeiting
Enhanced commercial value and competitive advantage
Foundation for international design protection
Right to initiate civil and criminal proceedings against infringers
Licensing and franchising opportunities

Design Registration Process

Novelty Search

We conduct a thorough search to ensure your design is novel and not already protected by existing registered designs.

Representation Preparation

We prepare professional drawings and representations of the design from all required views, as per registry requirements.

Application Filing

We file the design application with the Patent Office, India in the appropriate class of the Locarno Classification.

Examination

The registry examines the application for compliance and novelty. We respond to any objections or deficiencies raised.

Registration

Upon successful examination, the design is registered and a certificate issued. Registration is valid for 10 years, extendable by 5 years.