Protect the design customers recognise
The shape of a lamp, the decoration of an accessory or the appearance of packaging can be a significant part of a product’s value. If you are preparing a collection for overseas sales, discuss design protection before publishing the catalogue. The design’s eligibility and the circumstances of disclosure matter.
Appearance and function need different consideration
Design protection concerns a product’s appearance. If the value lies in a mechanism or how something works, that calls for a separate patent assessment. The name and logo are also separate questions. One product can involve several forms of IP.
Before filing
Which versions will you use? Have photographs already been made public? Who created the design, and who owns the rights? Where will sales and manufacturing take place? These details inform the territory choice and the images needed to show the relevant design.
Grace periods after disclosure are not universal and come with conditions. A rule available in one country should not be assumed to apply elsewhere.
How we work
We review the materials and agree the assessment scope. We discuss filing options, prepare the images and details, and support the agreed procedure. For several markets, we compare national, regional and available international routes.
What to prepare
Photographs or renderings from the relevant views, creator details, design agreements and publication dates. If the product has not been disclosed, we first agree a suitable way to exchange confidential materials.
Questions about product design protection
What does industrial design registration protect?
An industrial design concerns a product’s appearance, such as the shape, lines or decoration of an item or its packaging. Its technical function and brand name are assessed separately. We help identify which visual features matter for protection in your target market.
Should we seek design protection before or after sales begin?
Discuss protection before publishing photographs or a catalogue, or starting sales. Disclosure can affect registration options, and exceptions depend on the jurisdiction. If the product has already been shown, the dates, circumstances and target markets need review.
What does product design registration support include?
Within the agreed scope, we review the materials, designer details and applicant’s rights, and discuss territories and filing options. We prepare the necessary images and information and support the agreed procedural stages. The materials and scope are tailored to the product.
What determines the cost of industrial design registration?
The estimate depends on the number of designs, territories, procedure and readiness of images and documents. Our proposal separates professional work from official charges and accounts for translations or local representation where needed. We first need to understand which product variants you want to protect.
Is one product photograph enough?
Not necessarily. The images need to show the design clearly and consistently under the chosen procedure’s requirements. The appropriate set depends on the product.
Can a design have protection without registration?
Some jurisdictions provide unregistered rights, but conditions and scope vary. We compare the options available in your market.