Design registration
Design registration, often referred to as design protection, is a fundamental process for preserving the unique appearance and aesthetics of your product. This gives you exclusive rights in the market, preventing others from using the same design. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the process and its implications, let’s delve into its key elements:
Assess the possibility of registering your design
Before starting the design registration process, it is important to ensure that your design is genuinely new and distinguishable from previously known or registered designs. This responsibility falls on you and is essential to avoid infringing on the rights of others. You can choose our consulting services or independently search through various databases and registers to evaluate the originality.
Design registration duration
A design registration is initially valid for five years from the date of application. You have the flexibility to extend this cover for a maximum of 25 years. During the renewal process, you can choose to apply and pay for several five-year renewals at the same time or choose the entire 25-year term at once. If your product contains spare parts, the registration will remain valid for up to 15 years, and it is your responsibility to determine the appropriate validity period.
Advantages of design registration
Registering your design can provide several benefits:
Exclusive Rights: You get the exclusive right to commercially use your design, giving you a significant competitive advantage.
Easier proof: In case of design imitation, it becomes easier to show ownership.
Bargaining power: Your documented ownership of the design improves your bargaining position in financing discussions and negotiations for sales and licensing agreements.
Market impact: Through design registration you strengthen your position on the market, increase your company’s value and become more visible to potential investors.
Update your design and keep an eye on it
Remember to renew your design registration within the prescribed time frame. You can choose an extension in five-year increments or apply directly for the entire 25-year period. In addition, it is your responsibility to carefully monitor to ensure that no one infringes your rights by using a design that resembles or mirrors your registered design.
Transfer and Licensing
A registered design represents a valuable financial asset that you can license or transfer to other individuals or businesses. This can serve as a way to capitalize on the design’s value and generate revenue.
In conclusion, design registration and proactive monitoring are essential to protect your creative creations and commercial interests. By registering your design and carefully monitoring it, you can secure your exclusive rights to the design, prevent infringement and optimize its value in the market.