Registered designs
You can register the design of your product if it has an industrial or commercial use, and has a visual appearance that is both new and distinctive. This includes the shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation which, when applied to your product, gives it a unique appearance. A registered design does not protect how your product feels, what it is made of or how it works.
Registration under the Designs Act 2003 protects your design from being used without your permission. You can register your design for up to ten years.
Your design must be new and distinctive to be registered. Conduct a search of the IP Australia databases to make sure your design hasn't already been registered.
What to do...
- Read about designs on the IP Australia website.
- See IP Australia's information on the registration process before you apply.
- Search IP Australia's designs database.
- If you are involved in the fashion industry, you can find specific intellectual property information on the IP Fashion Rules website.
- Find information on intellectual property in your state or territory.
This content is supplied to Flying Solo via business.gov.au,
the Australian Government's principal website for business information and resources.
