Design registration protects the overall appearance of a product. It can also be a good alternative for protecting a product where a patent is unavailable or not warranted. It also deters competitors from copying, creating and commercialising products that are aesthetically similar.
As the owner of an Australian registered design, you gain the exclusive right to prevent others from making, selling, importing or exploiting a product that embodies your design. An Australian design registration lasts for five years and may be renewed for a further five years, for a total of 10 years. The life of design registrations overseas varies and is often longer.
Our attorneys help clients with all aspects of design protection – from assessing registrability and preparing drawings to filing, prosecution and enforcement. We work closely with you to understand your commercial goals and ensure your unique designs are effectively protected.
We have assisted organisations throughout Australia and globally in registering new and distinctive designs for their products. We advise clients across a wide range of sectors – from product manufacturers and consumer brands to technology and creative businesses.
Our dedicated Research & Investigations team is highly skilled in design searching and watching. We provide clear guidance on how designs intersect with patents, trade marks and copyright, ensuring your IP strategy works seamlessly across all areas.
If your product has a distinctive shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation, our team can help you protect it – and leverage it – as a key business asset.
Our Designs services
Design searching and watching
Identifying existing designs and monitoring competitor activity.
Design filing and registration
Preparing and lodging design applications in Australia and New Zealand.
International design filings
Managing the formal examination process to obtain enforceable rights.
Design examination and certification
Managing the formal examination process to obtain enforceable rights.
Design infringement and enforcement
Advising on potential infringements and assisting with enforcement or defence.
Design renewals
Managing ongoing renewals and compliance deadlines.
Design portfolio management
Overseeing portfolios across multiple markets to ensure efficient protection and cost control.
Design strategy and integration
Advising on the overlap between designs, patents and copyright to develop a cohesive protection and commercialisation strategy.
