Designs Searches, Filing & Prosecution

In what is a competitive marketplace where design is often everything having a government granted monopoly to that design can be vital commercial advantage for a business.

A registered design protects what a product looks like. It is a monopoly that protects the overall unique appearance of a product – its shape, configuration, pattern and/or ornamentation. Granted by IP Australia it provides the owner with the exclusive right to that design in its product category in the marketplace for a 10 year term.

Obtaining a registered design adds value to your product and your business in the following ways:

• Benefit from the financial rewards resulting from the commercialisation of the registered patent which you have a monopoly
• You can threaten and, if required, bring design infringement proceedings against an infringer stopping their conduct and recover damages or their profit
• Holding a registered design improves your bargaining position when negotiating with potential commercial partners, investors or licensees
• A registered design acts as a valuable notice of your claimed rights to the invention, deterring would-be infringers – prevention is better than cure.
• A registered design protects your investment of time and resources in the research and development of your product design. Without this type of government granted monopoly it is near impossible to prevent competitors copying the design of your product.