Patent and Industrial Designs
Millions of people use professional method to design products, services, objects, and devices around the globe. This process or method is called Industrial design (ID). Industrial designs are important only for the aesthetic part of a product and to increase its value. However, the protection of useful design has a great significance in the business strategy.
In legal terms, an industrial design refers to the ornamental and aesthetic aspects of an article. It comprises of three-dimensional characteristics. For example, the shape of an article or two-dimensional features like patterns, lines, or colors.
When a person has registered industrial design or of a design patent, he/she can refrain anyone from using that design. For example, if a third party is producing, selling, or importing the articles without the owner’s consent then the he/she can take legal action against them.
Conditions for Industrial Design Protection
There are the following conditions that you need to follow for the protection of industrial designs.
- The design must be creative and innovative. It implies that no similar designs are given to the public before registration or the application.
- It is best if a design has individual character.
- The design must be genuine and authentic. You cannot copy or imitate other existing designs. The standard impression of the design must not be similar to the existing design that is given to the public.

Conditions for Industrial Design Protection
There are different conditions for the protection of industrial designs. These conditions vary from one country to the other. These conditions include
- Pictures or drawings from the various views or angles of design. For example, you must take a picture from the top, bottom, left, right, front and back view.
- Title of the name of the design
- A short explanation of the design
- Information of the applicant like full name and home address
- Information of the inventor such as the name and address of the inventor.
What are the Advantages of Industrial Design Protection?
Many businessmen do not consider the protection of industrial designs. However, there are the following reasons that you should go for industrial design protection.
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Create Profit
Protection of industrial designs guarantees a fair return on investment. The basic aim of creating a new design is to obtain some profit. The inventors or creators get a handsome amount of money when they are introducing their innovative products in the market.
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Economic Development
Industrial design protection increases economic development and creates more creativity in the industrial and manufacturing department. When the designers or creators are assured that no one will use or copy their work, they are more motivated to bring new ideas or products into the market. It will eventually cause the economic growth of the country. Therefore, the protection of industrial designs enhances economic development.
- Increases the Value of a Product
Industrial designs enhance the commercial value of a product. How is this possible? This is possible when an organization or a company introduces an innovative product’s characteristics and improves its quality. As a result, it fosters the sale of the product because it has incorporated new features. Moreover, it is easy to use this product that’s why people are purchasing these products. In this way, marketability increases by adding a commercial value to the products.
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Encourages Healthy Competition
Industrial design protection stimulates healthy competition and honest trade practices. When an organization or company introduces the best quality product, then it’s competitors also try to come up with the best. In this way, it generates healthy competition and enables to bring innovation in the industrial sector.
Standing Committee (SCT)
The Standing Committee on the law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs, and Geographical indications was established in 1998. It is the place where all the WIPO members discuss issues regarding industrial designs. Nowadays, SCT members are trying to sign an agreement on various issues related the international designs.
Registering and Searching of Industrial Designs
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The Hauge System
The Hauge System provides the registration of international designs. The owner of an industrial design can get protection in various countries through this system. To get the registration of an industrial design, the owner has to register only one application, with one fee in the single currency.
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Global Design Database
You can search simultaneous searches through a single, intuitive interface using the Global Design Database. Moreover, you can also search across all international industrial designs that are registered under the Hauge System along with the participation in the national collections.
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Hauge Express
This is the first step in industrial design searches. The Huge Express Database offers updated information on the recent and previous industrial designs. It provides information only on the designs that are registered or filed under the Hauge System.
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The Locarno Classification
The Locarno Classification is an international system that is used for the classification of goods. The main aim of this classification is the registration of industrial designs.