The Design Registration Process

1. Searching before you apply

We feel it is important to have a thorough search conducted prior to filing an official application with the government office. This is to ensure that you are not infringing on an existing registered design, and to ensure your design is in fact new.

If your design is NOT new and distinct, then any registration you are granted may be invalid and hold no value. And, if you are infringing an existing registration, the owner of that registration would be within their rights to bring legal action against you.

We make a note for your consideration that the following products, or products featuring the following are not registrable:

• Medals
• Information or graphics regarded as scandalous in material
• Anything that includes the word ANZAC
• The Olympic rings and the Olympic Motto (in any language)
• Representations of Queen Elizabeth II or any members of the Royal Family
• Certain coats of Arms, flags and emblems

2.Filing the Official Application

Once a search is complete, or if you elect not to have a design search conducted, we can file an application with the government office requesting your design be registered.

At this step, we will need to advise them of a title for your design. This title is to be a generic term, rather than your unique brand. It is to be the common word or words used to describe the product. We can also file a statement of newness and distinctiveness to outline what is new about your design.

When it comes time to file the official application we must provide drawings or photographs of your design, and we will advise you more specifically as to what types of angles and pictures we require at that time.

Our office will be listed as your postal address for the application so that any government correspondence is sent to us so that you are not bothered unnecessarily.

3.Government Examination

Under the current Designs Act, examination is no longer automatic. Which means you will be granted registration but, for this registration to be enforceable you must request examination.

Without examination, your registration will deter people from copying your design. However, if an infringer fails to cease using your design once made aware that it belongs to you and legal action is then required, registration without examination will not enforce protection.

If you choose to request examination, it must be done within six months of filing the application, and once complete we will receive either a Notice advising that your design is certified, or a report if there are any problems found.

Should the latter occur, we can of course assist in responding and gaining a legally enforceable registration of your design.

4.Registration

Your initial registration period will last for five years from the date the application was first filed. You may then renew your design registration for a further five years only if you wish.

You will receive a reminder approximately six weeks before the initial period expires to allow time to renew your registration.

If you do not renew before the final date, there will be a small window of time to file a late renewal. However, if it is not done with in this time, your registration will lapse and protection will no longer be valid.