What Is Design Protection?

“Designs protect the unique visual appearance of products — combining beauty with function.”

What is Industrial Design?

Industrial Design in IPR protects the appearance of a product — including its shape, pattern, configuration, or ornamentation — as long as it’s new and original and applied to a product by any industrial process.

untitled design

Why Design
Matters

  • Protects shapes, patterns, and visual style
  • Supports innovation and product branding
  • Combines aesthetics + utility

What Can Be Registered

  • New or original designs only
  • Traditional or modern applications
  • Must not be publicly disclosed before

What Cannot Be Registered

  • Copies of known designs
  • Scandalous or obscene visuals
  • Anything lacking originality

The Indian Design Act

  • Aligns with TRIPs Agreement
  • Recognizes both traditional & modern designs
  • Ensures legal protection across India

Registration Process Timeline

  • Apply

    Submit design with prescribed format

  • Review

    Design Examiner checks for objections

  • Approval

    Once cleared, design gets registered

  • Classified

    India uses Locarno Classification standard

"Requirements for Design Registration in India"

A step-by-step guide to the documents and information needed to protect your product’s unique appearance.

Applicant Information

Individuals

  • Name
  • Address
  • Nationality

Legal Entities

  • Legal Name
  • Address
  • Place of Incorporation
  • Legal Status (Pvt Ltd, LLP, etc.)

Design Information Required
  • Title of the Article
  • Statement of Novelty
  • Locarno Classification (Class & Subclass)
  • Representations (Photographs or Drawings)
  • Minimum size: 5 × 4 inches (13 × 10 cm)
  • Views: Perspective, front, back, top, bottom, both sides (4 copies of each)

Claiming Priority (if applicable)

Priority
Date

Priority
Country

Application
Number

Certified Priority Document
(can be submitted later)

Verified English Translation
(if applicable)

Power of Attorney:

Must be duly stamped and submitted. Can be filed after the application is submitted.

Final Checklist
  • Form IV
  • Statement of Particulars (in triplicate)
  • Statement of Further Particulars (in triplicate)
  • No Objection Certificate (NOC)
  • Copyright Notice
  • Copy of the Work (3 sets)
  • Certificate of Posting
  • Power of Attorney
Applicant Details
Design Title & Views
Novelty Statement
Priority Documents (if any)
Power of Attorney

Understand the Design Registration Process

Learn how to register a new or original design in India, from eligibility to grant.

The Applicant

Anyone who owns a new or original design—published or unpublished—can apply. Priority can be claimed from foreign filings made in convention countries within the last 6 months.

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Required Documents for Filing
  • 📝 Application Form (Prescribed under Designs Act, 2000)
  • 📑 Design Specification (with all claims/modifications
  • 💳 Payment of Official Fee
  • 🗂️ Separate Application for Each Design
  • 📚 Class Reference (as per Locarno Classification)

Design Registration Process

Term of Design

Processing Timeline & Prosecution

📅 Timeframe
  • A design registration is typically completed within 12 months.
📤 Prosecution Frame
  • Includes Office Filing Receipt and First Office Action (with formal/substantive objections, if any).

Summary Checklist
  • Who can apply
  • Documents required
  • Filing & Classification
  • Examination
  • Registration term
  • Renewal options