Summary
The Indian IP Office issued a Public Notice on 7 September 2026 announcing that First Examination Reports in design applications will ordinarily be communicated only by email from 2 October 2026. Physical dispatch of FERs by post will ordinarily be discontinued, subject to limited exceptions. Applicants, patent agents and advocates have been advised to keep their registered email addresses active, monitor their email accounts and regularly check the status of design applications.
Design FERs to Move to Electronic Communication
The Indian IP Office issued a Public Notice on 7 September 2026 concerning the communication of First Examination Reports, commonly referred to as FERs, in design applications.
The Notice states that the change has been introduced to promote efficient and paperless administration and further the Government’s Digital India initiative. It records that the IP Office has decided to streamline the manner in which FERs relating to design applications are communicated.
The new practice will come into force on 2 October 2026.
Email Address in Form 1 to Become Important
The Notice refers to Rule 4 of the Designs Rules, 2001, under which applicants are required to furnish their email address, mobile number and contact details in the prescribed application form. It also refers to the Design e Filing system, which provides an electronic platform for filing applications, receiving official communications and submitting responses.
From 2 October 2026, FERs relating to design applications will ordinarily be communicated only through the email address provided by the applicant in Form 1 under the particulars relating to the “Address for Service in India.”
This means that the email address furnished in the application will serve as the ordinary channel for receiving the FER.
Physical Dispatch of FERs to Be Ordinarily Discontinued
The Public Notice states that physical dispatch of FERs by post will ordinarily be discontinued from 2 October 2026.
The Notice, however, provides an exception. The Controller may direct physical communication where the Controller considers it necessary in the interest of justice or because of administrative exigencies. The reasons for doing so must be recorded in writing.
The change therefore does not completely prohibit physical dispatch, but makes electronic communication the ordinary mode for communicating FERs in design applications.
Applicants and Representatives Asked to Monitor Email
The IP Office has asked applicants, registered patent agents and advocates to ensure that the email address entered in the Design e Filing Portal is correct. Where an application is filed physically, the correct email address must be provided in Form 1.
The registered email address must remain valid, active and accessible throughout prosecution of the design application.
Applicants and their representatives have also been advised to regularly monitor the Inbox as well as Spam or Junk folders of the registered email account. This is intended to ensure that communications from the IP Office are not overlooked or filtered by the email service provider.
Design Application Status Must Also Be Checked
The Public Notice additionally asks applicants and their representatives to regularly check the status of design applications.
In particular, they have been asked to watch for status messages indicating that an application is under process and is waiting for a reply to the FER, along with the date on which the FER was generated.
The Notice therefore requires attention not only to email communication but also to the online status of the design application.
Changes in Contact Details
Applicants have also been asked to promptly update changes in their contact details, including their email address and mobile number, wherever applicable.
Such changes must be made in accordance with the Designs Act, 2000 and the Designs Rules, 2001.
The Public Notice requests applicants, registered patent agents, advocates and other stakeholders to take note of the change and make the necessary arrangements before the new practice comes into force on 2 October 2026.
Reference
Office of the Controller General of Patents & Designs, Trade Marks, Registrar of Copyrights & GI, “Communication of First Examination Reports (FERs) in Design Applications only Through Electronic Mode,” Public Notice, published 7 September 2026.
Official source: Intellectual Property India, News and Updates
Disclaimer
This post has been prepared for general information based on the Public Notice issued by the Indian IP Office. It does not constitute legal advice. An AI application was used to generate parts of this post based on user inputs and prompts.