Design Mining & Identification
Identifying unregistered design assets within product portfolios.
- Design audit and inventory
- Product design review
- Packaging design assessment
- GUI and icon identification
- Design asset categorisation
Design Registration
Design registration and portfolio management services for protecting industrial Designs in India and internationally
Design mining, registrability opinions, domestic and international registration, portfolio management.
Practice Overview
The Design registration practice provides services for obtaining and maintaining Design registrations, from identification of registrable designs through registration and ongoing portfolio management.
Services include design mining to identify unregistered design assets, registrability opinions, domestic registration in India, international registration through the Paris Convention route, and ongoing portfolio management including renewals and maintenance.
The practice handles Design registrations across all 32 Locarno classes, covering product designs, packaging, GUI elements, textile patterns, and ornamentation. The team works with design creators, manufacturers, and brand owners to build and maintain design portfolios aligned with business objectives.
Design Registration in India
10 Years
Initial Term
From the date of registration
5 Years
Renewal Period
One extension available
15 Years
Maximum Protection
Total possible protection period
6 Months
Priority Period
For convention filings
Service Areas
Services covering Design registration and portfolio management.
Registrability Opinions
Assessment of whether designs meet registration requirements.
- Novelty assessment
- Originality evaluation
- Prior art analysis
- Functional feature review
- Registration strategy advice
Domestic Registration
Design registration under the Designs Act, 2000.
- Application preparation
- Filing with Design Office
- Prosecution handling
- Certificate processing
- Registration monitoring
International Registration
Design protection in foreign jurisdictions.
- Paris Convention filings
- Hague Agreement applications
- National phase coordination
- Foreign associate management
- Multi-jurisdiction strategy
Portfolio Management
Ongoing management of design portfolios.
- Status tracking and monitoring
- Deadline management
- Renewal processing
- Portfolio reporting
- Cost forecasting
Maintenance & Renewals
Keeping Design registrations in force.
- Renewal fee payments
- Extension processing
- Lapse prevention
- Restoration applications
- Term management
Strategic Consulting
Advisory services for Design protection strategy.
- Portfolio strategy development
- Gap analysis
- Competitor design monitoring
- Design valuation support
- Transaction due diligence
Audits & Due Diligence
Assessment of design assets for transactions and compliance.
- Design portfolio audit
- Ownership verification
- Validity assessment
- Risk identification
- Value assessment support
Applicant Categories & Fees
Official fees vary based on applicant type. Reduced fees are available for small entities and startups.
Natural Person
Individual applicants
Standard fees applySmall Entity
Small enterprises as defined under MSMED Act
Reduced fees (approximately 50%)Startup
DPIIT-recognised startups
Reduced fees (approximately 50%)Large Entity
Other entities not qualifying as small
Full fees applyPractice Characteristics
Aspects of the Design registration practice.
Registration Experience
The practice has handled Design registrations across various product categories over two decades.
Portfolio Coverage
Services cover the complete portfolio lifecycle from identification through maintenance and renewal.
Multi-Jurisdiction
Experience with domestic, convention, and Hague Agreement filings for international protection.
Class Coverage
Handling of registrations across all 32 Locarno classes including GUI and digital designs.
Deadline Management
Systems for tracking registration status, renewal dates, and priority deadlines.
Strategic Approach
Advisory services for building design portfolios aligned with business and product strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Design registration in India
The process involves:(1) filing an application with visual representations and statement of novelty at the Design Office in Kolkata;(2) formal examination for compliance with filing requirements;(3) substantive examination for novelty and originality;(4) response to any objections raised; and(5) registration and certificate issuance. The process typically takes 3-9 months for uncontested applications.
Design registration in India is initially valid for 10 years from the date of registration. It can be renewed for one additional period of 5 years by filing a renewal application and paying the prescribed fee before the expiry of the initial term. The maximum possible protection is therefore 15 years from registration.
Renewal application must be filed before the expiry of the initial 10-year term along with the prescribed renewal fee. The renewal extends protection for an additional 5 years. If the renewal is not filed before expiry, the Design registration lapses. However, restoration may be possible within one year of lapse by filing the prescribed application and fees.
Design mining is the process of identifying potentially registrable designs within an organisation's existing product portfolio that have not yet been registered. This involves reviewing products, packaging, user interfaces, and other visual elements to identify design assets that may qualify for protection. Design mining helps organisations build comprehensive design portfolios.
Yes, Design registrations can be assigned (transferred) or licensed to third parties. Assignments must be recorded with the Design Office to be effective against third parties. Licensing arrangements should be documented in written agreements specifying the scope, territory, duration, and terms. Both exclusive and non-exclusive licenses are possible.
The Hague Agreement is an international system allowing a single application to obtain Design protection in multiple member countries. While India has not yet acceded to the Hague Agreement, the government is actively exploring accession. Currently, Indian applicants can still obtain international Design protection through the Paris Convention route by filing separate applications in each country within the 6-month priority period. For designs originating from Hague member countries, protection in India must be sought through direct national filing.
DPIIT-recognised startups in India are eligible for reduced official fees for Design registration, typically around 50% of the standard fees applicable to large entities. This concession applies to filing, examination, and renewal fees. To avail this benefit, startups must provide their DPIIT recognition certificate with the application.
If renewal is not filed before expiry of the 10-year initial term, the Design registration lapses and the design falls into the public domain. However, restoration is possible within one year of lapse by filing a restoration application with the prescribed fee and showing sufficient cause for the failure to renew. After one year, restoration is generally not available.
Yes, any person can file a petition for cancellation of a Design registration on grounds including:(1) the design was previously published in India or elsewhere;(2) the design is not new or original;(3) the design does not qualify as a design under the Act; or(4) it is against public order or morality. Cancellation proceedings are heard by the Controller.
A registrability opinion is a professional assessment of whether a design is likely to be registered based on the legal requirements. It involves searching prior art, evaluating novelty and originality, checking for functional features, and assessing compliance with formal requirements. This helps applicants understand registration prospects before investing in filing.
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