A registered design is for protecting the appearance of a product. Typically, the visual features of the product that are protected by a registered design are the shape, configuration, pattern and ornamentation of the product. Examples of products which may be covered by registered designs are bottles, items of furniture, carpets, machine components, profiles of extrusions, and so on.

A registered give the owner of the design the exclusive right to commercially exploit the design (i.e. the product that embodies the design) for the life of the registration.

Why get a registered design?

Most designs are a product of artistic flair, research and development or engineering skill and often involve significant investment of time and/or money.

Because a design relates to the visual appearance of a product, and especially because at least some artistic or design talent is involved, a typical way for people to take advantage of someone else's design is to copy it exactly, or with minor changes. As a result, if you have developed a new design, and if you do not have it registered, other people may be free to copy and have the commercial benefits of the design, but without having to invest the time and money, as they are relying on your investment. Consequently, your competitors may have a commercial advantage over you.

A design registration can give one the exclusive right to commercially exploit the design so as to prevent competitors from having this advantage.

A registered design is often relied on by businesses having products where there is appeal in the appearance of the products (for example eye-catching furniture, prints, etc), or where the design satisfies certain technical requirements (e.g. machinery components, expandable containers, etc).

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