Forms 10 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
A transfer of a registered design is recorded in the Register of Designs under section 30 of the Designs Act, 2000 and rules 32 to 37 of the Designs Rules, 2001, using Forms 10, 11, 12 or 13 depending on the entry sought. This page was earlier titled "Form 6: Transfer / Assignment of Design", but in the Second Schedule Form 6 is a request for information under section 18 when the registration number is given. If you have bought, licensed or mortgaged a design, our industrial design registration team can prepare the deed and the Register application.
Under section 30(3), an assignment, mortgage, licence or other interest is not valid unless it is in writing, reduced to an instrument embodying all the terms, and the application for registration is filed within six months from execution, or within a further period not exceeding six months in aggregate allowed by the Controller. Rule 32 says the application under section 30(3) is made in Form 10, and rule 33 says the application for entry of subsequent proprietorship is made in Form 11, 12 or 13, as the case may be. The original or a notarially certified true copy of the document goes in with it (rule 35). Form 6 only asks whether a registration still exists.
What Form 6 is actually for
Section 18 says that on a request identifying the design, with the prescribed fee, the Controller informs the person whether the registration still exists, for which classes, its date and the registered proprietor's name and address. Rule 28(1) says that request is made in Form 6 with the registration number. If the number is not known, rule 28(2) provides for Form 7. The 2021 Schedule fee for Form 6 is Rs. 500 for natural persons, startups and small entities and Rs. 2,000 for others, and for Form 7 it is Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 4,000; check the current Schedule. It transfers nothing. See rules 27 and 28: inspection and search and sections 17 and 18.
Which form records what
| Task | Provision | Form | What the Second Schedule says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration of a document (assignment, mortgage, licence or other interest) | Section 30(3); rule 32 | Form 10 | Application for registration of a document in the Register of Design |
| Entry of the name of a proprietor or part proprietor | Section 30; rule 33 | Form 11 | Application for entry of name of proprietor or part proprietor in the Register |
| Entry of a mortgage or licence | Section 30; rule 33 | Form 12 | Application for entry of mortgage or licence in the Register |
| Entry of notification of another document affecting proprietorship | Section 30 and rule 37 | Form 13 | Application for entry of notification of a document in the Register |
Rule 33 says an application under section 30(1) or (2) is made in Form 11, 12 or 13 "as the case may be". An assignee asking to be entered as proprietor would normally use Form 11, a licensee or mortgagee Form 12, and a person whose document does not fit those heads Form 13. The rule does not pair forms with transactions beyond the Schedule's titles, so check the Registry's current practice. The article on rules 32 to 37: registration of documents, assignment, licence and mortgage entries goes through each rule, and section 30 explains the Act.
Time limit and validity
For the purposes of section 30(1) and (2), an assignment of a design or a share in it, a mortgage, a licence or the creation of any other interest is not valid unless it is in writing, the agreement is reduced to an instrument embodying all the terms and conditions, and the application for registration is filed in the prescribed manner within six months from the date of execution, or within such further period, not exceeding six months in aggregate, as the Controller allows. Once the particulars are entered in the Register, the instrument has effect from the date of its execution (proviso).
What the application and papers must contain
| Item | Rule | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Particulars | 34 | Name, address and nationality of the person claiming to be entitled, with full particulars of the instrument under which he claims |
| Document of title | 35 | Original, or notarially certified true copy, with the application, unless the Controller directs otherwise; he may call for other proof of title or written consent |
| Other documents | 37 | An attested copy, with the original or a notarially certified true copy produced if required |
Fees as per the 2021 Schedule
| Form | Purpose | Natural person, startup or small entity | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10, 11, 12, 13 | Each, for one design (plus each additional design) | Rs. 500 (Rs. 200) | Rs. 2,000 (Rs. 800) |
| 6 | Request for information, registration number given | Rs. 500 | Rs. 2,000 |
These amounts are as per the Schedule as substituted in 2021; check the current Schedule.
Before registration: a different route
If the transfer happens before registration, use the section 8(1) claim in Form 2 under rule 16 instead. See rules 16 and 17.
Common mistakes
- Filing "Form 6" because an older title said so. Form 6 only requests information.
- Signing a deed and leaving it unregistered beyond six months.
- A deed that does not embody all the terms, which section 30(3) requires.
- Presenting a photocopy where rule 35 requires the original or a notarially certified true copy.
- Choosing a wrong form for the entry sought, for example Form 11 for a licence.
Need help recording a design transfer?
The deed, the six-month window and the correct form all need to line up. Our industrial design registration service can review the instrument, choose the right form from Forms 10 to 13 and file the application with the Controller.
Key takeaways
- A transfer of a registered design is recorded using Forms 10 to 13, not Form 6.
- Form 6 is a request for information (section 18).
- The instrument must be in writing, with all terms, and the application filed within six months of execution.
- Fees are as per the 2021 Schedule; check the current Schedule.
Read next
- Rules 32 to 37: registration of documents, assignment, licence and mortgage entries
- Section 30: entry of assignments, transmissions and licences
- Design assignment deed: draft template
- Rules 27 and 28: inspection and search under section 18
Disclaimer: Based on the Designs Rules, 2001 as notified in 2001 and amended in 2021 (G.S.R. 45(E)), and the Designs Act, 2000, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Later amendments, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice.