Rules 27-28 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.
Rules 27 and 28 explain how a member of the public can look at a registered design and how to ask the Controller for information about a design. Inspection is on Form 5. A request for information is on Form 6 if you know the registration number, and on Form 7 if you do not. They implement sections 17 and 18 of the Designs Act, 2000. Before you launch a product, a design search is a sensible step, and our industrial design registration team can run one and read the result for you.
Registered designs are open to public inspection after notification in the Official Gazette; the application and representation can be inspected on a request in Form 5. A request for information under section 18 is made in Form 6 with the registration number; if you cannot give the number, Form 7 with the information you have, and the Controller searches the class indicated, as far as possible. Fees are in the First Schedule.
Source note
Rules 27 and 28 are read as notified in 2001; the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021 (G.S.R. 45(E)) did not change them, but substituted the First Schedule with their fees. The 2014 amendment (G.S.R. 925(E)) is not in the sources consulted, and later amendments should be checked. The rules carry out sections 17 and 18 of the Designs Act, 2000. The rule text speaks of paper requests; it does not describe online search tools.
Rule 27: inspection of designs
"Registered designs shall be open to public inspection after the notification of the said design in Official Gazette and the application together with representation of the design may be inspected on a request made in Form - 5."
- When: after the design is notified in the Official Gazette (see our article on rule 22).
- Who: "public"; any person.
- What can be inspected: the application together with the representation of the design.
- How: a request in Form 5, titled "Inspection of registered design" under section 17(1).
Fee: entry 6 of the Schedule as substituted in 2021 (Form 5, "Inspection of registered design under section 17(1)") shows Rs 500 for natural persons, startups and small entities and Rs 2000 for others. This is as per the Schedule as substituted in 2021; check the current Schedule before paying.
Rule 27 says inspection is open after notification; it does not say anything about inspection before notification, and the text does not provide for it. Certified copies of a registered design are a different request, under section 17(2), on Form 16 (see our article on rules 41-42).
Rule 28: search under section 18
Rule 28(1): you know the registration number
"Request for information as specified in section 18 of the Act may be made by any person in Form 6 with the fee as specified in the Schedule of fees and shall contain the registration number of the design for which information is required."
- Who: "any person".
- Form: Form 6, "Request for information when registration number is given".
- Content: the registration number of the design.
- Fee: entry 7, Rs 500 (first column) or Rs 2000 (second column), as per the Schedule as substituted in 2021.
Rule 28(2): you do not know the number
"If the applicant is unable to furnish the registration number of the design, he shall lodge with the Controller, in Form 7 together with such information as is in his possession, and the Controller shall thereupon cause search to be made in the class indicated therein as much as be possible on the information supplied, and shall furnish such information as may be obtainable. Where Form 7 is accompanied by a representation or specimen of the design, such representation or specimen shall be furnished in duplicate."
- Form: Form 7, "Request for information when registration number is not given".
- Content: whatever information the requester has.
- What the Controller does: causes a search in the class indicated, "as much as be possible" on the information supplied, and furnishes "such information as may be obtainable".
- If a picture is attached: the representation or specimen goes in duplicate.
- Fee: entry 8, Rs 1000 (first column) or Rs 4000 (second column), as per the Schedule as substituted in 2021.
| Request | Form | Fee as per the Schedule as substituted in 2021 (first column / second column) | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection of a registered design | Form 5 | Rs 500 / Rs 2000 | request to inspect the application and representation |
| Information, number given | Form 6 | Rs 500 / Rs 2000 | the registration number |
| Information, number not given | Form 7 | Rs 1000 / Rs 4000 | information in the requester's possession; class; representation in duplicate if any |
The first column is for natural person(s) and/or startup(s) and/or small entit(y)/(ies); the second is for others.
What a search can and cannot tell you
The rule promises the information "as may be obtainable" from a search "as much as be possible on the information supplied". The text makes no promise that a Form 7 search will find every similar design, and it does not say what the Controller's reply contains. A search is therefore a source of information, not a clearance. The text does not say that a search protects the requester from a claim of piracy; for that, see the Act and our article on piracy of registered designs.
Drafting slips: "as much as be possible" for "as much as possible"; "Request for information as specified" refers to the request in section 18 of the Act.
Illustrations (invented)
Form 6. Mohan Bags sees a competitor's bag marked "REGD. 123456" and wants to know what the registered design covers. It files Form 6 with that registration number and pays the fee.
Form 7. Aarav Lamps wants to know whether any registered design looks like its new lamp shade. It files Form 7, states the class and what it knows, and encloses two copies of a drawing. The Controller causes a search in the class indicated and furnishes the information obtainable.
Inspection. A design student asks to inspect the application and representation of a design notified last month. She files Form 5.
What the rules do not say
- They do not say how long the Controller takes to reply.
- They do not say whether inspection may be done remotely.
- They do not say what a Form 7 reply contains.
- Rule 27 does not set any restriction on who may inspect, except that the design must have been notified.
Need help with a design search?
Looking up registered designs before you launch can help you avoid a clash. Our industrial design registration team can prepare Form 6 or Form 7, interpret the reply and advise on what follows.
Key takeaways
- Registered designs are open to public inspection after notification in the Official Gazette, on Form 5.
- Form 6 asks for information when the registration number is known; Form 7 when it is not.
- Under Form 7 the Controller searches the class indicated as far as possible on the information given.
- A representation or specimen with Form 7 is furnished in duplicate.
- Fees are in the First Schedule, which has two columns since 2021.
- The 2014 amendment is not in the sources consulted; check later amendments.
Read next
- Rule 26: marking of articles before delivery on sale
- Rule 29: procedure for cancellation of registration
- Design registration in India
Disclaimer: Based on the Designs Rules, 2001 as notified and the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Other amendments may apply; fees and forms change from time to time. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.