Industrial Design Registration —
Protect the Look of
Your Product
An industrial design protects the visual appearance of a product — its shape, configuration, pattern, or ornamentation — as it appears to the eye. Registration under the Designs Act, 2000 gives you the exclusive right to use the design in India for up to 15 years, and the right to sue any manufacturer who copies your product's look without permission. TaxClue files design applications for products across all industries.
Register Your Industrial Design
Application filed within ✅ 5–7 working days
What an Industrial Design Protects — and What It Does Not
A design registration protects the visual, aesthetic features of a product — not its functional aspects. The Designs Act, 2000 is narrower than patent law (which protects function) and copyright (which protects creative expression). It fills the gap: protecting how a manufactured product looks.
Protectable vs Not Protectable
Protectable: Shape & configuration (3D form of an article), pattern & ornamentation (2D visual features on surfaces), composition of lines or colours. Not protectable: Purely functional features, sculptures & works of art (covered by Copyright Act), flags, emblems & prior designs.
What Can Be Registered as a Design?
Shape & Configuration
The three-dimensional form of an article — the silhouette of a bottle, the contour of a chair, the curvature of a smartphone body.
Pattern & Ornamentation
Two-dimensional visual features applied to an article by any industrial process — surface patterns on fabric, decorative motifs on ceramics.
Composition of Lines or Colours
A distinctive arrangement of lines or a specific colour combination applied to an article. A unique colour-blocking pattern on a product.
NOT: Purely Functional Features
Features of shape dictated solely by function cannot be registered. Only aesthetic features qualify.
Advantages & Disadvantages
✅ Advantages
- 🛡️Exclusive Right to Use — Sole right to apply the design to articles for 10 years, extendable to 15
- ⚖️Right to Sue Copiers — Injunction and damages against anyone copying your registered design
- 💰Low Filing Cost — ₹1,000 for individuals/startups (significantly lower than patents)
- ⚡Quick Filing — Application prepared and filed within 5–7 working days
- 🌍Paris Convention Priority — Claim priority from foreign filing in 180+ countries
- 📋Public Record — Entry in Register of Designs — official proof of ownership
⚠️ Limitations
- ⏰Novelty Required — Design must not be previously published or disclosed anywhere
- 🔧No Functional Protection — Only visual appearance; functional aspects need patent protection
- 📐Representation Critical — Protection limited to what is shown in submitted drawings/photos
- ⏳Max 15 Years — Cannot be renewed beyond 15 years from registration date
File Before Disclosure: Publicly disclosing the design before filing permanently destroys novelty — no grace period under Indian law. TaxClue handles urgent applications fast.
How TaxClue Registers Your Design
TaxClue handles everything from representation preparation to registration certificate.
Design Assessment
TaxClue reviews the design for registrability — novelty check against existing registered designs, identification of functional vs aesthetic features, and Locarno classification. Day 1.
Representations Prepared
Drawings or photographs of the design prepared from all relevant views to Patent Office specifications. TaxClue advises on which views maximise protection. Day 1–4.
Form 1 Drafted & Filed
Application drafted with statement of novelty, article description, Locarno class, and all representations. Filed online at the Patent Office e-filing portal with govt. fee paid. Day 4–7.
Examination
Design Examiner reviews the application — checks novelty, compliance with Act, and representation quality. If objections raised, TaxClue responds on your behalf within the stipulated period. 1–6 months.
Registration & Certificate
If no objection, or after objection is resolved, design is registered. Certificate of registration issued with design number. Entry made in the Register of Designs — public record of ownership. 1–9 months total.
Design Registration vs Patent vs Copyright
Design Registration
Visual appearance of manufactured articles. 10+5 years. Designs Act, 2000.
Patent
Functional innovation in inventions/processes. 20 years. Patents Act, 1970.
Copyright
Original creative expression — literary, artistic, musical works. Life + 60 years.
Trademark
Brand names, logos, slogans. Renewable every 10 years. TM Act, 1999.
Design vs Patent vs Copyright — Which Protection Do You Need?
Products can attract multiple types of IP protection simultaneously — but each protects a different aspect.
| Feature | Design Registration | Patent | Copyright |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it protects | Visual appearance of product | Functional innovation | Original creative expression |
| Applicable to | Manufactured articles | Inventions / processes | Literary, artistic, musical works |
| Registration required | Yes — mandatory | Yes — mandatory | No — automatic; registration optional |
| Duration | 10 years + 5 year renewal | 20 years | Life + 60 years (literary) |
| Novelty requirement | Yes — not prior published | Yes — novel & non-obvious | No — originality only |
| Exam by authority | Yes — Design Examiner | Yes — Patent Examiner | Yes — Registrar of Copyrights |
| Infringement remedy | Injunction + damages | Injunction + damages | Injunction + damages + criminal |
| Governing law | Designs Act, 2000 | Patents Act, 1970 | Copyright Act, 1957 |
Government Fees — Design Registration (Form 1)
Design registration fees are significantly lower than patent fees. Small entities and startups receive a 50% concession.
Why Choose TaxClue?
Representation Experts
Patent Office-compliant drawings prepared to maximise protection scope.
All Industries
Electronics, fashion, auto, FMCG, medical — we've filed across all sectors.
Paris Convention
Priority filing in 180+ countries handled seamlessly.
File Before Disclosure
Urgent applications handled fast — protect before product launch.
4.9/5 · IP Experts
Designs Act specialists with proven track record.
Renewal Reminder at 10 Years
TaxClue tracks your design expiry and files Form 3 renewal on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Product's Look Is an Asset — Register It Before Someone Copies It
Design copying happens quickly — especially after a product launch. A registered design gives you the right to stop imitators and claim damages from the moment of infringement. TaxClue files design applications before your product goes public.
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