Design Registration
Protect the unique shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation of your product against copying, under the Designs Act, 2000. We handle novelty assessment, representation preparation, filing and objection response through to certificate.
Starting at ₹4,999**Professional fee only — the government filing fee (which varies by applicant type — individual/startup or company) is additional and quoted upfront before you proceed.
What Is Design Registration?
Design registration protects the visual appearance of an article — its shape, configuration, pattern, ornamentation or composition of lines and colours — under the Designs Act, 2000. It's different from a trademark (which protects brand identity) and a patent (which protects how something works): a registered design protects purely how a product looks. Registration gives the owner exclusive rights to that appearance for the registered class of articles, and is only available if the design is genuinely new and hasn't already been published or used publicly anywhere before filing. Design applications are classified under the Locarno Classification — for example, Class 06 covers furniture, Class 09 covers packaging and containers, and Class 32 covers graphic symbols and logos — and are governed by Sections 4 and 5 of the Designs Act, 2000.
Who Should Apply for Design Registration?
Product manufacturers — businesses launching a product with a distinctive shape or visual design they want protected from copying.
Furniture, packaging & consumer goods brands — industries where product appearance strongly influences purchase decisions.
Fashion & textile designers — creators of distinctive garment shapes, prints or surface patterns.
Businesses about to launch a new product — since the design must be filed before it's publicly disclosed or sold.
Companies facing product look-alikes — brands that have noticed competitors copying their product's appearance.
What's Included in Our Design Registration Service
Novelty Assessment
We check the design is new and not previously published or used.
Design Application Filing
Filed with representations of the design and applicable class.
Multiple Class Filing
Guidance if your design applies across multiple product classes.
Objection Response
We respond if the Design Office raises any objection.
Documents Required for Design Registration
Representations of the design — clear drawings or photographs showing all views (front, back, side, top, bottom, perspective) of the article.
Statement of novelty — a description of what's new or original about the design's appearance.
Applicant details — identity proof and address of the individual, partnership or company applying.
Class of article — the Locarno Classification class the article falls under.
Priority document (if claiming convention priority) — where an earlier foreign filing is being relied upon.
How It Works
Novelty Check
We confirm the design hasn't been previously disclosed anywhere.
Representation Preparation
Views/drawings of the design are prepared per Design Office norms.
Filing
Application filed with the Design Office.
Registration Certificate
Certificate issued once the application is accepted.
Estimated Processing Time
Design registration is generally faster than trademarks or patents, typically taking 6-12 months if there are no objections from the Design Office. Once registered, protection lasts 10 years from the date of registration, extendable by a further 5 years.
For the official classification and filing procedures, you can also refer to the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) website.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Publicly disclosing, exhibiting or selling the product before filing, which can forfeit novelty.
Registering only a 2D representation for a design that is inherently three-dimensional in use.
Missing the 12-month priority window for filing the same design in other countries.
Filing a design that closely resembles an already-published design, inviting cancellation later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is design registration?
Design registration protects the visual appearance of an article — its shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation — under the Designs Act, 2000, giving the owner exclusive rights to that appearance for the registered class of articles.
What qualifies for design registration?
The visual appearance — shape, pattern, or ornamentation — of an article, provided it's new and not previously published or used anywhere in the world before filing.
How long does design registration protection last?
10 years from the date of registration, extendable by a further 5 years by paying the renewal fee before the initial term expires.
Can I register a design that's already being sold?
Generally no — the design must be new and not disclosed to the public before filing, with limited grace-period exceptions for disclosures made in specific circumstances such as official exhibitions.
What is the difference between a design registration and a patent?
A design registration protects only the visual appearance of an article, while a patent protects the underlying functional or technical invention — the same product can sometimes have both a registered design for its look and a patent for its working.
How long does design registration take?
Design registration is generally faster than trademarks or patents, typically taking 6-12 months if there are no objections from the Design Office.
Can one design be registered across multiple product classes?
A design application is filed under a specific class of the Locarno Classification; if the same design applies to articles in different classes, separate applications are generally required for each class.
You May Also Need
Patent Registration
Protect the underlying function or working of your product.
Trademark Registration
Protect your brand name and logo alongside your design.
Copyright Registration
Protect original artistic works and illustrations.
How long is design registration protection valid?
A registered design is protected for 10 years from the date of registration, extendable once for a further 5 years.
Can a design and a patent be registered for the same product?
Yes, in some cases — a patent can protect the functional/technical aspect of a product while design registration separately protects its visual shape, pattern or ornamentation.