You’ve created something beautiful, you’ve spent countless hours carefully crafting the fine details of your design… so it’s time to consider design registration.

Whether it is a unique shaped mug or distinctive boat hull shape. Your design is something special to you, design registration is the best way to protect it.

A design is what makes your product look the way it does. The design of your product refers to the features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation which give a product a unique appearance.

Before applying for design registration you should determine whether your design is in fact new and distinctive.

You don’t want to rest the entire future of your business on a design that is already taken. Further, ownership is not all ways straight forward and may become an issues depending on the circumstances and relationships that exist at the time of the creation.

It is important that you do not disclose your design to anyone before the design registration process is complete. If you have publicly disclosed your design before registration then you run the risk of being unable to protect it. Your design must be new at the time of registration.

A design right refers to a type of Intellectual Property which protects your design. Without registering with IP Australia anybody can freely copy it without you having any way to stop it. Registering your design will mean you are the owner and give you exclusive rights to use license or sell it.

Not all designs can be registered so it is important that you get advice from a lawyer before starting the process.

You may be thinking about starting a business using your unique product. There are important things you should consider,  like trademark registration, so you have the right foundations for your business.

At Vaarzon-Morel Lawyers we know the system and we know the law. From advice about how to protect your design, registering your design with the Government or even help sketching your design. We are here to help you make the most of the protections offered under the law.

We take care of the paperwork so you can focus on doing what you do best.