About the Process

ONE-TIME PROTECTION FEE

Secure your unique design with our simplified flat-rate service.

BASIC PLAN
₹2,999
PER DESIGN REGISTRATION

(1 Design in 1 Class + Statutory Fees)

  • REGISTER ONLINE DESIGN
  • DRAFTING THE APPLICATION
  • STATUS UPDATE AND POST-FILING SUPPORT

ADD-ONS (Conditional Support)

Post-filing services billed only if objections arise from the examiner.

  • RESPONDING TO EXAMINATION REPORT / OBJECTION ₹1,500 PER REPLY
  • ATTENDING A HEARING ₹5,000 PER HEARING

    (If the Examiner is not satisfied with the written response)

These services ensure your design application is successfully granted.

Please note: All prices listed are excluding GST. 18% GST and government taxes apply.

Design Registration Readiness™

Step 1 – Check your design readiness

Who is filing the design?
Readiness checklist
Your readiness score 0%

0–40% – exploring · 40–70% – almost ready · 70%+ – filing-ready design.

Instant advice for your stage

    Plan suggestion

    Step 1 – Design audit & novelty check

    • Identify what is truly new in the visual appearance.
    • Ensure the design has not been disclosed in catalogues, fairs or online.
    • Shortlist the exact products where the design will be used.

    Step 2 – Prepare representations & Form 1

    • High-quality line drawings or photos from multiple views.
    • Draft the statement of novelty and description.
    • Fill Form 1 with applicant details and class/sub-class.

    Step 3 – Filing with correct Locarno class

    • File the application with prescribed government fee.
    • Choose Locarno class (e.g. packaging, clothing, logos, furnishings).
    • Get the official filing date and application number.

    Step 4 – Examination & objection handling

    • Examiner checks novelty, class and legal compliance.
    • Any objections are listed in an examination report.
    • Detailed written reply is filed within the allowed time.

    Step 5 – Hearing (if needed)

    • Personal/online hearing before the Controller of Designs.
    • Arguments and clarifications submitted with supporting documents.

    Step 6 – Registration & publication

    • Design is registered for 10 years from filing date.
    • Entry made in the Register and published in the Design Journal.
    • Certificate of Design Registration issued.

    Step 7 – Renewal & enforcement

    • Single renewal extends protection for 5 additional years (total 15).
    • Monitor the market for look-alike products and file infringement actions.
    • Licensing or assignment can monetise the registered design.

    Core documents

    • Form 1 with applicant details and Locarno class.
    • Representations of design (drawings/photos – multiple views).
    • Statement of novelty and brief description.
    • Priority document (for reciprocity applications).
    • Power of attorney if filed through an agent.

    By applicant type

    • Individual / Startup / MSME: ID proof, address proof, startup/MSME proof.
    • Company / LLP: Incorporation/LLP deed, PAN, board authorisation.
    • Assignee: Assignment deed or contract from original designer.

    Clean drawings + clear novelty statement = smoother prosecution and fewer objections.

    Commercial benefits

    • Exclusive right over the product’s visual appearance.
    • Higher brand value and stronger shelf presence.
    • Licensing or assignment can generate royalty income.

    Legal benefits

    • Remedies for piracy of designs under Section 22.
    • Basis to stop copy-cat products and recover damages.
    • Public record of ownership helps in enforcement and negotiations.

    Application type

    • Ordinary application: First filing in India; follows standard process.
    • Reciprocity application: Filed in India within 6 months of first foreign filing, claiming priority.

    Popular Locarno classes

    • Class 9 – Packaging and containers.
    • Class 11 – Articles of adornment.
    • Class 14 – Recording/communication equipment.
    • Class 23 – Fluid distribution & sanitary equipment.
    • Class 32 – Graphic symbols, logos, surface patterns.

    Correct classing avoids refusals and ensures the design is searchable and enforceable.

    User Review

    An Easy Guide to Design Registration (India)

    What is a “Design” (in India)

    Governing law: The Designs Act, 2000 and Designs Rules (as amended).

    Meaning: The visual features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of lines or colours applied to an article (2-D or 3-D), by any industrial process, which appeal to the eye.

    Key point: It protects how something looks, not how it works.

    What a Design can (and can’t) cover

    Eligible

    • A new bottle silhouette, furniture shape, mobile phone back pattern, textile print, packaging shape, GUI icons/screen layout (if treated as an article applied with a design).

    Not eligible / excluded

    • Functionality or method of construction (that’s patent territory).
    • Trademarks (names, logos) and artistic works under copyright.
    • Designs contrary to public order or morality.
    • Designs already published in India or abroad (including on your own website/social media) before the filing date.

    Benefits of registering a Design

    • Exclusive right to apply the registered design to the article(s) in the specified class.
    • Faster + cheaper than patents for aesthetic innovation.
    • Deterrence & enforcement: registration number + marking (“Registered Design” / “Regd. Design No. ___”) helps in enforcement and damages.
    • Licensing/valuation: an asset you can license, assign, or show in diligence.

    Duration & renewals

    • Initial term: 10 years from the date of registration (or from the priority date, if claimed).
    • Extension: one renewal of 5 years → maximum 15 years total.
    • Renewal must be requested with fee before expiry (there is a limited grace with surcharge if you miss the date).

    Who can apply

    • The author (designer), a person/company for whom it was created, or the assignee.
    • Applicants can be natural persons, startups/small entities, or others (fee categories differ).

    Classification (Locarno)

    India follows the Locarno Classification (classes/sub-classes by product type).

    Your application must select the right class (e.g., 09-03 for bottles; 06-01 for seating, etc.). Misclassification can delay examination.

    What you file (core dossier)

    • Form + fees (e-filing or physical, e-filing is standard).
    • Applicant details (+ proof of small entity/startup if claimed).
    • Title of the article and Locarno class/sub-class.
    • Statement of Novelty (what the design’s newness lies in).
    • Representations/Drawings/Photographs:
      • Typically 6 views (front, rear, left, right, top, bottom) + perspective(s).
      • Clean, high-contrast images with consistent scale/lighting.
      • No background, no brand names, no dimensions/text on the views.
      • Show only the article; if you must show environment, disclaim it (dotted/ghosted lines).
    • Priority document (if claiming Paris Convention priority—within 6 months of first filing abroad).
    • Power of Attorney (if filed via agent; often Form-21).

    Tip—Statement of Novelty (sample):

    “Novelty resides in the overall shape and surface ornamentation of the bottle as illustrated in the representations.”

    Avoid mentioning features that are purely functional.

    Filing → Examination → Registration (step-by-step)

    • Search (Recommended):
      Do a prior-art scan (Indian designs journal + global image search) to check for similar designs.
    • E-file application:
      Through the Designs Office (CGPDTM) e-filing portal; pay appropriate fee (natural/small/other).
    • Formal & substantive examination:
      The Controller examines novelty, publication, originality, registrability under exclusions, class, and representation quality.
      If issues arise, you’ll receive a First Examination Report (FER) with objections.
    • Reply & Hearing (if needed):
      Respond within the prescribed time (usually 6 months from filing, extendable in limited manner), addressing each objection (novelty arguments, amended statement, improved views, disclaimers).
      Hearings may be scheduled for contested points.
    • Acceptance & Registration:
      Upon acceptance, the design is registered and published in the Official Journal.
      You receive a Registration Certificate and number. Start using marking on products/packaging.

    Common Examiner objections (and how to avoid them)

    • “Lack of novelty / prior publication”:
      Do not disclose publicly before filing. If disclosed, consider priority filing within 6 months of first foreign filing.
    • “Design is functional / mode or principle of construction”:
      Re-emphasize visual aesthetics; exclude/disclaim purely functional elements; strengthen Statement of Novelty around ornamental features.
    • “Poor representations” (inconsistent views, backgrounds, branding visible):
      Reshoot/render clean, consistent images. Keep only the article, uniform background, no logos/text.
    • “Article ambiguity / wrong class”:
      Use a clear article title and correct Locarno class.

    Scope of protection

    • What’s protected: The appearance as shown (overall visual impression) on the article in the registered class.
    • Variants: Minor variations may still infringe if they create a deceptively similar overall visual impression to an informed user.
    • Not protected: Internal mechanisms, function, material, size (unless size changes the visual impression), methods of manufacture.

    Enforcement & marking

    • Piracy of registered design can be pursued via civil action (injunction, damages/account of profits) in the District Court/Commercial Court/High Court jurisdiction.
    • Marking: Use “Registered Design” or “Regd. Design No. ____” on products/packaging/website. Marking supports damages and deters copycats.
    • Keep dated samples, invoices, and catalogues—they become evidence.

    Cancellation / invalidation

    A registered design can be cancelled (on petition) on grounds such as:

    • Prior publication in India/abroad.
    • Not a “design” under the Act / hit by exclusions.
    • Not new or original.
    • Wrongly remaining on the register (e.g., earlier registration existing).

    Post-registration housekeeping

    • Renewal: File the 5-year extension before the 10-year expiry (to reach 15).
    • Assignments/licences: Execute written agreements and record them with the Designs Office.
    • Name/address change: Record promptly.
    • Portfolio hygiene: Track families of designs (base + variants) by class/market.

    India + International strategy (high level)

    • File early in India (before disclosure).
    • For other markets, file nationally in key countries or consider the Hague System for international design filings where appropriate.
    • Coordinate brand (TM) + design + patent (if any) to avoid gaps:
      • Design = look/ornamentation
      • Trademark = brand/source identifier
      • Patent/Utility = function/technical solution
    • (International options and timelines change—always check the latest CGPDTM/WIPO guidance before building a multi-country strategy.)

    Practical playbook & quick checklist

    Before filing

    • ☑️ Clean, consistent 6-view images (plus perspective).
    • ☑️ No public disclosure (or file within 6 months of first filing if claiming priority).
    • ☑️ Correct Locarno class and clear article title.
    • ☑️ Tight Statement of Novelty (ornamental focus).
    • ☑️ Decide fee category (natural / startup/small / other).

    During prosecution

    • ☑️ Track FER deadlines; reply with point-wise arguments.
    • ☑️ Amend views/novelty statement/disclaimers if needed.
    • ☑️ Attend/hearings if scheduled.

    After registration

    • ☑️ Start marking (“Registered Design No. …”).
    • ☑️ Watch the market; send polite warning notices before litigation.
    • ☑️ Calendar renewal at year 10.
    • ☑️ Record assignments/licences.
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    Frequently Asked Questions

    It is the legal process of protecting the visual appearance or ornamental features of a product under the Designs Act, ensuring that your creative design is exclusively yours.

    Registration grants you exclusive rights to use the design, prevents unauthorized copying, enhances your brand value, and turns your design into a tangible asset that can be licensed or sold.

    You can register 2D elements (patterns, lines, compositions, colors), 3D elements (shapes), or a combination of both applied to an article, as long as the focus is on visual appeal rather than functionality.

    Any individual, firm, partnership, corporate entity, or legal representative (including for NRIs via an agent) who is the proprietor of the design can file for registration.

    A design is protected for 10 years from the date of registration, and this period can be extended for an additional 5 years.

    Yes, you can apply for an extension of protection for an extra 5 years by paying the necessary fees before the registration expires.

    The application must include applicant details, a title and description of the design, representations (drawings or photographs) showing the design clearly, and any statements of novelty or disclaimers as required.

    Applications can be filed either online or offline with any of the designated Patent Offices (Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, or Chennai) using the prescribed Form-1 and supporting documents.

    The design must be new, original, aesthetically appealing (judged purely by the eye), not previously published anywhere in the world before the filing date, and not merely a mechanical feature.

    Designs that incorporate scandalous or obscene content, those that are functional (merely mechanical devices), and designs similar to national symbols, emblems, or flags are excluded.

    The process can vary from several months to over a year, depending on the completeness of the application, any objections raised during examination, and the speed of resolution.

    Yes, the same statutory requirements apply to both individuals and corporate entities, though companies must provide additional incorporation details.

    You can file for more than one design, but each design must be filed under the appropriate class and with separate representations if applying in different classes.

    The Design Office will issue an objection notice. You will have the opportunity to respond by amending the application or clarifying details to overcome the objection.

    If the application meets all requirements, it is published in the Official Journal of Designs. Publication allows third parties to oppose the application within the set period.

    You have the option to file an appeal or provide further arguments and amendments to address the shortcomings identified during the examination.

    A registered design acts as a market differentiator, creating a unique identity for your product. It also enhances your brand’s commercial value by protecting your creative investments.

    Absolutely. It provides legal evidence of originality and exclusive rights, strengthening your position in any litigation against unauthorized copying or infringement.

    Our process includes expert consultations, detailed application drafting, rigorous quality checks, and ongoing support throughout the filing, examination, and post-registration phases.

    Simply contact us through our online portal or call our support team. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your design, assess its eligibility, and guide you through the complete registration process.

    Connect with us

    Your vision, our expertise. Connect with us to explore possibilities. We will be happy to hear from you.

    9326024128
    info@nolegalpaisa.com
    Mumbai | Delhi
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