International Registered Designs
Get the right global protection, efficiently
There is no such thing as a single worldwide registered design. Instead, designs are granted on a national or regional basis, and the law can vary quite a bit between jurisdictions. For example, US design patents are examined differently from UK and EU registered designs, and do not last as long.
Traditionally, you get six months from filing your first design application to file it elsewhere. You can then “claim priority” to the original application. The new (overseas) application is then backdated to the original filing date (known as the “priority date”). So I can file in the UK today, and when I file a US patent application in six months, it is “backdated” to my UK filing date.
In terms of international protection processes, there are two options depending on where you would like protection. Broadly speaking, there is:
A "national route" in which applications would be filed in each country or region of interest by the six-month deadline
An "international route" which involves filing something known as an "international design application" or "Hague application”. When the Hague application is filed, you select which countries you would like it to cover, and each is given an opportunity to object to it.
The Hague system is often much cheaper than filing individual design applications, but its coverage is still limited. That said, it does cover important regions such as the USA, China and the EU, so for many clients it is a great option.