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Design Registration – Expertvuw
IP · Industrial Designs

Design Registration in India – Protecting the Shape, Pattern and Look of Your Product

Last updated: 2 October 2026

If your product’s shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation sets it apart, design registration protects that appearance for up to 15 years. Expertvuw’s team prepares the representation sheets and application for filing with the Designs Office through registered agents.

Overview

How Design Registration Works

The Designs Act, 2000 protects the features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of lines or colours applied to an article, as judged by the eye. The design must be new or original, not previously published or used anywhere in the world, and significantly distinguishable from known designs. Purely functional features, trademarks and artistic works as such are not registrable as designs.

Applications are filed with the Patent Office (Designs wing) under the Locarno classification, with representation sheets showing the article from different views. Official fees are lower for natural persons, startups and small entities (₹1,000 application fee) than for others (₹4,000). Once registered, protection lasts ten years and can be extended once by five years, for a total of 15 years.

Because novelty is judged against prior publication, designs should be filed before products are launched, displayed at trade shows or shown online.

Basis: Designs Act, 2000; Designs Rules, 2001 as amended (including the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021); IP India fee schedule. Last updated: 27 September 2026.

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What This Service Covers

What We Help With

1

Checking novelty against existing designs

2

Locarno classification of the article

3

Preparing representation sheets and statements of novelty

4

Filing and responding to objections through registered agents

5

Renewal (extension) after ten years

Key Design Facts

What is protected

Shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or lines/colours applied to an article.

Novelty

Must be new and not published or used before filing.

Official fee

₹1,000 for natural persons, startups and small entities; ₹4,000 for others.

Term

10 years, extendable once by 5 years.

Not covered

Purely functional features and trademarks.

File first

File before launch, exhibitions or online display.

Common Issues

Why Design Applications Fail

Most failures relate to prior disclosure and drawings.

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Related Services

Related services

Design registration connects with these services.

Patent Filing

Protecting inventions.

Trademark Registration

Protecting your brand.

Copyright Registration

Protecting artistic works.

NDA

Protecting designs before filing.

Documents Required

Documents we need from you

Applicant Details

Design Details

Our Process

How the Process Works

1

Check

Search for similar existing designs.

2

Prepare

Create representation sheets.

3

File

File the application with fees.

4

Examine

Designs Office examines.

5

Respond

Answer any objections.

6

Register

Design registered and published.

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After Registration

After Registration

Maintain and enforce your design.

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Get in Touch

Share your query and our team will reply during business hours.






    FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What can be registered as a design?

    The shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of lines or colours applied to an article.

    Ten years, extendable once by five years.

    Novelty is judged against prior publication, so prior public disclosure can defeat registration. File before launch.

    ₹1,000 for natural persons, startups and small entities, and ₹4,000 for others.

    No. A design protects appearance; a patent protects technical function.

    About Expertvuw

    Who Handles Your Filing

    CS Chetna Shoor, Company Secretary and Director, Expertvuw

    CS Chetna Shoor

    ACS – Director, Expertvuw Management Pvt Ltd

    Trademark, copyright and design filings are prepared by Expertvuw’s team and filed through registered trademark agents or advocates where the law requires. Patent drafting and prosecution are handled by independent registered patent agents, and representation before the Registrar, the Controller or courts is made by agents or advocates.

    Expertvuw Management Pvt Ltd