Registered designs

Design protection, which generally covers the shape and appearance of an article, provides a valuable adjunct to patent protection, which generally covers the principle and concept of an invention.

Design registration affords protection specifically directed at the visual features of an article, that is, the shape and appearance of an industrial article. This can be relied upon to prevent others from making, importing, using or disposing of articles within the same class and embodying the registered design or a design not substantially different from it.

When an article is designed with a new shape or appearance or configuration, it may qualify for design registration.

The Designs Act distinguishes between two types, namely aesthetic designs and functional designs.

Adams & Adams is able to handle the filing and prosecution of design applications, and the enforcement of design rights in South Africa, Africa and the world.

Please note that the purpose of this discussion is to provide you with general information on the filing of applications for registered designs and is not intended to be a comprehensive discussion on design law.

For further information please contact us or download our

Local Designs Pamphlet (in English) or our

Plaaslike Modelpamflet (in Afrikaans).