A design application & registration is a formal procedure to legally protect the external appearance of a product and its distinctive elements such as shape, pattern, colour and ornamentation. Thanks to the design registration, the design owner has the right to use his design for a certain period of time (usually 5 years, renewable) and to prevent unauthorised copying. While this process ensures the protection of the visual identity of the products, it is also of great importance for branding and commercial success.
The design application process starts with a preliminary design research. This research is carried out to determine whether the design to be applied for has been registered before and whether it is unique. After the preliminary research, the documents required for the design application are prepared and submitted to the authorised institution. After the design application is submitted, the formal and legal examination process begins.
During the design registration process, it is evaluated whether the application complies with the criteria of novelty and distinctiveness. If there are no deficiencies or legal obstacles in the application, the design is published in the official bulletin and third parties have the right to object. After the opposition process is completed and if there is no legal obstacle, the design registration is approved and the design owner is issued a registration certificate.
Design application and design registration are of great importance, especially for industrial design companies. A registered design increases the competitive advantage in the market, eliminates the risk of copying and secures intellectual property rights. Therefore, it is of great importance to get professional support during the application process and to fulfil the legal requirements completely.