Design preliminary search is a detailed examination process to assess whether a design is registrable and to provide protection against similar designs. Before registering their designs, businesses should conduct this research to determine whether designs with similar or identical appearance exist. This process is of great importance to prevent possible infringements and to ensure that design rights are secured.
Within the scope of preliminary research, it is examined whether the design is unique. For this purpose, national and international design databases are scanned and it is determined whether there are similar designs that have been registered before. If an identical or substantially similar design is found, the registration application may be rejected or legal problems may be encountered. For this reason, preliminary research prevents unnecessary time and cost losses and enables more conscious steps to be taken.
The design preliminary research process is important not only for registration but also for competition analysis. Through this research, it can be determined which designs the competitor companies have, in which markets they operate and which strategies they adopt. Thus, businesses can both protect their own designs and have the chance to develop original designs that will make a difference in the sector.
Design preliminary research enables businesses to gain a stronger position in the market by minimising legal risks. At the same time, it contributes to long-term success by acting as a guiding guide in the process of producing innovative and original designs. Therefore, it must be carried out as the first step of the design registration process.