Designs

Getting started

Your design must give your product a new and original appearance to be eligible for registration. 

Don’t show your design to the public before applying. Your application may be unsuccessful if your design is published anywhere before you apply.     

Registering your design gives you:

• a higher degree of protection than relying on copyright alone.
• the exclusive right to make or import any article that your design is registered for, for any trade or business, in New Zealand.

Design registration protects how your finished product looks, not how it functions. If your idea is for a new  way something works, you may want to consider applying for a patent.

• Search for existing designs

  You can check if a similar design has already been registered before you apply.

• Apply for a design

  A step-by-step guide to help make the application process easy to follow and understand.

• Fees

  Details on application, opposition, and renewal fees.

• International designs

  Taking your business overseas? Find out about how design registrations work internationally.

Managing designs

Designs are registered in individual countries. You can apply to register your design in other countries within 6 months of applying in New Zealand and claim your New Zealand priority date. 

Registered designs can become value intellectual property assets. They can form a key part of your intellectual property portfolio, and be bought and sold like any other type of property. 

Design registrations can be renewed for up to 15 years.

• Examination process

  Your application to register a design will be examined in the following steps.

• Maintaining

  Once you have a registered design there are a number of things you must do to keep your registration.

• Practice guidelines

  Our practices and procedures for filing, examining, and the classification of designs.

• Legislation and hearings

  The Designs Act 1953 and the Designs Amendment Act 2010 govern the administration of rights to a design.