International Design Registration: International Design Protection at the WIPO (“International Design Patent”)
Frequently, a design protection in Germany or Europe (or the European Union / EU) alone is not sufficient for globally active companies. If, in addition to these regions, protection is also required in other countries (e.g. in Switzerland or, after the Brexit, in Great Britain / GB / United Kingdom / UK), an international design application (international design patent) at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva may be considered. A collective application of up to 100 designs (“collective design” / multiple design application) is also possible through this system.
Unlike an international trademark (“IR trade mark”), no existing design – such as a German design or an “EU design” / Community design – is required as a basis for an international design registration and the application can be filed directly at the WIPO in Geneva. Our Patent Attorney or Attorney-at-Law / Certified Intellectual Property Lawyer will be happy to support you if you wish to register an international design patent or apply for international design protection at the WIPO.
Through the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs an international design protection at the WIPO can be claimed in more than 90 countries (e.g. USA, Switzerland, Great Britain / United Kingdom / UK, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Turkey etc.) without having to involve local attorneys first.
If you are interested in applying for an international design patent, please feel free to contact our Patent and IP Law Firm with “Design Attorney” (Patent Attorney or Certified IP Lawyer) and let us know the relevant countries / regions for the desired scope of protection.
Procedure of an international design application at the WIPO (“international design patent”):
Application for an international design directly through the WIPO ➔ Examination of formal requirements ➔ If no complaint by the WIPO: Issuance of the international design certificate ➔ If no complaint by Trademark Office: Issuance of the registration confirmations of the claimed countries
From the WIPO overview linked here, you can see the current member states of the international design registration in which you can protect your design(s). Please let us know which countries / regions are of interest to you.
For design applications in other countries outside the system of international design protection – for example, in the context of a so-called priority application – we will be happy to get you in contact with our international network of specialized colleagues and provide you with an offer. Just contact us!