Design Application Process

February 20, 2009
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

The design application process need not be complicated although the various terms and conditions may become confusing. The following steps are followed in the design application process:

1. The design should be kept secret and not marketed or sold until the design application has been done.
2. Contact the patent and design application attorneys of SVW for assistance regarding the protection of the design.
3. Make a deposit
4. The design application is then prepared on behalf of the client which will include pictures, drawings, and photos depicting the design
5. The design application is forwarded to you for approval
6. The filing of a design application is then done at the SA Design Office which is located in Pretoria
7. After filing is confirmed, you as the client may disclose the design.

It normally takes around eight months for registration to be complete since the date of filing.

Contact Details for Smit & Van Wyk

Tel:
+27 (0) 12 349 7800

Fax:
+27 (0) 86 619 0493

E-mail:
enquiries@svw.co.za

Physical Address / Courier
Block A Apex Corporate Park
Quintin Brand Street
Persequor Technopark
Meiring Naudé Avenue
Pretoria
0184
South Africa

Design Links

1. Identical Designs & Dispute Resolution – Should a situation arise where a dispute needs to be settled about two identical designs
2. Concept Design Registration – Our Designs Act provides for aesthetic and functional designs to be registered. Should you thus have a concept design
3. Interaction Design – Interaction design and User-experience design facilitate interactions between people and their environment.
4. Industrial Designs – Industrial designs in South Africa can be filed as Functional Design or an Aesthetic Design, or both.
5. Registered Design – Registered designs in South Africa: A Registered design can be filed as Functional Design or an Aesthetic Design, or both.
6. Aesthetic Design – The features of an Aesthetic Design are judged solely by the eye and are not involved in the function of an article.
7. Functional Design – Functional Design applies to the pattern, shape, ornamentation or configuration and performance of an article