An enforceable right arises only once a design has been formally registered. In South Africa, registration is granted by the Designs Office a few months after the design application is filed. Until you receive official notification of registration from the South African Designs Office, your right is not yet enforceable.

The enforceability of a Registered Design therefore depends on the completion of the registration process. However, if you become aware that someone is copying your design, you may apply to expedite the registration process, after which legal action can be taken.

In South Africa, the designs register is split into two sections. Firstly, an aesthetic design protects the appearance of an article, irrespective of the aesthetic value thereof (such as cell phones covers or automobile designs). Secondly, a functional design protects the appearance of an article in as far as its appearance is necessitated by the function that the article is to perform (such as a paving stone or aluminium profiling).

• The duration of an Aesthetic design is 15 years.
• The duration of a Functional design is 10 years.

In addition, designs are grouped into different classes of technology and a design application may be filed in one or more classes, to provide protection against infringing products falling in the same class. It is important to note that the protection is limited to articles falling in the same class for which the design has been registered.

The classes into which designs are classified are set out at the end of this page. The enforceability of a Registered Design ensures that the owner has exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using, or selling the design without permission.

Design Applications in Africa

Algeria designs have a duration of 10 years from the filing date which is extendable for a further 9 years. Industrial designs are filed according to the Locarno Classification which provides the classes and subclasses to which the goods incorporating the designs belong. 

Botswana designs have a duration of 5 years from the filing date which is extendable for a further 10 years. Industrial designs are filed under the Hague Agreement which governs the international registration of industrial designs and allows protection in multiple countries or regions with minimal formalities. Botswana is a member of ARIPO which means that patents, designs or trade marks may be registered with the official intellectual property office of Botswana or ARIPO.

Egypt designs have a duration of 10 years from the filing date which is extendable for a further 5 years. Industrial designs are filed under the Hague Agreement which governs the international registration of industrial designs and allows protection in multiple countries or regions with minimal formalities.

Mauritius designs have a duration of 15 years and is NOT a member of the Hague Agreement or the Locarno Classification.

Rwanda designs have a duration of 5 years from the filing date which is extendable for a further 10 years. Industrial designs are filed under the Hague Agreement which governs the international registration of industrial designs and allows protection in multiple countries or regions with minimal formalities.

Rwanda is a member of ARIPO which means that patents may be registered with the official intellectual property office of Rwanda or ARIPO.

Seychelles designs have a term of 5 years from date of filing with possible extensions of 10 years and is NOT a member of the Hague Agreement or the Locarno Classification.