Industrial Design Registration with the Hague System

The Hague System for International Industrial Design Registration currently covers 99 countries through 82 contracting parties, providing comprehensive global design protection through a single international application. The system includes major markets such as the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, Canada, and all European Union member states, plus regional coverage through intergovernmental organizations like the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI).

Key coverage highlights include:

• 99 countries accessible through one application
• 82 contracting parties including individual countries and regional organizations
• Major markets - US, EU, China, Japan, UK, South Korea, Canada
• Regional organizations - EU (27 countries), OAPI (17 African countries)
• Expanding network - New countries joining regularly for broader global reach

The Hague System network continues to grow as more jurisdictions join the treaty, making it an increasingly efficient solution for international industrial design protection across multiple markets through a centralized filing process.

The cost to register an industrial design through the Hague System varies based on the number of designs and countries designated. That’s why we only offer a starting price above. We can provide you with a quote with no obligation, just contact us. The Hague System fees include three mandatory components: a basic fee, a publication fee, and designation fees that vary by country, with some countries having individual fee structures. Total costs depend on your specific requirements:

• Basic application
• Additional designs
• Standard designation fees
• Individual designation fees
• Payment currency

This centralized fee structure makes the Hague System cost-effective compared to filing separate national applications, especially when targeting multiple countries, as it eliminates translation costs and reduces attorney fees across jurisdictions.

The Hague System industrial design registration process typically takes 12-18 months from filing to final decision across designated countries. WIPO conducts an initial formalities examination within 1-3 months, followed by standard publication at 12 months after filing (though immediate or delayed publication up to 30 months is possible). After publication, designated countries have 6-12 months to conduct substantive examination and issue refusals, with most countries using the 6-month timeframe.

The Hague System protection duration provides initial coverage for 5 years from the date of international registration, with the ability to renew for additional 5-year periods. The minimum guaranteed protection is 15 years under the 1999 Geneva Act (initial 5 years + two 5-year renewals) or 10 years under the 1960 Hague Act (initial 5 years + one 5-year renewal). However, if a contracting party's legislation provides for longer protection, that extended duration applies to designs registered through the Hague System.

Extended Hague System protection duration by country:

• European Union - Up to 25 years (5 renewable 5-year periods)
• United States - 15 years from patent issuance
• China - 15 years from filing date
• Most countries - 15-25 years maximum protection

The Hague System examination process involves a two-stage procedure: WIPO conducts only a formalities examination to check formal requirements, fees, and drawing quality, while designated countries perform substantive examination according to their own national laws after publication. WIPO does not examine novelty, inventiveness, or other substantive criteria - this responsibility lies with each designated contracting party that may refuse protection within 6-12 months if the design doesn't meet their domestic requirements.

Key stages of the Hague examination process:

• WIPO formalities examination - Checks formal requirements, fees, drawing quality (3 months to correct irregularities)
• International registration - WIPO records and publishes the application if formalities are met
• Publication - Standard at 12 months (immediate or delayed up to 30 months possible)
• National substantive examination - Each designated country examines for novelty, registrability under domestic law
• Refusal period - Countries have 6-12 months to issue refusals after publication
• Automatic protection - Granted in countries that don't refuse within the examination period

Hague System drawing and representation requirements mandate professional-quality reproductions that clearly show the design alone without extraneous objects, people, or accessories. Each application must include at least one reproduction (drawing, photograph, or graphic representation) of each design, with maximum dimensions of 16x16 cm and at least one dimension of minimum 3 cm at 300x300 dpi resolution. WIPO accepts photographs, technical drawings, and computer-generated images as long as they meet professional standards and clearly disclose the design.

Key Hague System representation requirements:

• Professional quality - Drawings must be of professional standard, produced with drawing instruments or electronic means
• Size specifications - Maximum 16x16 cm, minimum 3 cm on at least one dimension, 300x300 dpi resolution
• Design-only focus - Show the design alone, excluding accessories, people, animals, or other objects
• Multiple formats accepted - Photographs, drawings, computer renderings, 3D representations
• Technical restrictions - No technical drawings with axes/dimensions, no explanatory text on images
• Country-specific views - Some countries (like China) require specific views for 3D designs and GUIs
• Neutral backgrounds - Electronic images may have plain, neutral backgrounds with right-angle edges

The Hague System priority period is 6 months from the filing date of an earlier design application in any Paris Convention country or WTO member state. Priority must be claimed at the time of filing the international application and provides the benefit of the earlier filing date for novelty and prior art purposes. Unlike other international systems, the Hague System requires no prior national application - applicants can file directly or claim priority to an existing application within the 6-month window.

If your design is refused in one designated country under the Hague System, protection remains valid in all other designated countries that did not issue refusals. The refusal is country-specific and does not affect your international registration or protection in other jurisdictions. You can contest the refusal according to that country's domestic procedures, which typically requires appointing a local representative to handle the appeal or response within the designated timeframes.

Yes, you can file up to 100 industrial designs in a single Hague System application, provided all designs belong to the same Locarno Classification class. This multiple design filing significantly reduces costs compared to separate applications. The Locarno Classification organizes designs into 32 main classes based on function and appearance, ensuring related designs are grouped together for examination and protection purposes.