Industrial design is an ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. The design may consist of three-dimensional features such as the shape and configuration of an article, or two-dimensional features, such as pattern and ornamentation.
The design features must be applied to an article by any industrial process or means by which the features in the finished article appeal to the eye. Industrial design rights are governed by the Industrial Designs Act 1996 and Industrial Designs Regulations 1999 in Malaysia.
A registered industrial design gives the owner of the design the exclusive right to make, import or sell or hire out the license to which the design has been applied. With industrial design rights, consent of the rightful owner must be obtained first before using the design.
First-To-File
Industrial Design is based on a “first-to-file” rule basis. Filing of an industrial design should be made at the earliest possible time or before an article is disclosed to the public. Prior disclosure will destroy the novelty of the design. Therefore, care should be exercised to ensure secrecy of the design.
In order to have your designs protected in other countries, applications for registration must be filed within six months from the earliest filing date in any of the Paris Convention member countries.
Industrial Design registration is valid for a period of 5 (five) years from the date of filing and is extendable for a further four consecutive terms of 5 (five) years each. The maximum protection period is 25 (twenty-five) years.
Talk to us today about registering your industrial design.
Exy Intellectual Property Sdn Bhd is a specialist Intellectual Property consultancy firm. We specialize in Patent, Trade Mark, Industrial Design, Copyright, Franchising, Licensing, Commercialization, IPR protection, etc.
