Designs

A design protects how a product looks — shape, pattern, ornamentation. A patent protects how it works — function, structure, process. A new chair mechanism is patentable; the chair's distinctive silhouette is a registrable design. Many products justify both.

Ten years from the date of registration, extendable by a further five years on payment of the extension fee before the initial term expires. Fifteen years is the maximum.

Usually not. Prior publication anywhere in the world destroys novelty, and India has no general grace period. The narrow exception is disclosure at an exhibition officially notified by the Central Government, where an application filed within six months preserves novelty. A product listing, a social media post or a trade show that was not officially notified will normally have ended the possibility.

It covers what is published and findable — the Indian register, published applications, catalogues, marketplace listings and product imagery. It cannot see unpublished pending applications, and obscure prior art may not surface. It substantially reduces risk rather than eliminating it, which is the honest position.

Ten years from the date of registration, extendable once by a further five years, giving a maximum of fifteen. After that the design enters the public domain and cannot be renewed again.

No. Unlike trademarks, which allow a six-month grace period with a surcharge, a design must be extended before the ten-year term expires. Once it lapses your only route is restoration, which must be applied for within one year and is at the Controller's discretion.