Registered Design

Obtaining grant of registered design can be a time-consuming and sometimes expensive process, but litigation can be even more costly. Mistakes must be avoided at all costs then, and Adams & Adams has more collective experience than any other law firm in Africa – particularly in dealing with applications and the defence of registered designs across the globe.

Intellectual property, although intangible, is a valuable asset on the balance sheet of any business, and designs are an important intellectual property element. It makes sense, then, to register the shape and nature of your design, your hard work and skill, in order to protect it from unprincipled individuals or organisations who would think nothing of using it for their own gain without benefit to you. There are a number of ways to commercialise a registered design, depending on the owner’s business model.

Design registration affords protection specifically directed at the visual features of an article, that is, the shape and appearance of an industrial article. This can be relied upon to prevent others from making, importing, using or disposing of articles within the same class and embodying the registered design or a design not substantially different from it. We can assist you with determining if an infringement on your design has taken place and litigate if an infringement is identified to ensure that your design is not exploited.