Imagine creating a product or design that instantly grabs attention and is completely your own. Now imagine someone copying it and taking all the credit for themselves — it hurts, right? That’s where design registration in India comes to the rescue.
Under the Designs Act, 2000, registering your design protects the unique style, structure, pattern, and visual appearance of your product to a certain period around 5 to 1o years. This means in this period of time no one will be able to copy your design and take advantage of your product.
For startups, business owners, and individual creators it’s not just a legal step; it’s a smart move towards increasing the brand value, building trust, and turning design into profit.
This article rolls around the design registration process in India. With a complete registration process, eligibility, documents requirements, and costing.
What Is a Design and Why Should You Register It?
A design is a visual representation of a product. It has shape, patterns, configurations, colors, or arrangement of lines that can be seen in the finished product or article.
Under the Designs Act, 2000 designs having mechanical features, trademarks and artistics works are not included so keep this in mind.
Registering a design in India gives you exclusive rights to use and protect your unique design from others.
Eligibility Criteria for Design Registration
People like creators or design, individuals, companies, or even legal entities fall under design registration eligibility. It generally requires new, original, and neven before published work.
Make sure your design or work does not include mechanical devices or principals of construction to public order. The applicant must be the owner or creator of the design work and have legal right to apply for it.
Benefits of Design Registration
Here are top 7 benefits of design registration in India for 2026:
- Legal Protections from Copycats Get Stronger
Registering of design gets priority rights in 2026 to the shape, configuration, appearance, and ornamentation of the product. This legally prevents your competitors from producing, selling, and importing products that look similar to your own.
- Increased Commercial Value and Brand Differentiation
In the same way, a registered design adds a market identity to the product and differentiates it from its competitors; this is very important in those industries where aesthetics are what eventually guide consumer choice like consumer electronics, fashion, furniture, packaging, etc.
- Competitive Advantage in the Emerging Markets
With the entire world embracing design and rapid prototyping using AI, the protection of innovations in quickly evolving areas is covered. Early applicants will have a very significant lead over others moving into the design rights framework by 2026, so early positions in the market will be stronger.
- Enticing Investors, Buyers, and Licensing Partners
Registered designs are intellectual property assets: they enhance the valuation of your business and create licensing, franchising, or sale opportunities for design rights, which especially benefit start-ups and manufacturers extending their scale internationally.
- Protections for digital and virtual product spaces
With the growth of AR/VR, trending metaverse objects, and digital twin development, by 2026, design registration in many jurisdictions will include digital interfaces, icons, UI/UX components, and virtual product designs- expanding the creator’s reach beyond physical products.
Easier Enforcement Through Updated IP Systems
In 2026, many countries are working with AI-supported IP enforcement to decrease the time taken to track design infringements online. In dispute proceedings, your registered design will assist toward a speedier resolution, as it will provide stronger evidence toward the enforcement action.
Long-Term Protection with Renewal Flexibility
Design registration is still under protection for 10 to 25 years (depending on the country) and may be renewed upon periodic checks. This long-term exclusivity ensures that your product is only yours from the time of its introduction to its full commercial life cycle.
Step-By-Step Guide to Register Your Design in India?
Here a easy 7 step-by-step guide to obtain design registration certificate online in India through CGPDTM (Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks):
Step 1: Ensure Your Design Is Not Previously Registered
You can search the public database on the CGPDTM website or have an official search done to ensure that a similar design does not already exist before filing.
This helps you avoid being hit with any legal issues or rejection.
Step 2: Prepare Clear Design
Create a high quality view of your design from all sides top, bottom, left, right and if possible then a 3d perspective.
Points to Remember:
- Make sure your drawing is simple and clean.
- Do not include brand names, numbers and text.
- And make sure your design is visible from all the angles.
Step 3: Identify the Appropriate Class & Drafting
Pick the right class under the Locarno Classification for your design. If your design can be applied to more than one category of product, you may file in multiple classes.
For your design pick the right class under the Locarno Classification. If your design can be applied to different categories then you may file in multiple classes.
After checking, prepare your application with all the required details such as application info, Correct classification, and clear statement.
Step 4: Gather Important Documents
Prepare:
- Form 1 giving particulars of the applicant, title of the article, and the class and address for service
- Power of Attorney in case of filing through an agent
- Priority document(s) if you are claiming foreign priority
- Evidence of entity status (MSME/startup certificate, if applicable)
Step 5: Filing of Application
After preparing all the necessary documents, fill the application through the official design registration portal Which includes:
- Uploading your design
- Attaching all the necessary required documents as asked
- Paying the application fee as per the norms.
Step 6: Response to Examination Report
The response to the Examination Report is issued within the deadline. Provide clarifications, necessary updated drawings, and clarifying explanations to establish the novelty of the design. A strong and timely reply will further ensure unimpeded processing of your application.
Step 7: Registration & Publication
Once all objections are settled and the design is approved: You will get an e-Certificate of Registration,
The design will be published in Designs Journal.
Your design will be protected for 10 years with a possible extension of 5 more years.
Conclusion
Design registration in 2026 is a simple yet complex process that protects the unique look and feel of your product. By following this seven simple step design registration guide you will be able to protect your work from plagiarism in this competitive market.
If you want stress-free and error-free work then take help from experts at Regible Corporate Advisor LLP they are a team of professionals who can help you streamline your registration process. Their design registration service in Guwahati Assam will give advantage of local creators and business owners to protect their work.
FAQs
What types of design are eligible for registration or protection?
Types of design which are eligible include pattern, shape, ornamentation, lines compositions and colors applied to your product or design.
Where to consult for design registration in Guwahati Assam?
For registration of design in Guwahati Assam you can consult Regible Corporate to help with your process.
Is registration of design mandatory in India?
It is not a mandatory option but if you think your design is precious and that attracts attention then registering them is the best way to protect from future fraud.
What are some of the types of design registration?
It generally includes packaging design, graphics, surface pattern design, artwork, and many more that include original work.
What is the validity of the design registration certificate in India?
The validity of your design registration certificate in India is up-to 10 years, with an extendable up-to 5 years.
Can multiple designs be applied under a single application?
No, they can not be applied through a single application, except for some special cases where they have variants of the same design.
Can I make changes in my registered design after registration?
You are not able to make major changes after registration, but are able to file new applications for certain modifications.
How much does it cost to register my design in India?
The government filing fee is around 1000rs to 4000rs depending upon the application, for full information Contact Regible.
