subject: What A Product Owner Should Know About Industrial Design Protection [print this page] An industrial design refers to the creation of shape, pattern and color composition, and other kinds of ornamentation of a three dimensional product.
Additionally, it applies to a wide variety of handicrafts and industrial properties. Here are some examples of specific applications: jewelry, luxury items, medical and technical instruments, housewares, electrical appliances, vehicles, textile designs, leisure goods, and architectural structures
Why Must A Creator To Safeguard His Industrial Design?
Giving sole rights - The owner is ensured to have a sole right against duplication and usage of other people if he has a safeguarded industrial design. This helps to ensure a fair return on investment. Moreover, with protection, the owner is offered the right to make necessary actions against any violator for breaching his rights.
Easy to do and cost-effective - Enhancing and protecting a product can be relatively simple and cost-effective. They are reasonably accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as to individual artists and craftsmen, in both industrialized and developing countries.
Results to a fair competition - Consumers also do gain from an efficient protection system, because fair competition and honest trade practices are promoted, therefore promoting aesthetically beautiful products and encouraging creativity.
Things To Do To Protect An Industrial Design
Typically, it is a must that an industrial design is registered, for it to be acknowledged and safeguarded by the law. The design must be original in order to register; this means no identical or very similar design has been extant in the past. After processing the application, a registration certificate will be issued.
The protection for the product generally lasts for five years, and can possibly be renewed for further periods, which is usually 15 years (in most instances).
Furthermore, an industrial design may be considered and safeguarded as a work of wart under copyright law, with respect to the particular country law and kind of design.
Creators should truly enjoy the fruits of their labor As for this, it is crucial to guard all of their creative assets or commonly known as their intellectual properties. Creators must do everything to safeguard and fight for their rights, for intellectual properties are just as crucial as material properties.
