Summary
Designs are protectable through registration with the competent office. A separate application has to be filed in each jurisdiction. Design applications accepted by the Registrar are published in the Official Gazette. There is a 2-month period open for filing opposition by any interested party. Such a registration is effected without any novelty examination at the applicant's responsibility.
A design registration is valid for 5 years from the filing date renewable for 2 similar periods of 5 years each.
The registration of a design is subject to cancellation in the event any interested party requests such a cancellation before the competent tribunal. Cancellation can be based on the grounds that the subject design was not novel at the time of filing the relevant application or that the design is applied through manufacturing processes to any article in a foreign country and is not so applied through any manufacturing processes in the territories to such extent as is reasonable in the circumstances of the case.
There is no provision in the current design law for compulsory working or licensing with respect to designs.
Infringement or unauthorized use of a registered design is punishable under the current design law.