The Hague System (WIPO’s international design system) includes 82 members covering 99 countries, the most recent of which to join is Saudi Arabia.
Economic and competitive benefits
A single application covers a large proportion of the markets of your interest
Effective protection of new, distinctive features at a very competitive price
Protection benefits
Extensive geographical coverage eligible for protection: for example, the EU, the USA, Canada, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia…
No need to be granted a local right first; the international design can be filed directly
Autonomous protection: the scope of protection in each designated country is independent of the protection provided for in any other country specified by the international design
Centralised management of procedures
A single deadline to monitor for the five-yearly extension up to 25 years for the majority of territories
Financial benefits
Fees lower than the sum of the national filing fees
A single filing language across all territories, including French
A single set of fees paid centrally
Key considerations
Applicant must be a national of, be domiciled in, have their habitual residence in, or have a genuine industrial or commercial establishment in one of the 99 member countries of the Hague System
Domestic law in each country will apply to the examination of the design and to its enforceability against third parties
National requirements regarding the views to be filed and descriptions, in particular, are not fully harmonised; this therefore requires a preliminary analysis before any filing.
Prior disclosure may affect the validity of the registration, depending on the country. Furthermore, care must be taken to avoid self-disclosure prior to filing; some countries do not grant a grace period and, consequently, no prior disclosure must have taken place.
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