International Hague Design Patent Application – A Complete Guide by Patentarea

If you’re looking to protect the visual appearance of a product across multiple countries, the Hague System for International Design Registration offers a centralized and efficient way to secure rights globally. At Patentarea, we help IP law firms, designers, innovators, and businesses file international design patent applications through the Hague Agreement and manage post-filing strategy worldwide.

This guide explains the Hague System, who is eligible to use it, the application process, formalities, cost considerations, post-filing requirements, and why international protection might be the right move for your business.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for the Hague System, applicants must have a connection to at least one of the member countries. This can include being a national of a member country, having a domicile or habitual residence there, or maintaining a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment within its territory. Patentarea helps assess your eligibility and prepare filings based on your jurisdiction and business structure.

What Can You Protect?

The Hague System is designed to protect the ornamental aspects of industrial products. This includes features such as shapes, lines, textures, colors, and surface ornamentation, as well as combinations of these elements. It is important to note that the system does not protect functional aspects, only the visual appearance of a product.

Formalities of the Application

To be accepted under the Hague System, your international design application must meet certain formal requirements set by WIPO. The application must include the name and address of the applicant, a clear indication of the applicant’s eligibility under the Hague Agreement (e.g., nationality, residence, establishment), and a representation of each design for which protection is sought. You may include up to 100 designs in a single application, provided they belong to the same class under the Locarno Classification.

Each design must be accompanied by a brief product indication and a list of the countries where you seek protection. The application must be filed in English, French, or Spanish, and submitted electronically via WIPO’s eHague system. Patentarea can assist you in preparing and submitting all necessary documentation, ensuring your application meets WIPO requirements and is filed accurately and efficiently.

The quality and format of the drawings or photographs are critical. Representations must be clear, consistent, and complete, showing the design from all relevant angles. Failure to meet these formalities may result in an invitation from WIPO to correct the irregularities within a specified period (typically three months). If successfully corrected, the application will proceed to registration and publication.

You may review the drawings formalities details in our “Design Application Full Guide”.

Cost Considerations

Filing an international design application through the Hague System involves a combination of filing, publication, and designation fees. The filing fee covers administrative and government processing fees and is fixed. Publication fees depend on whether you request immediate, standard, or deferred publication. The designation fees vary per country and, the total filing fees will also depend on the number of designs included in the application.

To estimate the total cost in official fees you can use WIPO’s Fee Calculator.

Countries Covered by the Hague System

The Hague System gives you access to design protection in more than 150 jurisdictions, including key markets such as the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and many others.

However, not all countries are members of the Hague Agreement. If your target markets are not covered by the system, Patentarea can assist you with direct national filings in those jurisdictions, ensuring complete global protection for your design.

To view the full and updated list of Hague member countries, visit WIPO’s official resource here: List of Hague System Members – WIPO

Advantages of Filing Internationally

The Hague System offers several important advantages for businesses and designers seeking global protection. It simplifies the registration process by allowing a single application and payment in one currency to cover multiple jurisdictions. It also centralizes post-filing tasks, such as renewals, changes of ownership, or address updates, which are managed directly through WIPO rather than individual national offices.

Moreover, applicants can control the timing of publication to align with market launch or confidentiality strategies. These features make the Hague System a cost-effective and time-saving solution for managing design rights across international markets.

When Should You Consider International Design Protection?

Applying for international design protection is ideal when you plan to commercialize a product in more than one country, especially if the design plays a critical role in your brand identity or competitive advantage. It’s also recommended if you’re looking to license or manufacture your product abroad, or if you’re targeting markets where industrial design infringement is common. Filing through the Hague System allows you to act quickly and strategically in multiple territories without the need to navigate numerous individual application processes.

After Filing: Local Requirements and Best Practices

Once your application is filed and published, each designated country applies its own rules regarding examination and enforcement. Some jurisdictions will conduct substantive examinations to assess novelty and clarity, while others may register the design without review.

For this reason, it is strongly recommended to appoint a local patent attorney in each jurisdiction where you seek protection, especially in countries that issue refusals or require local representation. At Patentarea, we coordinate with trusted local agents worldwide to help respond to objections, comply with specific formalities, and maintain ongoing rights.

Duration and Maintenance

International registrations are valid for an initial term of five years and may be renewed for additional five-year periods, up to the maximum term allowed in each designated country. Some countries allow protection for up to 15, 20, or even 25 years. Renewals are handled directly through WIPO, making it easy to maintain coverage in all registered territories through one platform.