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What Is the Hague System and What Can You Protect?
The Hague System allows you to file one international application, submitted in English, French, or Spanish, to register industrial designs in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. Instead of navigating different national procedures, applicants benefit from a streamlined filing process through WIPO’s centralized system.
Through this system, you can protect the ornamental appearance of physical products: their shape, surface decoration, lines, texture, or a combination of visual features. It’s important to note that this system does not protect functionality, only the aesthetic aspects of a product.
You may include up to 100 different designs in a single application, provided they belong to the same category under the Locarno Classification. This flexibility makes the Hague System ideal for companies launching product families or multiple design variations globally.
After filing, WIPO reviews your application for formal compliance. If accepted, your designs are published in the International Designs Bulletin, and each designated country then examines the application under its national laws.
Where Can You Protect Your Design and Why Use 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.
This consolidated process eliminates the need for separate filings, payments, and translations in each country. You file once, in one language, with one currency, and still reach global markets. It also simplifies post-registration management, allowing for centralized renewals, changes of ownership, and address updates through WIPO’s platform.
If your target market is not part of the Hague System, Patentarea can guide you through direct national filings to ensure your design is fully protected worldwide.
What Happens After You File and How Long Does Protection Last?
Once your international application is published, each selected country examines the design according to its local laws. Some jurisdictions grant protection automatically, while others, like the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, perform substantive examinations and may issue objections or refusals.
If a refusal is issued, applicants typically must respond through a local attorney. That’s where Patentarea steps in. We coordinate with trusted local agents to handle objections, meet specific requirements, and ensure your design proceeds to registration, if applicable.
International design protection is granted for an initial period of five years that can be renewed in five-year increments. The total duration depends on each country’s laws, ranging from 10 to 25 years. Renewals are processed centrally via WIPO, making global maintenance easier and more efficient than ever.
How can Patentarea support you through the process ?
At Patentarea, we simplify international design protection by managing the full process with efficiency and precision:
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Application Filing: We prepare and file your international design application.
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Local Representation: We coordinate with trusted local attorneys when needed.
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Post-Filing Support: We handle objections, updates, and renewals globally.
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Beyond Hague: We also file directly in countries not covered by the system.
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Get All The Insights: Access our Full International Hague Design Guide.
FAQ
Can I file one application to protect my design worldwide?
You can file a single international application under the Hague System to protect your design in multiple countries that are members of the system. However, this does not guarantee protection in all countries, as each jurisdiction may still conduct its own examination and issue approvals or refusals independently.
Is international design protection automatic in every country I select?
No. Each country you designate may examine the application according to its national laws. If they find issues, they may issue a notification of refusal, which requires a response, often through a local patent attorney.
What are the main benefits of using the Hague System?
The key benefits include simplified filing, centralized management of rights, potential cost savings, and global reach, all through a single application in one language and currency.
Do I need to use a local attorney?
While not mandatory at the time of filing, it is often required or highly recommended to engage local counsel to respond to refusals, handle formalities, or enforce your design rights. Patentarea can assist in coordinating local representation globally.
How long does international design protection last?
The initial term is five years, renewable in five-year increments. Total protection duration depends on each country’s law, ranging from 10 to 25 years in most jurisdictions.