Hague System
WIPO’s Hague System facilitates the international registration of industrial designs, including in certain African countries that are members of this agreement.
• Procedures: Applicants file a single design application with WIPO, which transmits the registration to designated contracting parties. Submissions include drawings, photographs, or other representations that illustrate the industrial design.
• Duration: Registrations under the Hague System typically last an initial five years from the filing date and are renewable in five-year increments. The maximum term varies by jurisdiction (often up to 15 years).
• Member State Implications: Once registered, the design benefits from protection in each designated country. However, enforcement, invalidations, and legal disputes are governed by individual national laws.
• Unique Aspects: The Hague System consolidates filings across multiple jurisdictions, considerably reducing procedural duplication. Updates introduced in 2022 simplified certain procedural requirements and provided additional electronic services for applicants.