A registered design in Singapore protects the visual appearance of a product, such as its shape, configuration, pattern, or ornamentation.

In Singapore, a design refers to the features of a shape, configuration, colours, pattern, or ornament applied to a product that give it its external appearance. The product can be physical, like jewellery or furniture, or non-physical, such as a virtual keyboard or typeface. Colours are protected if they are applied in combination with or give rise to another design feature like shape, configuration, pattern, or ornament. Designs can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional.

Why Registered Designs Matter #

Registered designs are a crucial form of intellectual property (IP) protection that allows businesses to safeguard the unique visual appearance of their products. The protection applies only to the appearance of the article to which the design is applied, not to the article itself.

Designs vs Trade Marks vs Patents #

A registered design protects appearance, a trade mark protects brand identity, and a patent protects how an invention works.