China has joined WIPO's Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, bringing the total number of countries covered to 94, and marking a major development for the International Design System. On February 5, 2022, the Chinese government deposited its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the “Hague Agreement concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs (1999)” (“Hague Agreement”), and China became the 68th contracting party to the 1999 Act and the 77th member of the Hague Union.

 

The Hague System provides a straightforward solution to international design protection that eliminates the need to file separate and multiple applications in individual countries or regions. The “Hague Agreement”, the “Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks” and the “Patent Cooperation Treaty” together constitute the three major service systems in the field of industrial property, which are managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

 

Foreign designers will have easier access to the Chinese market, using one application and one set of fees to file for protection in 94 countries including China when its accession comes into force on May 5, 2022.

 

With China's accession, all designers in China will be able to use the International Design System to protect and promote their designs overseas, saving time and money. Some larger Chinese enterprises with an establishment, such as a manufacturing plant, in countries that are already members, have already been using the Hague System - underlining the demand for an easier and faster way to operate internationally.

 

Industrial designs constitute the ornamental aspect of an article. An industrial design may consist of three dimensional features, such as the shape of an article, or two dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color: More recently, graphical user interfaces or objects for the virtual world are becoming popular forms of designs.

 

Joining the “Hague Agreement” will not only help China to actively integrate into the International Design System, promote the improvement of industrial design innovation capabilities, help Chinese creativity, Chinese design, and Chinese manufacturing go global, but also help promote the development of the global industrial design field and make the world a better place. At the same time, joining the “Hague Agreement” will also play a strong role in promoting our country's deep participation in global intellectual property governance under the framework of WIPO.