IP Australia is currently seeking submissions about an economic analysis that they have conducted about Australia joining the Hague Agreement for designs.

The Hague system allows a design to be registered in multiple countries via a single application filed in one language with one set of fees. The system is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Currently, persons seeking overseas design protection in Australia must file in each individual country where protection is required. If an overseas application is filed within six months of a corresponding Australian application, the overseas application may claim the Australian application’s priority date under the provisions of the Paris Convention. For a large number of countries, this process can quickly become expensive.

Interested persons are invited to provide written submissions to IP Australia by 31 May 2018. Further information, including a copy of the economic analysis, can be found here.