- Designs Act 2003
- Act No. 147 of 2003 as amended
- Contents
- An Act relating to designs, and for related purposes
- Chapter 1—Introductory
- Part 1—Preliminary
- Part 2—Interpretation
- Chapter 2—Design rights, ownership and registrable designs
- Part 2—Design rights
- Part 3—Ownership of designs
- Part 4—Registrable designs: Validity
- Division 1—Registrable designs
- Division 2—Substantial similarity in overall impression
- Chapter 3—Design applications
- Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 3
- Part 2—Design applications
- Division 1—Applications
- Division 2—How Registrar must deal with a design application
- Division 3—Filing date and priority date
- Part 3—Amendment or withdrawal of designapplications
- Part 4—Lapsing of design applications
- Chapter 4—Registration or publication of designs
- Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 4
- Part 2—Requests for registration or publication
- 35 Request for registration or publication
- 36 Request for registration or publication—applications in respect of more than one design
- 37 Request in respect of designs excluded from an application in respect of more than one design
- 38 Replacement of request for registration with request for publication
- Part 3—Registration
- Division 1—Formalities check
- 39 Formalities check—applications in respect of one design only
- 40 Formalities check—applications in respect of more than one design
- 41 Registrar must give applicants an opportunity to correct deficiencies
- 42 What happens after Registrar gives notice under section 41
- 43 Registrar must refuse to register certain designs
- 44 Registrar must register certain designs after refusal
- Division 2—Registration procedures
- Division 3—Term of registration
- Division 4—Revocation on grounds relating to entitled persons
- 51 Revocation of registration on grounds relating to entitled persons
- 52 Procedures in relation to application
- 53 Applications by persons declared to be entitled persons in court proceedings
- 54 Applications by entitled persons after revocation following surrender of registration
- 55 Priority date of design if an application filed by a person declared to be an entitled person
- 56 Meaning of original registered owner
- Part 4—Publication
- Part 5—Certain documents to be available for public inspection
- Chapter 5—Examination of designs
- Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 5
- Part 2—Requests for examination
- Part 3—Examination
- Part 4—Material may be provided to Registrar
- Chapter 6—Infringement
- Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 6
- Part 2—Infringement of registered design
- 71 Infringement of design
- 72 Certain repairs do not infringe registered design
- 73 Infringement proceedings
- 74 Counter-claims
- 75 Remedies for infringement
- 76 Intervention by Registrar
- Part 3—Relief from unjustified threats
- 77 Application for relief from unjustified threats
- 78 Court’s power to grant relief
- 79 Counter-claim
- 80 Mere notification of registration not a threat
- 81 Legal practitioners, registered patent attorneys and registered trade marks attorneys
- Chapter 7—Jurisdiction and powers of courts
- Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 7
- Part 2—Jurisdiction
- Part 3—Compulsory licences and revocation ofregistration
- Part 4—Revocation of registration by court in other circumstances
- Chapter 8—The Crown
- Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 8
- 94 Simplified outline
- Part 2—Use by the Crown
- 95 Meaning of terms
- 96 Use of design by the Commonwealth or a State
- 97 Applicants, entitled persons and registered owners to be informed of use
- 98 Terms of use
- 99 Previous agreements inoperative
- 100 Infringement
- 101 Declaration by court
- 102 Use of design to cease under court order
- 103 Sale of products
- 104 Forfeited products
- 105 Supply of products by the Commonwealth to foreign countries
- Part 3—Acquisition by and assignments to the Crown
- Part 4—Prohibition orders
- Chapter 9—The Register
- 110 Simplified outline
- 111 Registrar must keep Register
- 112 Register may be kept by computer
- 113 Inspection of Register
- 114 Amendments of Register to record changes of ownership
- 115 Amendments of Register made to give effect to certain decisions
- 116 Reissue of certificates
- 117 Trusts not to be entered in Register
- 118 Evidentiary provision
- 119 Admissibility of unregistered interests
- 120 Rectification of Register
- Chapter 10—Administration
- Chapter 11—Miscellaneous
- Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 11
- Part 2—Fees
- Part 3—Offences
- Part 4—Review of the Registrar’s decisions
- Part 4A—Doing act after end of period otherwiseprovided for doing it
- Part 5—Extensions of time
- Part 6—Other
- 141 Powers of agents
- 142 Right of lien of registered patent attorney and registered trademarks attorney
- 143 Revocation of registration does not affect court decisions andthings done under contracts before revocation
- 144 Filing of documents
- 145 Service of documents
- 146 Death of applicant before application determined
- 147 Death of person after design registered
- 148 Exercise of discretionary power by Registrar
- 149 Regulations
- Chapter 12—Repeal, transitional and savingprovisions
- Part 1—Repeal of Designs Act 1906
- Part 2—Transitional and saving provisions
- 151 Application of this Act to certain designs
- 152 Term of registration of certain designs
- 153 Applications made before commencing day
- 154 Other applications and proceedings
- 155 Pending proceedings
- 156 Infringement under old Act
- 157 Registrar and Deputy Registrar
- 158 The Register
- 159 Conversion of transitional applications
- 160 Effect of a converted application
- 160A Approvals under subsection 40A(6) of old Act
- 161 Definitions
- Notes to the Designs Act 2003
- Note 1
- Note 2
- Table A
- Application, saving or transitional provisions
Designs Act 2003
Act No. 147 of 2003 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 4 February 2010 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 131 of 2009
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
Chapter 1—Introductory 1 Part 1—Preliminary 1 1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement.................................................................................1 3 Crown to be bound ............................................................................2 4 Application of the Act .......................................................................2
Part 2—Interpretation 3 5 Definitions.........................................................................................3 6 Definition of product.........................................................................6 7 Definition of visual feature................................................................7 8 References in this Act to a design......................................................7
Chapter 2—Design rights, ownership and registrable designs 8
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 2 8 9 Simplified outline..............................................................................8
Part 2—Design rights 9 10 Exclusive rights of registered owners................................................9 11 Assignment of interest in a design.....................................................9 12 Power of registered owner to deal with registered design ...............10
Part 3—Ownership of designs 11 13 Who is entitled to be registered as the registered owner of a design ..............................................................................................11 14 Ownership of registered designs......................................................12
Part 4—Registrable designs: Validity 13
Division 1—Registrable designs 13 15 Registrable designs..........................................................................13 16 Designs that are identical or substantially similar in overall
impression .......................................................................................13 17 Certain things to be disregarded in deciding whether a design is new and distinctive ......................................................................14 18 Certain designs not to be treated as other than new and distinctive ........................................................................................14
Division 2—Substantial similarity in overall impression 16 19 Factors to be considered in assessing substantial similarity in overall impression ...........................................................................16
Chapter 3—Design applications 17
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 3 17 20 Simplified outline............................................................................17
Part 2—Design applications 18
Division 1—Applications 18 21 Person may file a design application ...............................................18 22 A design application may be in respect of more than one design ..............................................................................................18 23 Design applications covering excluded designs...............................19
Division 2—How Registrar must deal with a design application 20 24 Design applications that meet the minimum filing requirements....................................................................................20 25 Publication of receipt of application................................................20
Division 3—Filing date and priority date 21 26 Filing date........................................................................................21 27 Priority date.....................................................................................21
Part 3—Amendment or withdrawal of design applications 22 28 Amendment of design applications..................................................22 29 Disputes between applicants............................................................22 30 Persons may ask for design application to proceed in the person’s name..................................................................................23 31 Publication of certain details of amended application .....................23 32 Withdrawal of designs and design applications...............................23
Part 4—Lapsing of design applications 25 33 Lapsing of design applications ........................................................25
Chapter 4—Registration or publication of designs 26
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 4 26 34 Simplified outline............................................................................26
Part 2—Requests for registration or publication 27 35 Request for registration or publication ............................................27 36 Request for registration or publication—applications in respect of more than one design ......................................................27 37 Request in respect of designs excluded from an application in respect of more than one design ..................................................28 38 Replacement of request for registration with request for publication.......................................................................................28 Part 3—Registration 29 Division 1—Formalities check 29 39 Formalities check—applications in respect of one design
only..................................................................................................29 40 Formalities check—applications in respect of more than one design ..............................................................................................29 41 Registrar must give applicants an opportunity to correct
deficiencies......................................................................................30 42 What happens after Registrar gives notice under section 41 ...........30 43 Registrar must refuse to register certain designs..............................31 44 Registrar must register certain designs after refusal........................31
Division 2—Registration procedures 32 45 Registrar must notify applicant of registration and give public notice....................................................................................32
Division 3—Term of registration 33 46 Term of registration.........................................................................33 47 Renewal of registration....................................................................33 48 Ceasing of registration.....................................................................33 49 Surrender of registration..................................................................34 50 Revocation of registration on surrender...........................................34
Division 4—Revocation on grounds relating to entitled persons 36 51 Revocation of registration on grounds relating to entitled
persons.............................................................................................36 52 Procedures in relation to application ...............................................36 53 Applications by persons declared to be entitled persons in
court proceedings.............................................................................37 54 Applications by entitled persons after revocation following surrender of registration...................................................................37 55 Priority date of design if an application filed by a person declared to be an entitled person .....................................................38 56 Meaning of original registered owner.............................................38
Part 4—Publication 39 57 Publication of a design ....................................................................39 58 What happens after Registrar gives notice under section 57 ...........39 59 Refusal to publish............................................................................40
Part 5—Certain documents to be available for public inspection 41 60 Design applications for registered designs and associated documents to be open for public inspection ....................................41 61 Certain documents not to be published............................................42
Chapter 5—Examination of designs 43
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 5 43 62 Simplified outline............................................................................43
Part 2—Requests for examination 44
63 Examination of design.....................................................................44
64 Requirements for request for examination of design.......................44
Part 3—Examination 46 65 What Registrar must do in examining a design ...............................46 66 Amendment of registration..............................................................46 67 Certificate of examination where registration valid.........................47 68 Revocation of registration after examination...................................48
Part 4—Material may be provided to Registrar 49 69 Certain materialmay beprovided to Registrar................................49
Chapter 6—Infringement 50
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 6 50 70 Simplified outline............................................................................50
Part 2—Infringement of registered design 51 71 Infringement of design ....................................................................51 72 Certain repairs do not infringe registered design.............................52 73 Infringement proceedings................................................................53 74 Counter-claims ................................................................................54 75 Remediesforinfringement..............................................................54 76 Intervention by Registrar.................................................................55
Part 3—Relief from unjustified threats 56 77 Application for relief from unjustifiedthreats.................................56 78 Court’s power to grant relief............................................................56 79 Counter-claim..................................................................................56 80 Mere notification of registration not a threat...................................57 81 Legal practitioners, registered patent attorneys and registered trade marks attorneys.......................................................................57
Chapter 7—Jurisdiction and powers of courts 58
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 7 58 82 Simplified outline............................................................................58
Part 2—Jurisdiction 59
83 Jurisdictionof Federal Court...........................................................59
84 Jurisdiction of other prescribed courts.............................................59
85 Exercise of jurisdiction....................................................................59 86 Transfer of proceedings etc. ............................................................60 87 Appeals............................................................................................60 88 Powers of Federal Court on hearing an appeal................................61 89 Registrar may appear in appeals......................................................61
Part 3—Compulsory licences and revocation of registration 62 90 Person may apply to court for compulsory licence..........................62 91 Terms of compulsory licence...........................................................62 92 Revocation of registration after grant of compulsory licence..........63
Part 4—Revocation of registration by court in other circumstances 64 93 Revocation of registration in other circumstances...........................64
Chapter 8—The Crown 65
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 8 65 94 Simplified outline............................................................................65
Part 2—Use by the Crown 66 95 Meaning of terms.............................................................................66 96 Use of design by the Commonwealth or a State..............................66 97 Applicants, entitled persons and registered owners to be informed of use................................................................................67 98 Termsof use....................................................................................67 99 Previous agreements inoperative.....................................................67 100 Infringement....................................................................................68 101 Declarationby court........................................................................68 102 Use of design to cease under court order.........................................68 103 Sale of products...............................................................................69 104 Forfeited products............................................................................69 105 Supply of products by the Commonwealth to foreign countries ..........................................................................................69
Part 3—Acquisition by and assignments to the Crown 70 106 Acquisition of design by the Commonwealth..................................70 107 Assignment of design to the Commonwealth..................................70
Part 4—Prohibition orders 72 108 Prohibition of publication of information about designs .................72 109 Publication of information about designs........................................72
Chapter 9—The Register 74 110 Simplified outline............................................................................74 111 Registrar must keep Register...........................................................74 112 Register may be kept by computer ..................................................74
113 Inspection of Register......................................................................75 114 Amendments of Register to record changes of ownership...............75 115 Amendments of Register made to give effect to certain
Act No. 147 of 2003 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 4 February 2010 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 131 of 2009
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Chapter 1—Introductory 1 Part 1—Preliminary 1 Part 2—Interpretation 3 5 Definitions.........................................................................................3 6 Definition of product.........................................................................6 7 Definition of visual feature................................................................7 8 References in this Act to a design......................................................7
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 2 8 9 Simplified outline..............................................................................8
Part 2—Design rights 9 10 Exclusive rights of registered owners................................................9 11 Assignment of interest in a design.....................................................9 12 Power of registered owner to deal with registered design ...............10
Part 3—Ownership of designs 11 13 Who is entitled to be registered as the registered owner of a design ..............................................................................................11 14 Ownership of registered designs......................................................12
Division 1—Registrable designs 13 15 Registrable designs..........................................................................13 16 Designs that are identical or substantially similar in overall
impression .......................................................................................13 17 Certain things to be disregarded in deciding whether a design is new and distinctive ......................................................................14 18 Certain designs not to be treated as other than new and distinctive ........................................................................................14
Division 2—Substantial similarity in overall impression 16 19 Factors to be considered in assessing substantial similarity in overall impression ...........................................................................16
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 3 17 20 Simplified outline............................................................................17
Division 1—Applications 18 21 Person may file a design application ...............................................18 22 A design application may be in respect of more than one design ..............................................................................................18 23 Design applications covering excluded designs...............................19
Division 2—How Registrar must deal with a design application 20 24 Design applications that meet the minimum filing requirements....................................................................................20 25 Publication of receipt of application................................................20
Division 3—Filing date and priority date 21 26 Filing date........................................................................................21 27 Priority date.....................................................................................21
Part 3—Amendment or withdrawal of design applications 22 28 Amendment of design applications..................................................22 29 Disputes between applicants............................................................22 30 Persons may ask for design application to proceed in the person’s name..................................................................................23 31 Publication of certain details of amended application .....................23 32 Withdrawal of designs and design applications...............................23
Part 4—Lapsing of design applications 25 33 Lapsing of design applications ........................................................25
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 4 26 34 Simplified outline............................................................................26
Part 2—Requests for registration or publication 27 35 Request for registration or publication ............................................27 36 Request for registration or publication—applications in respect of more than one design ......................................................27 37 Request in respect of designs excluded from an application in respect of more than one design ..................................................28 38 Replacement of request for registration with request for publication.......................................................................................28 only..................................................................................................29 40 Formalities check—applications in respect of more than one design ..............................................................................................29 41 Registrar must give applicants an opportunity to correct
deficiencies......................................................................................30 42 What happens after Registrar gives notice under section 41 ...........30 43 Registrar must refuse to register certain designs..............................31 44 Registrar must register certain designs after refusal........................31
Division 2—Registration procedures 32 45 Registrar must notify applicant of registration and give public notice....................................................................................32
Division 3—Term of registration 33 46 Term of registration.........................................................................33 47 Renewal of registration....................................................................33 48 Ceasing of registration.....................................................................33 49 Surrender of registration..................................................................34 50 Revocation of registration on surrender...........................................34
Division 4—Revocation on grounds relating to entitled persons 36 51 Revocation of registration on grounds relating to entitled
persons.............................................................................................36 52 Procedures in relation to application ...............................................36 53 Applications by persons declared to be entitled persons in
court proceedings.............................................................................37 54 Applications by entitled persons after revocation following surrender of registration...................................................................37 55 Priority date of design if an application filed by a person declared to be an entitled person .....................................................38 56 Meaning of original registered owner.............................................38
Part 4—Publication 39 57 Publication of a design ....................................................................39 58 What happens after Registrar gives notice under section 57 ...........39 59 Refusal to publish............................................................................40
Part 5—Certain documents to be available for public inspection 41 60 Design applications for registered designs and associated documents to be open for public inspection ....................................41 61 Certain documents not to be published............................................42
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 5 43 62 Simplified outline............................................................................43
63 Examination of design.....................................................................44
64 Requirements for request for examination of design.......................44
Part 3—Examination 46 65 What Registrar must do in examining a design ...............................46 66 Amendment of registration..............................................................46 67 Certificate of examination where registration valid.........................47 68 Revocation of registration after examination...................................48
Part 4—Material may be provided to Registrar 49 69 Certain materialmay beprovided to Registrar................................49
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 6 50 70 Simplified outline............................................................................50
Part 2—Infringement of registered design 51 71 Infringement of design ....................................................................51 72 Certain repairs do not infringe registered design.............................52 73 Infringement proceedings................................................................53 74 Counter-claims ................................................................................54 75 Remediesforinfringement..............................................................54 76 Intervention by Registrar.................................................................55
Part 3—Relief from unjustified threats 56 77 Application for relief from unjustifiedthreats.................................56 78 Court’s power to grant relief............................................................56 79 Counter-claim..................................................................................56 80 Mere notification of registration not a threat...................................57 81 Legal practitioners, registered patent attorneys and registered trade marks attorneys.......................................................................57
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 7 58 82 Simplified outline............................................................................58
83 Jurisdictionof Federal Court...........................................................59
84 Jurisdiction of other prescribed courts.............................................59
85 Exercise of jurisdiction....................................................................59 86 Transfer of proceedings etc. ............................................................60 87 Appeals............................................................................................60 88 Powers of Federal Court on hearing an appeal................................61 89 Registrar may appear in appeals......................................................61
Part 3—Compulsory licences and revocation of registration 62 90 Person may apply to court for compulsory licence..........................62 91 Terms of compulsory licence...........................................................62 92 Revocation of registration after grant of compulsory licence..........63
Part 4—Revocation of registration by court in other circumstances 64 93 Revocation of registration in other circumstances...........................64
Part 1—Simplified outline of Chapter 8 65 94 Simplified outline............................................................................65
Part 2—Use by the Crown 66 95 Meaning of terms.............................................................................66 96 Use of design by the Commonwealth or a State..............................66 97 Applicants, entitled persons and registered owners to be informed of use................................................................................67 98 Termsof use....................................................................................67 99 Previous agreements inoperative.....................................................67 100 Infringement....................................................................................68 101 Declarationby court........................................................................68 102 Use of design to cease under court order.........................................68 103 Sale of products...............................................................................69 104 Forfeited products............................................................................69 105 Supply of products by the Commonwealth to foreign countries ..........................................................................................69
Part 3—Acquisition by and assignments to the Crown 70 106 Acquisition of design by the Commonwealth..................................70 107 Assignment of design to the Commonwealth..................................70
Part 4—Prohibition orders 72 108 Prohibition of publication of information about designs .................72 109 Publication of information about designs........................................72
Chapter 9—The Register 74 110 Simplified outline............................................................................74 111 Registrar must keep Register...........................................................74 112 Register may be kept by computer ..................................................74
113 Inspection of Register......................................................................75 114 Amendments of Register to record changes of ownership...............75 115 Amendments of Register made to give effect to certain
Contents
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement.................................................................................1 3 Crown to be bound ............................................................................2 4 Application of the Act .......................................................................2 Chapter 2—Design rights, ownership and registrable designs 8
Part 4—Registrable designs: Validity 13
Chapter 3—Design applications 17
Part 2—Design applications 18
Chapter 4—Registration or publication of designs 26
Part 3—Registration 29 Division 1—Formalities check 29 39 Formalities check—applications in respect of one design Chapter 5—Examination of designs 43
Part 2—Requests for examination 44
Chapter 6—Infringement 50
Chapter 7—Jurisdiction and powers of courts 58
Part 2—Jurisdiction 59
Chapter 8—The Crown 65