For many products, aesthetic appeal such as shape, configuration, surface pattern, and ornamentation is a key driver of consumer preference and brand differentiation. Design registration provides exclusive rights over the visual appearance of a product, helping prevent competitors from copying its look and feel.
At Lance IP, we assist clients across consumer electronics, automotive, furniture, fashion, and packaging in securing robust design protection that supports market exclusivity and commercial value.
Our Design Practice Philosophy
We approach design protection strategically, focusing on identifying and securing the novel visual elements of a product while carefully separating aesthetic features from purely functional aspects. Our goal is to ensure design registrations are enforceable, defensible, and commercially meaningful.
Our Design Services
Design Clearance and Scoping
- Novelty searches across domestic and international design databases to assess originality
- Design mapping to identify protectable visual features such as shape, lines, patterns, and colours
- Strategic guidance on presentation techniques to maximise protection and reduce rejection risk
Design Drafting and Filing
- Preparation of technical drawings, CAD representations, or photographs meeting office-specific standards
- National design filings before authorities such as the IPO and USPTO
- International design filings through the Hague System for multi-country protection
- Drafting statements of novelty and concise design descriptions to support enforceability
Design Prosecution and Enforcement
- Preparation of responses to examination objections relating to novelty or originality
- Infringement analysis based on substantial similarity between registered designs and competing products
- Support for enforcement actions, including cease-and-desist notices and litigation assistance
What Sets Lance IP Apart
- Strong visual and drafting expertise aligned with strict design office standards
- Extensive experience leveraging the Hague System for efficient global design protection
- Ability to isolate aesthetic features from functional elements to maximise registrability and scope
We excel at separating registrable aesthetic features from non-registrable functional features, maximizing protection strength.
