DESIGN RIGHTS FOR START-UPS: DRAWING A LINE OF PROTECTION

Designs are considered as one of the imperative aspects of a business. Design rights as a branch of Intellectual property rights that plays a crucial role in protecting unique designs from copying and infringement. In this regard, design rights have become increasingly important for designers and businesses all over the globe. Primarily, this article provides an overview of design law and registration process in Australia with an emphasis on Start-ups and SMEs. Further, the article provides preliminary steps to be followed before going for design registration in Australia. In addition, the article provides how drawings and images should be developed for design registration. Secondly, this article delivers insights on design registration trends of Start-ups and SMEs in Australia. Analysis of design registration data relived that that most number of design applications have been filed by SMEs residing in Victoria region followed by New South Wales and Queensland. Moreover, the study provides the importance of designs as an intellectual property for Start-ups and SMEs. Further, the study sheds some light on how registered designs can be used as collaterals.