Industrial design registration in Switzerland

Industrial design registration in Switzerland

Registration of industrial designs in Switzerland – Every company that owns an industrial design and intends to expand its business in the market in Switzerland should use Switzerland’s intellectual property system. It is paramount for companies to file an industrial design application in Switzerland for industrial designs, even if the launch of the respective product on the market in Switzerland has not yet commenced. 

Requirements for industrial design registration application in Switzerland

An industrial design application can be filed claiming priority within six months after the priority date.

German is the official language when registering an industrial design at the Switzerland Intellectual Property Office. 

The following information and documents need to be provided in the application for registration of an industrial design in Switzerland: 

  • name, address, and nationality of the applicant, business address; 
  • class number according to the Locarno Classification;
  • title of the design;

If priority is requested, a certified copy of the priority document should be translated into English, German, Italian, and French and submitted to the IP office within 6 months from the filing date. 

The simply signed Power of Attorney is required when registering an industrial design in Switzerland.

Examination of an industrial design application in Switzerland

 An industrial design registration application in Switzerland will only undergo the formal examination process.

Validity period and renewal of industrial designs in Switzerland

The renewal period for the novelty of an industrial design in Switzerland is 12 months from the date of disclosure by the designer or on behalf of the designer. 

The IP office must register a design in the Swiss register if the examination process is successful. The  IP office must publish a design online at www.swissreg.ch after registration. For the registration of designs in Switzerland, there is no requirement for an official grant fee. The Swiss design registration remains valid for five years after the date of registration. Upon payment of renewal costs, protection may be extended for a further four periods of five years, up to a total of 25 years period.

Represented by an industrial design registration attorney 

An international applicant for an industrial design registration in Switzerland should perform an industrial design search in Switzerland through a law firm, or an industrial design attorney.