How Does the Hague System Work?

WIPO's Hague System allows you to secure design protection simultaneously in multiple countries or regions through one international application, in one language with one set of fees. Note: There is no pre-requirement to file a national or regional design application in order to use the Hague System.

Who can use the Hague System?

You can file an international application under the Hague System if:

you are a national of i.) a contracting party or of ii.) a member state of an intergovernmental organization which is a contracting party;
you have a domicile or habitual residence in a contracting party; or
you have a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in a contracting party.

Full list of Hague System contracting parties

Where can you obtain protection?

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You can obtain protection within any contracting party, including member states of an intergovernmental organization party to the Hague Agreement. If you wish to protect a design in a jurisdiction that is not party to the Hague Agreement, you will have to file a national (or regional) application.

Video – Protecting your designs with WIPO's Hague System

The process

The first step to obtaining international design protection is to file an international application with WIPO. After submission, your application will be checked for compliance with form and content (formal requirements), including payment of the required fees. Note: Non-payment will result in an irregularity notice.

Once your application complies with all formal requirements it will be recorded in the International Register. Your international registration will then be published in the International Designs Bulletin, the official publication of the Hague System, at which point the intellectual property (IP) offices of the designated contracting parties may perform substantive examination of your designs.

Tip! Check what your competitors are doing by searching existing designs – virtual and print – before you file an international design application.

Tools go get you started

Key steps (WIPO)

WIPO checks your application to ensure that it meets all formal requirements (e.g., designation of contracting parties, quality of reproductions). You will be notified of any irregularities, which must be corrected typically within three months.

How to reply to an irregularity letter...

If you filed your international application online, you can reply to an irregularity letter direct through eHague.
If you filed in paper format – directly with WIPO or indirectly with the IP office of a contracting party – you can upload a reply to an irregularity letter using our Hague System Document Upload service available via Contact Hague. Note: to use this service, you need to have a WIPO Account.

Once your application complies with formal requirements, WIPO sends you a certificate of international registration.

Possible action (designated contracting parties)

Once your international registration has been published in the International Designs Bulletin, the IP office of each designated contracting party may perform substantive examination, checking whether your designs comply with their own domestic laws, e.g., descriptions of reproductions are included, designs are novel and not contrary to public morality or decency, etc.

Each designated contracting party has the right to refuse protection within its own territory, notifying WIPO within six (in some cases 12) months of the date of publication of the international registration. Where protection is refused, you will be notified through WIPO.

Alert No news is good news! If no refusal is issued by a given IP office, protection is deemed to be automatically granted in that given jurisdiction, under its established laws.

Which contracting parties have an examining office?

Canada
Hungary
Israel
Japan
Kyrgyzstan

Mexico
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation

Syrian Arab Republic
Turkmenistan
United States of America
Viet Nam

(Legal reference: Article 1 (xvii) of the Geneva Act (1999))

What can I do if my registration is refused?

You can contest a refusal according to the established domestic procedure at the IP office concerned.

Refusal by one office does not affect your international registration in other designated jurisdictions.

Can WIPO provide legal help in case of a refusal?

WIPO offers a broad range of online resources that you can consult. You may raise specific enquiries through Contact Hague. WIPO does not provide legal assistance.

Download full schema of the Hague System procedure

Duration of protection

The initial period of protection under the Hague System is five years. You can then renew your design twice, which guarantees you at least 15 years of protection.

Individual contracting party legislation may allow for a longer duration.

Maximum duration of protection

Find out how long your designs can be protected for in each Hague System contracting party.

Making changes to an international registration

You may need to make various changes to your international registration including, for example, changing ownership or representatives.

All change requests must currently be made using official Hague System forms which may be submitted through Contact Hague.

Find out more under Managing your Registration

getty_1271937154_oksana_sazhnieva_renew_845 — (Photo: Getty/Oksana Sazhnieva)

Find out how to renew your registration.

Learning resources

Hague System webinars

Our free interactive Hague System webinars offer practical information on a wide range of topics related to filing international applications and managing international registrations.

eHague filing tutorial

Our eHague filing tutorial walks you through how to create, view and edit your international design applications online.

The WIPO Academy online preparatory course on trademarks, designs and geographical indications (DL-302) is designed to precede practical training on IP protection.

Need help?

Our Hague Customer Service team is available to answer all your questions and queries and to assist you throughout the lifecycle of your international design applications and registrations. To ensure optimal handling of enquiries use Contact Hague.

Contact Hague | Phone +41 22 338 7575 (Monday to Friday, 09:00–18:00 (CET))

More about the Hague System

Find out more in our Hague System Questions and Answers.