World Intellectual Property Day 2025 is all about music - how it moves us, brings people together and drives creative and technological innovation. This year, we celebrate how intellectual property fuels the music industry, from the sounds we love to the cutting-edge designs that shape how we create and experience music.
From the intricate craftsmanship of traditional musical instruments to the precise engineering of modern audio devices, design plays a crucial role in shaping how we create and experience music. Behind every beat, melody and harmony lies not just creativity in composition and performance, but also innovation in the tools that bring music to life. As developments in this field continue to evolve, protecting these designs becomes increasingly important. The Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs highlights this influence by offering protection for a wide range of musical instruments - such as a harp zither from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and a Steinway piano from the USA - to modern audio devices like loudspeakers, headphones and wireless earbuds. The Hague System provides a streamlined approach to securing these valuable creations across borders, ensuring that designers’ rights are protected globally.
More than just aesthetics, design is a defining force behind sound quality, functionality and user experience. The shape of a speaker affects acoustics, the materials of a headphone impact resonance, and the ergonomics of a turntable determine ease of use. Thoughtful design transforms not only what we hear but how we interact with sound, blending technology and artistry to create richer, more immersive listening experiences.
The Power of Aesthetics: Why Design Influences Consumer Choices
In the world of sound and music, aesthetics plays a pivotal role in shaping consumer decisions. The visual appeal of an instrument or audio device often serves as the first connection between a brand and a potential buyer. While we listen with our ears, we also engage with products through our eyes. Whether it's the polished curves of a speaker or the streamlined design of a pair of wireless earbuds, a product’s look can be just as compelling as its performance.
Take, for instance, the striking Bakelite speakers designed by Louis Kalff for Philips in 1930, which were registered under the Hague System. These speakers weren’t just about sound; they were designed to stand out visually, reinforcing the brand’s innovation and elegance. The bold shapes, distinctive material, and sleek finish made them aspirational objects, proving that in audio technology, design is also a marketing tool. Many of today’s high-end audio devices follow this same trend, where aesthetics is integral to branding and consumer appeal.
Similarly, modern audio products continue to showcase how design enhances both sound and convenience. Look at the Devialet Phantom speaker for instance. This speaker, which is currently protected under the Hague System, features a bold, sculptural form that isn’t just visually striking - it serves an acoustic purpose, minimizing unwanted vibrations while delivering deep, distortion-free sound. The seamless, compact design allows for powerful audio output that defies its size, making it as much an art piece as a high-performance speaker. This fusion of innovation and aesthetics demonstrates how thoughtful design can elevate both functionality and the listening experience.
For many consumers, aesthetic excellence also signals premium quality. A well-crafted, high-end design suggests durability, precision, and attention to detail - all qualities that influence purchasing decisions. Be it the brushed metal exterior of a luxury speaker or the smooth, ergonomic curves of a finely engineered pair of headphones, these elements shape not just the physical product but the entire ownership experience.
How Design Shapes Sound Quality
In both audio devices and musical instruments, design is fundamental to how sound is produced, shaped, and experienced. Material choices, for instance, directly affect acoustic properties. The wood of a violin or the metal casing of a speaker impacts resonance, warmth and clarity - each material adding its own character to the final sound. The interaction between these materials and sound waves defines tone, richness and depth.
The physical form of an audio device is just as integral. The curvature of a speaker’s design doesn’t just look appealing - it directly impacts how sound waves move and interact with the environment, ensuring that the listener experiences clear, undistorted audio. Consider the Beosound 2 from Bang & Olufsen: its conical shape, which is protected through the Hague System, allows for 360-degree sound dispersion, creating a fully immersive audio experience from any direction.
Ergonomics also plays a crucial role in enhancing the way we listen. Over-ear headphones, for example, are shaped to maximize noise isolation, reducing ambient distractions while improving sound immersion. The contour of the ear cups, the placement of the drivers, and the choice of padding all contribute to an optimal listening environment.
Functionality and User Experience: How Design Transforms Audio Devices
In the world of audio technology, good design goes beyond aesthetics - it defines usability. A well-designed product is intuitive, efficient, and enhances the user’s interaction with sound. A perfect example is the 1957 Philips vinyl turntable, which revolutionized home listening. This iconic turntable, which was protected under the Hague System, featured an elegant yet practical layout, durable construction, and simple controls that made it accessible to a broad audience, transforming vinyl playback from a technical process into a seamless experience. It became a cultural icon, shaping how people engaged with music at home and beyond.
Fast-forward to today, and modern audio wearables showcase how design enhances both sound and convenience. Baud's The Player One, also protected by the Hague System, redefines versatility, seamlessly transitioning from immersive gaming sessions to high-fidelity music listening - eliminating the need for multiple headphones. In addition to sound quality, the ergonomic design of modern audio wearables ensures an optimal fit that enhances comfort, which can impact how sound is perceived - whether through noise isolation or the secure positioning of drivers for improved audio clarity.
Similarly, Samsung's innovative Level U Wireless Headphones, which were registered under the Hague System in 2015, are an excellent example of ergonomic and functional design. Featuring a flexible neckband that comfortably rests around the neck, these headphones ensure a secure fit for all-day wear. The compact design, combined with their powerful sound quality and long-lasting battery life, makes them an essential audio accessory for those on the go. With intuitive controls and the convenience of a built-in microphone, the Level U headphones seamlessly blend practicality and comfort, delivering a premium listening experience. This thoughtful design enhances not just sound but also the overall user experience.
Protecting Design in the Sound Industry
As audio technology advances, companies invest heavily in crafting unique, high-performance designs. Protecting these innovations is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.
The Hague System provides a streamlined international process for registering and managing industrial designs, enabling companies to safeguard their creative and technical innovations across multiple jurisdictions efficiently. By securing design protection, brands can prevent unauthorized imitations, strengthen their market position, and continue to push the boundaries of innovation. Registering designs through The Hague System not only protects intellectual property but also contributes to the ongoing evolution of music and technology, paving the way for groundbreaking innovations in sound design that will continue to redefine how we experience music.
With thousands of designs registered under The Hague System, the fusion of music and technology continues to evolve - demonstrating how thoughtful design influences not only what we hear but how we experience sound itself.
About the Hague System
WIPO’s Hague System provides a unique international mechanism for securing and managing design rights simultaneously in multiple countries or regions through one application, in one language with one set of fees.
Find out more
- Hague System Digital Information Kit
- How the Hague System works
- Filing international applications
- Managing international registrations
Want to share your story?
If you are interested in sharing your own Designs in Action story, illustrating how you’ve leveraged the Hague System to secure international design protection, we would love to hear from you! Contact Hague
