As of January 3, 2020, companies and designers from Israel can use the Hague System to protect their industrial designs in Israel and/or in any of the other member countries of the Hague System. And, foreign companies can also designate Israel on their international applications for industrial designs.
With the Hague System, designers and companies can file a single application with the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) to register up to 100 industrial designs in 90 countries. While the international application is further transmitted to each designated country for further examination by the respective Local Office, the Hague System simplifies the application process.
For clients who have large international design portfolios, the Hague System offers a streamlined and cost-effective system for obtaining registrations in many different countries, avoiding the need to file individual applications directly with each country’s Local Office. But, filing through the Hague System does not guarantee acceptance by each Local Office, which must still review the industrial design application under its own criteria. Therefore, for some clients, foregoing the Hague system and continuing to file directly with the Israeli Local Office with the assistance of local counsel who may be able to anticipate potential difficulties may make more sense. As each Hague member country has its own rules and requirements for applications and drawings, it is best to check with experienced counsel on the quality and adequacy of the drawings and application disclosure before undertaking any filings through the Hague System, which we routinely discuss with our clients when advising on global filing programs.