Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs

General Information

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What is it about?

The Locarno Agreement establishes a standardized nomenclature for the classification of industrial designs or models. State parties agree to adopt this nomenclature and to classify registered designs and models accordingly. Such a classification must be included in official documents for the deposit and registration of a design and listed in any publication that the office issues in respect to a deposit or registration. The Locarno Classification is solely of an administrative character, it does not offer any Intellectual Property protection and the usage of the classification depends on the discretion of the State parties.

Why is it relevant?

The Locarno Agreement facilitates the organization of industrial design records. This procedure allows for industrial design searches and eliminates reclassification work.

Additional Information

The Special Union created by the present Agreement is composed of an Assembly, the International Bureau of WIPO and a Committee of Experts. The Committee can revise and amend the international classifications found in the Annexes of the instrument. Countries that ratify this Agreement constitute a Special Union under the Union for the Protection of Industrial Property.

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