The Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs

General Information

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What is it about?

The Hague Agreement establishes a system of international registration for industrial models and designs. Nationals of State parties have the possibility to obtain for their designs or industrial models in all other State parties protection. through a single filing with WIPO. An international filing produces the same effect as a filing made in a foreign country directly. The innovative character of this instrument consists in the fact that no preliminary national filing is required. The request can be made directly to the International Bureau of WIPO. State parties nevertheless reserve the right to refuse recognition of a patent deposit on their territory. The Hague Agreement of 1925 was revised on 2 June 1934 in London, on 28 November 1960 at The Hague and supplemented by three additional Acts: - The Additional Act of Monaco addressing the question of applicable taxes on the deposits (Monaco, 18 November 1961); - The Complementary Act of Stockholm permitting WIPO to administer the Hague Agreement of 1925 (Stockholm, 14 July 1967); - The Geneva Act included a number of elements aiming at facilitating accession by potential State Parties, such as the possibility of extending the refusal period up to 12 months or fixing a higher designation fee (Geneva, 2 July 1999).

Why is it relevant?

The Hague Agreement simplifies the procedure for obtaining protection on designs and industrial models abroad, allowing private companies saving time and money. This contributes to an increase of trade between State parties as under such favourable conditions the holders of intellectual industrial rights are more inclined to export their products.

Additional Information

State parties to the International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property may ratify this treaty. Some 5000 designs or industrial models were registered in 2000 with the International Bureau of WIPO.

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