At a glance
Policy ID: 38
Status: Legislative drafting
Priority: High
Issue summary
In its 2015 Review of the Designs System in Australia, the former Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP) recommended improving the process for multiple design applications by reducing the fees for each additional design added to the application.
The Designs Act 2003 allows applicants to include multiple designs in applications. This was intended to reduce costs for applicants, and to benefit industries which produce a large number of designs. However in practice there is no cost advantage to filing a multiple design application.
The Australian Government noted the recommendation in May 2016.
History
- On hold 4 September 2017
- Consultation 17 December 2019 to 16 February 2020
- Legislative drafting 17 February 2020
Comments
This issue is planned for implementation as part of IP Australia’s Fee Review 2019-20. Consultation on proposed changes to fees were available for public comment in the draft Cost Recovery Implementation Statement published on IP Australia’s website.