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Search existing design rights
Before applying, you'll need to check if any publicly shared designs may be similar to yours.
How it works
The Locarno Classification system consists of 32 classes and many are divided into sub-classes. In Australia, we use additional sub-sub-classes to distinguish products even more precisely.
You don't need to tell us what your product's classification code is. We'll classify your design according to what the purpose of your product is.
Classification codes and sub-codes are shown as two sets of two-digit numbers separated by a hyphen, such as 05-06. Sub-sub-classes are shown with a letter, like 05-06A.
If your product is a swimsuit, it would be assigned the classification code 02-02A.
- 02 is the class assigned to articles of clothing and haberdashery
- 02 is the sub-class assigned to garments
- A is the sub-sub-class assigned to swimsuits, swimming and bathing costumes
If your product is a snare drum, it would be assigned the classification code 17-04.
- 17 is the class assigned to musical instruments
- 04 is the sub-class assigned to percussion instruments
- There's no relevant sub-sub-class for this product.
It's important to clearly describe and name your product
You'll need to provide a product name as part of your application. This is the generic name of the product. It's important to provide a clear and precise, yet short, product name so that we can classify your product into the right Locarno class.
The name should:
- Match the representations shown in the application
- Only describe the nature of the product.
You don't need to include a description of how it works, what it’s made from or the brand name as part of the product name.
If your product has more than one genuine purpose, it may be allocated to more than one classification code.
What happens if the product name isn't clear
If your product name is unclear, it may:
- Delay processing of your application
- Make it difficult to protect if the design scope isn't clear
- Create issues for the public in understanding the protection you seek
- Make it harder for others to find your design in our database.
You provide the product name ‘container’. This isn't specific enough as there are multiple kinds of containers in more than one Locarno class, such as:
- Cutlery container — Classification code: 07-07
- Egg container — Classification code: 09-03
- Medical fluid-collection container — Classification code: 24-02.
In this case we may ask you to clarify the nature of your container.
Search the list of classification codes
To help with your existing design search, you can look for items with the same classification code.
Search tip: click the classification lookup button in the advanced search page, and click on the classes to the left.
At times, there may be differences between the Australian Design Search and Locarno Classification database. In case of inconsistencies, the Australian Design Search classification codes will take precedence.
For more information, view the detailed list of Locarno Classification codes from the World Intellectual Property Organization.
