Podcast: Understanding design rights

In this episode, designs examiners Laura Majer and Euan Bowen from IP Australia join host Lisa Cohen (Director of Public Education) to explore the fundamentals of design rights and why they matter for businesses that design, manufacture or sell physical products.

You'll learn what design rights protect, who should consider them, and how they fit within a broader intellectual property (IP) strategy alongside trade marks and patents.

The discussion highlights the importance of planning early, keeping designs confidential before filing, and understanding how registered designs can become valuable assets that help deter copycats, attract investment and strengthen a business's competitive position.

Drawing on their experience as designs examiners, Laura and Euan also unpack common misconceptions about design rights, including the role they can play when copyright may not provide the protection business expect.

In this episode, we explore:

• what design rights do and do not protect
• who should consider design protection and when it may be relevant
• why timing matters and the risks of disclosing a design too early
• the importance of confidentiality agreements when working with manufacturers and suppliers
• how design rights can support investment and form part of a broader IP strategy
• why design-led businesses are particularly vulnerable to copying
• common misconceptions about design rights and copyright
• the value of searching existing designs before investing in a new product.

For general enquiries, call 1300 651 010 or email outreach@ipaustralia.gov.au.