Last updated: 
20 September 2019

If you decide to register a design with the idea of taking it to market, first make sure you fully understand the process involved and what it will cost you in time and money.

Timeframes

  • It can take us up to three months to process an application and do the formalities check. 
  • Design registration lasts for five years from the date your design was first filed. Your registration can be renewed for a further five years for a maximum of ten years. The registration ceased unless it is renewed. 
  • If you request an examination of your design this will happen within three months of us receiving your request.
  • You will generally have six months to respond to any possible issues raised from an examination report (an adverse report).

Extension of time

You can apply for an extension of time to carry out certain tasks associated with your application or registration. To do this you will need to show that your failure to meet the deadline was due to either:

  • an error or omission by yourself, your staff, agent or attorney, or
  • circumstances beyond your control.

Your application for an extension of time must include one or more statutory declarations, witnessed by an authorised person.

Fees for this are outlined below.

Fees

An application fee per design is payable when filing your design application. If there are multiple designs in your application you will need to pay for each design included.

All fees are subject to change. GST does not apply to these statutory fees under Division 81 of the GST Act 1999.

We have listed most fees below but you can view a complete list in Schedule 4 of the Designs Regulations 2004.

Although there are some exceptions, fees are generally paid via online services or by Business to Business (B2B).

Fees may vary depending on how you apply and your chosen payment method, with online filing channels and payment methods typically being cheaper. Different filing and payment options are offered to ensure our services remain available to everyone, regardless of their access to our online services. The distinction between these options is referred to as 'preferred or other means' and shown in the tables below as 'fee using online services' (preferred) and 'fee by other means'. More information on preferred or other means can be found here.

You might like to use our design price calculator to help you work out how much your design will cost.

New application

Action

Fee using online services

Fee by other means

(such as mail)

Design application - Per design indicated in the application at filing

$250

$350

Further design/s identified in formalities processing 

$250

$350

Renewal of registration

Action

Fee using online services

Fee by other means

(such as mail)

Renewal of registration - further five

$320

$370

Renewal payment late fee

$100 per month or part thereof from the renewal due date

 

Examination fees

These fees will apply if you have asked to have your design examined. This can result in your registered design being certified giving you legal rights to your design.

Find out more about the examination process.

Action

Fee

Registered design - exam by registered owner

$420

Registered design - exam by third party (third party payment)

$210

Registered design - exam by third party (owner payment)

$210

Administrative fees

Action

Fee

Extension of time (error or omission)

$100 per month or part thereof

Extension of time (circumstances beyond control)

$100

Opposition (to extension of time)

$550

Hearing (request)

$600

A hearing (per day to appear)

$600

Duplicate certification of registration

$250

Sale of documents

Replacement certificates can be ordered via our online services. Options are: photocopies, certified copies and duplicates. Depending on which option you select the cost will vary.

Commemorative certificates can be purchased from a third-party provider. The price ranges from $80 plus GST (Certificate Only with domestic postage) to $240 plus GST (Certificate with Frame & Mount Board with domestic postage). These can be used for display only and do not replace your certificate for legal purposes.

Copy of one to three documents from the same file

$50 each

Copy of four or more documents from the same file

$200

Refunds and waivers

We will consistently apply the same rules for refunds and waivers to all of our customers.

We will automatically refund money when:

  • we have made an error
  • you have submitted a payment and request for something we don't do
  • you have submitted a payment and request for something that is not legally or practically able to be done
  • you have overpaid the fee or paid the fee twice.

More information