A Century of the Hague System: One Route for International Design Protection

Photo: Krisztian Tabori / Unsplash

The Hague Agreement was adopted in 1925 and created an international route for registering industrial designs. Its centenary highlights how design rights evolved from a small European framework into a system used across many markets.

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Why this IP story matters

The system lets applicants seek design protection in multiple designated jurisdictions through one international application, with centralized administration and renewals. Each designated office may still refuse protection under applicable rules. A design right generally concerns a product’s visual appearance rather than its technical function, so businesses often need to consider design, patent and trademark protection together. WIPO reported a record 27,161 designs filed through the system in 2024, up 6.8% from 2023.

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Sources: WIPO Magazine: 100 years of design protection