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Submit all your Design
Applications Online
Search Request with the National Office
One of the requirements for a design is that
it is original and new. For this reason it is recommended to carry out a
design search prior to applying for registration.
The minimum requirements for a search to be
carried out are:
- The name of the design
- The date of application
- The name of the applicant
The pre-application search request may be made
either by email or post and this service carries a fee of €11.65 per
design. Alternatively, a search may be carried out at the office by
searching the register manually for which no fees are involved.
It is also recommended to search the Community
Design database at:
https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/
Filing an Application with the National Office
An application is to be submitted to the
Industrial Property Registrations Directorate online.
The fee is of €46.59 and the design right is protected for a period of five
years from the date of filing of the application and is renewable for one
or more periods of five years each up to a total term of 25 years. The
registration of a design may be renewed at the request of the proprietor,
accompanied by the prescribed fee. A late renewal can be
effected up to six months after the date of expiry. If the
registration is not renewed it shall be removed from the register.
The application form is to be accompanied by:
- The name of the design
- A number of drawings or
photos showing the design from different angles
- A
description of the design
Examination
and Registration
The
process for registration will take around 3 (three) months from application
date. The application shall be examined in order to ascertain that it
complies with the requirements of the law. If any of these
requirements are missing the Comptroller will inform the applicant and
invite him to make the necessary amendments. If the necessary
amendments are not made the Comptroller shall refuse the application.
On
the registration of a design the registration certificate shall be issued
and a notice shall be published in the IP Online Journal stating the fact
that the design has been registered and that it is available to be viewed
by the public at the Office.
How
to protect your Design abroad/internationally
You may want to register your design outside
of Malta, to obtain protection in the whole of the European Union (EU), as
well as in other countries outside the EU or even beyond. The Hague
System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs provides a
centralised registration system where you can e-file up to 100 designs and
target over 55 territories in one single application that you could use to
claim priority in further filings.
Any
individual or business in Malta can file an international application under
the Hague System. For more information on Filing an International
Application, geographical coverage and fees, and to get started, please go
to www.wipo.int/hague/en.
Methods
of Payment
Payment
may be done either:
- directly at the office, by cash (exact amount), cheque;
- by post - the application form together with a cheque payable to 'The
Comptroller of Industrial Property';
- online at: www.ips.gov.mt
- Bank
transfer to:
Bank: Bank of Valletta
Account number: 40018101689 (charges to be incurred by sender)
IBAN: MT58VALL22013000000040018101689
BIC Code: VALL MTMT
Account Name: Commerce
Schedule
of Fees for Design Applications
Documents
may be left at the front desk of the Commerce Department as per below:
Winter (1st October - 15th June): 08:00 - 12:00
& 13:30 – 15:30
Summer (16th June - 30th September): 08:00 - 12:00
Clients may also utilise the services at the Business 1st offices at Ċentru
Joseph Grech, 2nd Floor, Cobalt House, Notabile Road, Mrieħel, Birkirkara
(website www.businessfirst.com.mt)
should they have any queries regarding the filing of Trademarks, Patents or
Designs applications.
Please do not hesitate to contact this office for any queries
or clarifications that you may have. For further information kindly
contact our office on
telephone number 2569 0340 or send an email to ipoffice@gov.mt.
Redress
or appeal:
Decisions of the office which are open to
redress or appeal must be sent on ipoffice@gov.mt or in writing at:
Commerce
Department, Industrial Property Registration
Director
Industrial Property Registration,
Valletta
VLT 1933, Malta
Disclaimer:
Unless
otherwise indicated, the information contained in this site is issued by
the Industrial Property Registrations Director within the Commerce
Department at The Ministry for the Economy, European Funds and Lands
Updated on:
Last updated on
the 2nd May 2022
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