Industrial Designs are an important type of intellectual property that can provide valuable protection to owners.

Industrial Designs different from patents insomuch as the scope of protection is limited to the appearance of an article of manufacuture rather than the underlying function. More specifically, an Industrial Design is defined within in the Industrial Design Act as a form of Intellectual Property to protect the features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament and any combination of these features that, in a finished product, appeal to and are judged solely by the eye.

Importantly, an Industrial Design does not provide protection to features of a useful article that are dictated primarily by a function of the product, or any
principle or manner of manufacture or construction.

An Industrial Design, has a term of 5 years which can be extended for a further 5 years.