The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released a concept note proposing amendments to the Designs Act, 2000. Issued on January 23, 2026, the concept note invites comments and suggestions from stakeholders within thirty days, with the objective of modernising India’s design protection framework and aligning it with evolving international practices.
The proposed amendments seek to expand the scope of design protection to include digital and virtual designs. In particular, the definitions of “article” and “design” are proposed to be broadened to cover graphical user interfaces (GUIs), icons, animations, augmented and virtual reality interfaces, and other digital assets, without the requirement of physical embodiment. The concept note also proposes the introduction of a twelve-month grace period for disclosures prior to filing, including disclosures through online platforms, product launches, and crowdfunding initiatives. In addition, applicants may defer publication of registered designs for a period of up to thirty months, subject to specified conditions.
The concept note further proposes procedural reforms aimed at simplifying the filing process, particularly for MSMEs and start-ups. These include provisions allowing multiple design variants within the same Locarno class to be filed under a single application, with an option for divisional filings where necessary. The proposed framework also revises the term of protection to three renewable periods of five years each, resulting in a maximum term of fifteen years.
The concept note also addresses enforcement and international harmonisation. Among other things, it proposes statutory damages for willful infringement and contemplates India’s accession to international design frameworks such as the Hague Agreement and the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. The proposals further clarify the interface between design protection and copyright in respect of unregistered registrable designs.
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Source:https://www.dpiit.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/01/791a71ebde47d93b67560f7394be2fec.pdf