An industrial design concerns the visual appearance of an object. It protects the unique design of a product, not its composition, method of manufacture, or function.

Industrial designs can be found in many everyday objects, such as the distinctive shape of a car hood, the graphical interface of a phone, or the particular pattern of your favorite shoes.

Your industrial design rights are valid only in the country where you registered your design. In Canada, registering your industrial design with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) gives you exclusive rights to the appearance of your object. This includes its shape, patterns, decorative elements, and colours, for the entire object or just a part of it. This protection can last up to 15 years.

Do not disclose your design to the general public before protecting it! If your design has been disclosed, you have a period of 12 months from the date of disclosure to register your industrial design.

An industrial design should not be confused with a patent. An industrial design protects the visual appearance of an object, while a patent protects an idea, a manufacturing process, or the function of an object.

Here is an example from the Intellectual Property Office website which demonstrates that various intellectual property rights can coexist within a single innovation:

For example, in a smartwatch:

• The unique shape of the product can be protected by an industrial design;

• The innovative features of the product may be covered by a patent;

• The brand name can be registered as a trademark;

• A marketing campaign with a video advertisement may be protected by copyright.