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DESIGNS ACT 2003 - NOTES

DESIGNS ACT 2003 - NOTES

No. 147, 2003

Compilation No. 23

Compilation date: 10 March 2022

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 100, 2021

Registered: 24 March 2022

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Designs Act 2003 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 10 March 2022 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self-repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

Chapter 1--Introductory

Part 1--Preliminary

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Crown to be bound

4 Application of the Act

Part 2--Interpretation

5 Definitions

5A Meaning of Convention country

5B Definition of exclusive licensee

6 Definition of product

7 Definition of visual feature.........................

8 References in this Act to a design

Chapter 2--Design rights, ownership and registrable designs

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 2

9 Simplified outline

Part 2--Design rights

10 Exclusive rights of registered owners

11 Assignment of interest in a design

12 Power of registered owner to deal with registered design

Part 3--Ownership of designs

13 Who is entitled to be registered as the registered owner of a design

14 Ownership of registered designs

Part 4--Registrable designs: Validity

Division 1--Registrable designs

15 Registrable designs

16 Designs that are identical or substantially similar in overall impression

17 Certain things to be disregarded in deciding whether a design is new and distinctive

18 Certain designs not to be treated as other than new and distinctive

Division 2--Substantial similarity in overall impression

19 Factors to be considered in assessing substantial similarity in overall impression

Chapter 3--Design applications

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 3

20 Simplified outline

Part 2--Design applications

Division 1--Applications

21 Person may file a design application

22 A design application may be in respect of more than one design

23 Design applications covering excluded designs

Division 2--How Registrar must deal with a design application

24 Design applications that meet the minimum filing requirements

25 Publication of receipt of application

Division 3--Filing date and priority date

26 Filing date

27 Priority date

Part 3--Amendment or withdrawal of design applications

28 Amendment of design applications

29 Disputes between applicants

30 Persons may ask for design application to proceed in the person's name

31 Publication of certain details of amended application

32 Withdrawal of designs and design applications

Part 4--Lapsing of design applications

33 Lapsing of design applications

Chapter 4--Registration of designs

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 4

34 Simplified outline

Part 2--Requests for registration

35 Request for registration

36 Request in respect of designs excluded from an application in respect of more than one design

Part 3--Registration

Division 1--Formalities check

39 Formalities check--applications in respect of one design only

40 Formalities check--applications in respect of more than one design

41 Registrar must give applicants an opportunity to correct deficiencies

42 What happens after Registrar's notification under section 41

43 Registrar must refuse to register certain designs

44 Registrar must register certain designs after refusal

Division 2--Registration procedures

45 Registrar must notify applicant of registration and give public notice

Division 3--Term of registration

46 Term of registration

47 Renewal of registration

48 Ceasing of registration

49 Surrender of registration

50 Revocation of registration on surrender

Division 4--Revocation on grounds relating to entitled persons

51 Revocation of registration on grounds relating to entitled persons

52 Procedures in relation to application

53 Applications by persons declared to be entitled persons in court proceedings

54 Applications by entitled persons after revocation following surrender of registration

55 Priority date of design if an application filed by a person declared to be an entitled person

56 Meaning of original registered owner

Part 5--Certain documents to be available for public inspection

60 Design applications for registered designs and associated documents to be open for public inspection

61 Certain documents not to be published

Chapter 5--Examination of designs

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 5

62 Simplified outline

Part 2--Requests for examination

63 Examination of design

64 Requirements for request for examination of design

Part 3--Examination

65 What Registrar must do in examining a design

66 Amendment of registration

67 Certificate of examination where registration valid

68 Revocation of registration after examination

Part 4--Material may be provided to Registrar

69 Certain material may be provided to Registrar

Chapter 6--Infringement

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 6

70 Simplified outline

Part 2--Infringement of registered design

71 Infringement of design

71A Infringement exemption--prior use

72 Infringement exemption--repairs

73 Infringement proceedings

74 Counter-claims

75 Remedies for infringement

76 Intervention by Registrar

Part 3--Relief from unjustified threats

77 Application for relief from unjustified threats

78 Court's power to grant relief

79 Counter-claim

80 Mere notification of registration not a threat

81 Legal practitioners, registered patent attorneys and registered trade marks attorneys

Chapter 7--Jurisdiction and powers of courts

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 7

82 Simplified outline

Part 2--Jurisdiction

83 Jurisdiction of Federal Court

83A Jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)

84 Jurisdiction of other prescribed courts

85 Exercise of jurisdiction

86 Transfer of proceedings etc.

87 Appeals

88 Powers of Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) on hearing an appeal

89 Registrar may appear in appeals

Part 3--Compulsory licences and revocation of registration

90 Person may apply to court for compulsory licence

91 Terms of compulsory licence

92 Revocation of registration after grant of compulsory licence

Part 4--Revocation of registration by court in other circumstances

93 Revocation of registration in other circumstances

Chapter 8--The Crown

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 8

94 Simplified outline

Part 2--Use by the Crown

95 Meaning of terms

96 Crown use of designs--general rule

96A Crown use of designs--emergencies

97 Applicants, entitled persons and registered owners to be informed of use

98 Crown use of designs--terms (including remuneration)

99 Certain agreement and licences inoperative unless approved by relevant Minister

102 Crown use of designs--court order to cease

103 Sale of products

104 Forfeited products

105 Supply of products by the Commonwealth to foreign countries

Part 3--Acquisition by and assignments to the Crown

106 Acquisition of design by the Commonwealth

107 Assignment of design to the Commonwealth

Part 4--Prohibition orders

108 Prohibition of publication of information about designs

109 Publication of information about designs

Chapter 9--The Register

110 Simplified outline

111 Registrar must keep Register

112 Register may be kept by computer

113 Inspection of Register

114 Amendments of Register to record changes of ownership

115 Amendments of Register made to give effect to certain decisions

116 Reissue of certificates

117 Trusts not to be entered in Register

118 Evidentiary provision

119 Admissibility of unregistered interests

120 Rectification of Register

Chapter 10--Administration

121 Simplified outline

122 Registrar

123 Deputy Registrars

124 Delegation by Registrar

125 Designs Office

126 Seal of Designs Office

127 Registrar's Powers

128 Recovery of costs

Chapter 11--Miscellaneous

Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 11

129 Simplified outline

Part 2--Fees

130 Fees

130A Approved means of paying a fee

Part 3--Offences

131 False entries in Register

132 False representation that a design is registered

133 False representations about the Designs Office

134 Failure to comply with requirements of Registrar

135 Officers not to traffic etc. in designs

Part 3A--Computerised decision-making

135A Computerised decision-making

Part 4--Review of the Registrar's decisions

136 Review by Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Part 4A--Doing act after end of period otherwise provided for doing it

136A Doing act when Designs Office reopens after end of period otherwise provided for doing act

Part 5--Extensions of time

137 Extensions of time

138 Consequences of extension

139 Protection of third parties

140 Infringement proceedings

Part 6--Other

141 Powers of agents

142 Right of lien of registered patent attorney and registered trade marks attorney

143 Revocation of registration does not affect court decisions and things done under contracts before revocation

144 Filing of documents

144A Approved means of filing documents

144B Directions by Registrar for filing of documents

144C Directions by Registrar for filing of evidence

144D Notifications by Registrar under this Act or regulations

145 Service of documents

146 Death of applicant before application determined

147 Death of person after design registered

148 Exercise of discretionary power by Registrar

149 Regulations

149A Instrument determining formal requirements for design applications etc.

Chapter 12--Repeal, transitional and saving provisions

Part 1--Repeal of Designs Act 1906

150 Repeal

Part 2--Transitional and saving provisions

151 Application of this Act to certain designs

152 Term of registration of certain designs

153 Applications made before commencing day

154 Other applications and proceedings

155 Pending proceedings

156 Infringement under old Act

157 Registrar and Deputy Registrar

158 The Register

159 Conversion of transitional applications

160 Effect of a converted application

160A Approvals under subsection 40A(6) of old Act

161 Definitions

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

 

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

Abbreviation key--Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation "(md)" added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation "(md not incorp)" is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

ad = added or inserted

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

/sub-subparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev ... ) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)

cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3--Legislation history

 

Act

Number and year

Assent

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Designs Act 2003

147, 2003

17 Dec 2003

s 3-161: 17 June 2004 (s 2(1) item 2)
Remainder: 17 Dec 2003 (s 2(1) item 1)

 

Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act 2006

106, 2006

27 Sept 2006

Sch 12 (items 1, 2): 27 Mar 2007 (s 2(1) item 12)
Sch 15 (item 1): 28 Sept 2006 (s 2(1) item 13)

--

Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Act 2009

131, 2009

14 Dec 2009

Sch 2 (items 1-7): 30 Jan 2012 (s 2(1) item 1)

Sch 2 (item 7)

Personal Property Securities (Corporations and Other Amendments) Act 2010

96, 2010

6 July 2010

Sch 3 (item 1): 30 Jan 2012 (s 2(1) item 8)

--

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011

46, 2011

27 June 2011

Sch 2 (item 532) and Sch 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011 (s 2(1) items  3, 12)

Sch 3 (items 10, 11)

Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act 2012

35, 2012

15 Apr 2012

Sch 6 (items 1-22): 15 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) item 5)

--

as amended by

 

 

 

 

Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2014

31, 2014

27 May 2014

Sch 2 (item 5): 15 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) item 6)

--

Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013

13, 2013

14 Mar 2013

Sch 3 (items 1-21): 15 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) item 4)

--

Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act 2015

8, 2015

25 Feb 2015

Sch 4 (items 1-4, 81-84): 24 Feb 2017 (s 2(1) item 5)
Sch 5 (items 1-4, 7): 26 Feb 2015 (s 2(1) item 6)

Sch 4 (items 81-84) and Sch 5 (item 7)

Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Act 2015

59, 2015

26 May 2015

Sch 2 (item 126): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 5)
Sch 2 (items 356-396): 18 June 2015 (s 2(1) item 6)

Sch 2 (items 356-396)

as amended by

 

 

 

 

Territories Legislation Amendment Act 2016

33, 2016

23 Mar 2016

Sch 2: 24 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)

--

Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015

126, 2015

10 Sept 2015

Sch 1 (item 172): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)
Sch 1 (item 672): 24 Feb 2017 (s 2(1) item 3)

--

Statute Update Act 2016

61, 2016

23 Sept 2016

Sch 2 (items 31-33): 21 Oct 2016 (s 2(1) item 1)

--

Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 1 and Other Measures) Act 2018

77, 2018

24 Aug 2018

Sch 2 (items 2-33, 110, 114-120, 150, 195, 209): 24 Feb 2019 (s 2(1) items 6, 8)
Sch 2 (items 157-160): 25 Aug 2018 (s 2(1) item 7)

Sch 2 (items 110, 150, 209)

Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 2 and Other Measures) Act 2020

9, 2020

26 Feb 2020

Sch 3: 27 Feb 2020 (s 2(1) item 4)

Sch 3 (items 20-24)

National Emergency Declaration (Consequential Amendments) Act 2020

129, 2020

15 Dec 2020

Sch 1 (item 20): 16 Dec 2020 (s 2(1) item 2)

--

Territories Legislation Amendment Act 2020

154, 2020

17 Dec 2020

Sch 1 (items 87, 93-96, 99): 18 Dec 2020 (s 2(1) item 2)

Sch 1 (items 93-96, 99)

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2021

13, 2021

1 Mar 2021

Sch 2 (items 301-313): 1 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 5)

--

Designs Amendment (Advisory Council on Intellectual Property Response) Act 2021

100, 2021

10 Sept 2021

Sch 1-6 and Sch 7 (items 9, 10): 10 Mar 2022 (s 2(1) items 2, 4)
Sch 7 (items 1-8): 11 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 3)

Sch 1 (item 3), Sch 3 (item 36), Sch 4 (item 7), Sch 5 (item 13), Sch 6 (item  5), Sch 7 (items 5, 8, 10)

 

Endnote 4--Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Chapter 1

 

Part 1

 

s 3.....................

am No 59, 2015

Part 2

 

s 5.....................

am No 131, 2009; No 96, 2010; No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 77, 2018; No 9, 2020; No 13, 2021; No 100, 2021

s 5A....................

ad No 35, 2012

 

am No 126, 2015

s 5B....................

ad No 100, 2021

Chapter 2

 

Part 2

 

s 12....................

am No 131, 2009

Part 4

 

Division 1

 

s 15....................

am No 46, 2011

s 17....................

am No 100, 2021

s 18....................

am No 100, 2021

Division 2

 

s 19....................

am No 100, 2021

Chapter 3

 

Part 1

 

s 20....................

am No 100, 2021

Part 2

 

Division 1

 

s 23....................

am No 100, 2021

Division 2

 

s 24....................

am No 77, 2018; No 100, 2021

Part 3

 

s 28....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

s 32....................

am No 100, 2021

Part 4

 

s 33....................

am No 77, 2018; No 100, 2021

Chapter 4

 

Chapter 4 heading...........

rs No 100, 2021

Part 1

 

s 34....................

am No 100, 2021

Part 2

 

Part 2 heading.............

rs No 100, 2021

s 35....................

am No 100, 2021

s 36....................

rs No 100, 2021

s 37....................

rep No 100, 2021

s 38....................

rep No 100, 2021

Part 3

 

Division 1

 

s 39....................

am No 100, 2021

s 40....................

am No 100, 2021

s 41....................

am No 77, 2018; No 100, 2021

s 42....................

am No 77, 2018

s 43....................

am No 77, 2018

Division 3

 

s 47....................

am No 100, 2021

s 50....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

Division 4

 

s 52....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 77, 2018, No 13, 2021

s 54....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

Part 4...................

rep No 100, 2021

s 57....................

am No 77, 2018

 

rep No 100, 2021

s 58....................

am No 77, 2018

 

rep No 100, 2021

s 59....................

am No 77, 2018

 

rep No 100, 2021

Part 5

 

s 60....................

am No 100, 2021

s 61....................

am No 100, 2021

Chapter 5

 

Part 3

 

s 66....................

am No 77, 2018

s 67....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021

s 68....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021

Part 4

 

s 69....................

am No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018

Chapter 6

 

Part 1

 

s 70....................

am No 100, 2021

Part 2

 

s 71....................

am No 100, 2021

s 71A...................

ad No 100, 2021

s 72....................

am No 100, 2021

s 73....................

am No 100, 2021

s 75....................

am No 100, 2021

Part 3

 

s 77....................

am No 77, 2018

Chapter 7

 

Part 1

 

s 82....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

Part 2

 

s 83....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

s 83A...................

ad No 35, 2012

 

am No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

s 84....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 154, 2020; No 13, 2021

s 85....................

am No 35, 2012

s 86....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

s 87....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

s 88....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

s 89....................

am No 35, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021

Part 4

 

s 93....................

am No 100, 2021

Chapter 8

 

Part 2

 

s 95....................

am No 9, 2020

s 96....................

rs No 9, 2020

s 96A...................

ad No 9, 2020

 

am No 129, 2020

s 97....................

am No 9, 2020

s 98....................

rs No 9, 2020

s 99....................

rs No 9, 2020

s 100...................

rep No 9, 2020

s 101...................

rep No 9, 2020

s 102...................

am No 9, 2020

s 103...................

am No 9, 2020

s 104...................

am No 9, 2020

Part 4

 

s 108...................

am No 100, 2021

s 109...................

am No 61, 2016

Chapter 9

 

s 118...................

am No 131, 2009

s 119...................

am No 131, 2009

Chapter 10

 

s 124...................

am No 106, 2006

s 125...................

am No 35, 2012

Chapter 11

 

Part 1

 

s 129...................

am No 106, 2006; No 77, 2018

Part 2

 

s 130...................

am No 77, 2018

s 130A..................

ad No 77, 2018

Part 3

 

s 131...................

am No 61, 2016

s 132...................

am No 61, 2016

s 133...................

am No 61, 2016

s 134...................

am No 61, 2016

s 135...................

am No 61, 2016

Part 3A

 

Part 3A..................

ad No 77, 2018

s 135A..................

ad No 77, 2018

Part 4

 

s 136...................

am No 77, 2018; No 100, 2021

Part 4A

 

Part 4A..................

ad No 106, 2006

s 136A..................

ad No 106, 2006

 

am No 35, 2012

Part 5

 

s 137...................

am No 100, 2021

s 138...................

am No 77, 2018

Part 6

 

s 144...................

rs No 35, 2012; No 77, 2018

s 144A..................

ad No 77, 2018

s 144B..................

ad No 77, 2018

 

am No 100, 2021

s 144C..................

ad No 77, 2018

s 144D..................

ad No 77, 2018

s 145...................

am No 8, 2015; No 126, 2015

s 146...................

am No 100, 2021

s 149...................

am No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 100, 2021

s 149A..................

ad No 100, 2021