Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsAct No. 147 of 2003 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 27 March 2007
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 106 of 2006
The text of any of those
amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may
be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of
Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General's Department,
Canberra
Contents
Chapter 1--Introductory 1
Part 1--Preliminary 1
1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement .................................................................................. 1
3............ Crown to be bound ............................................................................. 2
4............ Application of the Act ....................................................................... 2
Part 2--Interpretation 3
5............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 3
6............ Definition of product .......................................................................... 6
7............ Definition of visual feature ................................................................. 7
8............ References in this Act to a design ....................................................... 7
Chapter 2--Design rights, ownership and registrable designs 8
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 2 8
9............ Simplified outline ................................................................................ 8
Part 2--Design rights 9
10.......... Exclusive rights of registered owners .................................................. 9
11.......... Assignment of interest in a design ...................................................... 9
12.......... Power of registered owner to deal with registered design ................. 10
Part 3--Ownership of designs 11
13.......... Who is entitled to be registered as the registered owner of a design . 11
14.......... Ownership of registered designs ....................................................... 12
Part 4--Registrable designs: Validity 13
Division 1--Registrable designs 13
15.......... Registrable designs ............................................................................ 13
16.......... Designs that are identical or substantially similar in overall impression 13
17.......... Certain things to be disregarded in deciding whether a design is new and distinctive 14
18.......... Certain designs not to be treated as other than new and distinctive . 14
Division 2--Substantial similarity in overall impression 16
19.......... Factors to be considered in assessing substantial similarity in overall impression 16
Chapter 3--Design applications 17
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 3 17
20.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 17
Part 2--Design applications 18
Division 1--Applications 18
21.......... Person may file a design application ................................................ 18
22.......... A design application may be in respect of more than one design ..... 18
23.......... Design applications covering excluded designs ................................. 19
Division 2--How Registrar must deal with a design application 20
24.......... Design applications that meet the minimum filing requirements ...... 20
25.......... Publication of receipt of application ................................................ 20
Division 3--Filing date and priority date 21
26.......... Filing date ......................................................................................... 21
27.......... Priority date ...................................................................................... 21
Part 3--Amendment or withdrawal of design applications 22
28.......... Amendment of design applications .................................................. 22
29.......... Disputes between applicants ........................................................... 22
30.......... Persons may ask for design application to proceed in the person's name 23
31.......... Publication of certain details of amended application ...................... 23
32.......... Withdrawal of designs and design applications ................................ 23
Part 4--Lapsing of design applications 25
33.......... Lapsing of design applications ......................................................... 25
Chapter 4--Registration or publication of designs 26
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 4 26
34.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 26
Part 2--Requests for registration or publication 27
35.......... Request for registration or publication ............................................. 27
36.......... Request for registration or publication--applications in respect of more than one design 27
37.......... Request in respect of designs excluded from an application in respect of more than one design 28
38.......... Replacement of request for registration with request for publication 28
Part 3--Registration 29
Division 1--Formalities check 29
39.......... Formalities check--applications in respect of one design only ....... 29
40.......... Formalities check--applications in respect of more than one design 29
41.......... Registrar must give applicants an opportunity to correct deficiencies 30
42.......... What happens after Registrar gives notice under section 41 ............ 30
43.......... Registrar must refuse to register certain designs ............................... 31
44.......... Registrar must register certain designs after refusal .......................... 31
Division 2--Registration procedures 32
45.......... Registrar must notify applicant of registration and give public notice 32
Division 3--Term of registration 33
46.......... Term of registration .......................................................................... 33
47.......... Renewal of registration ..................................................................... 33
48.......... Ceasing of registration ...................................................................... 33
49.......... Surrender of registration ................................................................... 34
50.......... Revocation of registration on surrender ............................................ 34
Division 4--Revocation on grounds relating to entitled persons 36
51.......... Revocation of registration on grounds relating to entitled persons .. 36
52.......... Procedures in relation to application ................................................ 36
53.......... Applications by persons declared to be entitled persons in court proceedings 37
54.......... Applications by entitled persons after revocation following surrender of registration 37
55.......... Priority date of design if an application filed by a person declared to be an entitled person 38
56.......... Meaning of original registered owner .............................................. 38
Part 4--Publication 39
57.......... Publication of a design ...................................................................... 39
58.......... What happens after Registrar gives notice under section 57 ............ 39
59.......... Refusal to publish ............................................................................. 40
Part 5--Certain documents to be available for public inspection 41
60.......... Design applications for registered designs and associated documents to be open for public inspection 41
61.......... Certain documents not to be published ............................................ 42
Chapter 5--Examination of designs 43
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 5 43
62.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 43
Part 2--Requests for examination 44
63.......... Examination of design ....................................................................... 44
64.......... Requirements for request for examination of design ......................... 44
Part 3--Examination 46
65.......... What Registrar must do in examining a design .................................. 46
66.......... Amendment of registration ............................................................... 46
67.......... Certificate of examination where registration valid ........................... 47
68.......... Revocation of registration after examination .................................... 48
Part 4--Material may be provided to Registrar 49
69.......... Certain material may be provided to Registrar ................................. 49
Chapter 6--Infringement 50
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 6 50
70.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 50
Part 2--Infringement of registered design 51
71.......... Infringement of design ...................................................................... 51
72.......... Certain repairs do not infringe registered design ............................... 52
73.......... Infringement proceedings .................................................................. 53
74.......... Counter‑claims .................................................................................. 54
75.......... Remedies for infringement ................................................................ 54
76.......... Intervention by Registrar .................................................................. 55
Part 3--Relief from unjustified threats 56
77.......... Application for relief from unjustified threats ................................. 56
78.......... Court's power to grant relief ............................................................ 56
79.......... Counter‑claim ................................................................................... 56
80.......... Mere notification of registration not a threat ................................... 57
81.......... Legal practitioners, registered patent attorneys and registered trade marks attorneys 57
Chapter 7--Jurisdiction and powers of courts 58
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 7 58
82.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 58
Part 2--Jurisdiction 59
83.......... Jurisdiction of Federal Court ............................................................ 59
84.......... Jurisdiction of other prescribed courts ............................................. 59
85.......... Exercise of jurisdiction ...................................................................... 59
86.......... Transfer of proceedings etc. ............................................................. 60
87.......... Appeals ............................................................................................ 60
88.......... Powers of Federal Court on hearing an appeal ................................. 61
89.......... Registrar may appear in appeals ...................................................... 61
Part 3--Compulsory licences and revocation of registration 62
90.......... Person may apply to court for compulsory licence ......................... 62
91.......... Terms of compulsory licence ........................................................... 62
92.......... Revocation of registration after grant of compulsory licence ........... 63
Part 4--Revocation of registration by court in other circumstances 64
93.......... Revocation of registration in other circumstances ............................ 64
Chapter 8--The Crown 65
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 8 65
94.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 65
Part 2--Use by the Crown 66
95.......... Meaning of terms .............................................................................. 66
96.......... Use of design by the Commonwealth or a State ............................... 66
97.......... Applicants, entitled persons and registered owners to be informed of use 67
98.......... Terms of use ..................................................................................... 67
99.......... Previous agreements inoperative ...................................................... 67
100........ Infringement ...................................................................................... 68
101........ Declaration by court ......................................................................... 68
102........ Use of design to cease under court order .......................................... 68
103........ Sale of products ................................................................................ 69
104........ Forfeited products ............................................................................ 69
105........ Supply of products by the Commonwealth to foreign countries ..... 69
Part 3--Acquisition by and assignments to the Crown 70
106........ Acquisition of design by the Commonwealth .................................. 70
107........ Assignment of design to the Commonwealth ................................... 70
Part 4--Prohibition orders 72
108........ Prohibition of publication of information about designs .................. 72
109........ Publication of information about designs ......................................... 72
Chapter 9--The Register 74
110........ Simplified outline .............................................................................. 74
111........ Registrar must keep Register ............................................................ 74
112........ Register may be kept by computer .................................................. 74
113........ Inspection of Register ....................................................................... 75
114........ Amendments of Register to record changes of ownership ............... 75
115........ Amendments of Register made to give effect to certain decisions .... 76
116........ Reissue of certificates ....................................................................... 76
117........ Trusts not to be entered in Register ................................................. 76
118........ Evidentiary provision ....................................................................... 76
119........ Admissibility of unregistered interests ............................................. 77
120........ Rectification of Register ................................................................... 77
Chapter 10--Administration 78
121........ Simplified outline .............................................................................. 78
122........ Registrar ............................................................................................ 78
123........ Deputy Registrars ............................................................................ 78
124........ Delegation by Registrar .................................................................... 79
125........ Designs Office .................................................................................. 79
126........ Seal of Designs Office ....................................................................... 79
127........ Registrar's Powers ............................................................................ 79
128........ Recovery of costs ............................................................................. 80
Chapter 11--Miscellaneous 81
Part 1--Simplified outline of Chapter 11 81
129........ Simplified outline .............................................................................. 81
Part 2--Fees 82
130........ Fees ................................................................................................... 82
Part 3--Offences 83
131........ False entries in Register .................................................................... 83
132........ False representation that a design is registered ................................. 83
133........ False representations about the Designs Office ............................... 84
134........ Failure to comply with requirements of Registrar ............................ 84
135........ Officers not to traffic etc. in designs ................................................ 85
Part 4--Review of the Registrar's decisions 86
136........ Review by Administrative Appeals Tribunal .................................. 86
Part 4A--Doing act after end of period otherwise provided for doing it 87
136A..... Doing act when Designs Office reopens after end of period otherwise provided for doing act 87
Part 5--Extensions of time 89
137........ Extensions of time ............................................................................ 89
138........ Consequences of extension ............................................................... 90
139........ Protection of third parties ................................................................ 90
140........ Infringement proceedings .................................................................. 91
Part 6--Other 92
141........ Powers of agents ............................................................................... 92
142........ Right of lien of registered patent attorney and registered trade marks attorney 92
143........ Revocation of registration does not affect court decisions and things done under contracts before revocation 92
144........ Filing of documents .......................................................................... 92
145........ Service of documents ........................................................................ 92
146........ Death of applicant before application determined ........................... 93
147........ Death of person after design registered ............................................ 93
148........ Exercise of discretionary power by Registrar ................................... 93
149........ Regulations ....................................................................................... 93
Chapter 12--Repeal, transitional and saving provisions 96
Part 1--Repeal of Designs Act 1906 96
150........ Repeal ............................................................................................... 96
Part 2--Transitional and saving provisions 97
151........ Application of this Act to certain designs ........................................ 97
152........ Term of registration of certain designs ............................................. 97
153........ Applications made before commencing day ..................................... 98
154........ Other applications and proceedings ................................................. 98
155........ Pending proceedings ......................................................................... 98
156........ Infringement under old Act ............................................................... 98
157........ Registrar and Deputy Registrar ........................................................ 99
158........ The Register .................................................................................... 100
159........ Conversion of transitional applications .......................................... 100
160........ Effect of a converted application .................................................... 100
160A..... Approvals under subsection 40A(6) of old Act ............................. 101
161........ Definitions ...................................................................................... 101
Notes 103
An Act relating to designs, and for related purposes
Note 1 The Designs Act 2003 as shown
in this compilation comprises Act No. 147, 2003 amended as indicated in
the Tables below. For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving
or transitional provisions see Table A. Table of Acts
|
Act |
Number |
Date |
Date of commencement |
Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|
147, 2003 |
17 Dec 2003 |
|
||
|
106, 2006 |
27 Sept 2006 |
Schedule 12 (items 1, 2): 27 Mar 2007 |
-- |
Table of Amendments
|
ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted |
|
|
Provision affected |
How affected |
|
Chapter 10 |
|
|
am. No. 106, 2006 |
|
|
Chapter 11 |
|
|
Part 1 |
|
|
am. No. 106, 2006 |
|
|
Part 4A |
|
|
Part 4A of Chap. 11............ |
ad. No. 106, 2006 |
|
ad. No. 106, 2006 |
|