Industrial Design has proved to be a crucial intellectual property that is needed for business across the globe. As consumer demands reach newer levels with each passing year, it has become difficult for businesses to retain customers. By offering a product/service that is distinct from its competitors, businesses can go a long way to ensure customer delight. Design plays a key role here in striking an impression. Hence, it is no wonder that companies spend a fortune in developing and maintaining a rich design portfolio. Once created, it is imperative that you protect your design under the relevant industrial design intellectual property right to maintain its competitive edge.

It is recommended for modern businesses conduct an effective design search before finalizing a design. This is done to ensure that your design is not infringing on any existing design of a competitor which might lead to design infringement. Hence, it is crucial to exercise due diligence beforehand to save time and resources.

Design Searches identify relevant design classifications, possible infringement (willfully or accidentally), prior arts, and term sets. Conducting the searches on databases with a rich collection of design patent data can yield constructive results. Although design search may appear a simple task in plain sight, it requires meticulous planning and execution to achieve the desired results.

The cost associated with design patent searches should never be construed as an expense. Instead, decision-makers should plan it as an investment that can save millions of dollars in lost revenue and reinforce brand reputation. Since design patent litigations have been on the rise for the past decade, it is crucial to perform an extensive design FTO (freedom to operate) and design landscape searches.

This guide is designed to help businesses by providing a holistic overview of Industrial Design. It includes the following:

1. What is Industrial Design?
2. Industrial Design Protection in India
3. Advantages of Industrial Design Protection
4. Significance of Industrial Design in the Information Era
5. Trends Related to Design Patents
6. Types of Industrial Design Searches
7. Healthy Practices for Conducting Effective Design Searches
8. Databases for Conducting Design Searches
9. Conclusion

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