What is the Hague Agreement and how does it affect international design applications?

The Hague Agreement Concerning International Registration of Industrial Designs is an international treaty that allows applicants to file a single international design application with effect in multiple countries. Key points about the Hague Agreement and international design applications include:

• The United States became a Contracting Party to the Hague Agreement on May 13, 2015.
• An international design application designating the United States has the effect of a regularly filed application for patent under 35 U.S.C. 385.
• The Hague Agreement is administered by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• 37 CFR 1.9(n) defines an international design application as “an application for international registration of a design filed under the Hague Agreement.”

For detailed information on international design applications, refer to MPEP Chapter 2900.

To learn more:

• Hague Agreement
• international design applications
• industrial designs
• WIPO