In Ghana, registered designs play a key role in safeguarding the unique appearance of your products. If your product’s shape, pattern, or configuration is visually distinctive or serves a functional purpose, it may qualify for protection under Ghana’s registered design system.
What is a Registered Design?
A registered design gives the holder exclusive rights over the external features of a product—whether aesthetic or functional. It is a limited monopoly granted by the Registrar of Industrial Property in Ghana, allowing the holder to prevent others from reproducing, importing, or selling articles that are substantially similar to their design for the duration of the registration.
There are two types of designs you can register in Ghana:
Aesthetic Designs – Focus on the appearance and artistic features of a product (e.g. jewellery, clothing patterns, packaging).
Functional Designs – Cover features that are influenced by the product’s function (e.g. tools, machinery parts, product structures).
Is My Design Registrable?
To be eligible, your design must be new—it must not have been disclosed publicly anywhere in the world prior to filing. However, Ghana allows for a six-month grace period, meaning you can still file within six months of publicly displaying your design.
Benefits of Registering Your Design
Exclusive rights to the visual features of your product
Commercial value through licensing or sale
Legal leverage in case of infringement
Strategic differentiation from competitors in the marketplace
Duration of Protection
Aesthetic Designs – Up to 15 years, subject to renewal fees
Functional Designs – Up to 10 years, also renewable annually
How to File in Ghana
To register your design, VE Legal will assist you in preparing and submitting the following to the Ghana Industrial Property Office:
Clear representations (drawings or photos) of the design
Description of the unique features
Appropriate classification and filing forms
We handle the full application process on your behalf, ensuring accuracy and compliance with Ghana’s design laws.
Filing Internationally
If you’re targeting markets outside Ghana, we can help you file for protection in other jurisdictions. Ghana is a member of the Paris Convention, so foreign filings can be done within 6 months of your Ghana application to claim priority.
