Enhancing Australian Design Protection

Results updated 30 Apr 2026

Consistent with the Australian Government’s focus on boosting productivity and better regulation, IP Australia continues to pursue a modern and accessible design rights system.  

In July 2025, IP Australia responded to a call from the Government for ideas to support productivity and economic growth, by identifying regulatory reform that would help boost productivity amongst Australian business. Amongst a suite of measures, IP Australia proposed two measures to facilitate growth and innovation in the design sector. The two proposals would expand design protection to include the look of a product when switched on or in use and also permit protection for part of a physical product.

IP Australia plans to progress these two measures, as productivity enhancing initiatives that will support growth in the designs sector. Feedback from the 2023 public consultation has helped to refine the policy settings for these proposals, without introducing unnecessary complexity in the design right system.

IP Australia’s previous proposal to offer protection for incremental improvements of designs through ‘linking’ will not proceed at this stage, however, may be given further consideration in the future.

What happens next?

Subject to Government prioritisation, if legislation proceeds, public consultation on an exposure draft of the Bill and supporting regulations is proposed.

Consultation Outcomes

In 2023, IP Australia sought views on proposals to expand protection to include virtual, partial and incremental designs.

IP Australia thanks everyone who participated in this consultation. Stakeholders generally supported all three proposals, with some suggestions for improvements.

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Read more on the original 2023 proposals

More information

You can contact us at consultation@ipaustralia.gov.au for more information about this consultation.

For more information on a range of policy issues IP Australia is exploring, see the Policy Register.

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.