How to Search and Check a Design Registration in India (2026)
A simple, step-by-step way to search registered designs and check a design application status on the IP India portal, with Locarno classes and status stages explained.
How-To · Design Registry
You filed a design, or you need to know whether someone else already has one, and you cannot tell what the record says. The IP India portal has the answer, but the design tools sit apart from the trademark and patent search, and many people give up or search the wrong way. In short: to search registered designs or check a design application status, open the Design Application Status section on the IP India portal and search by application number, class, or applicant. Claw tracks design registry matters and renewals for you. Last verified October 2026.
- Where to look: the Design Application Status section of the IP India search portal.
- How to search: by application number, Locarno class, applicant name, or keyword.
- Locarno: India uses the 32-class international system to classify design articles.
- Do not forget: a filed design is not a registered one, and renewals decide whether it stays alive.
01Why design searches go wrong
A design is the look of an article: its shape, pattern, lines, or colours. In India, designs are protected under the Designs Act, 2000. A registered design gives the owner the exclusive right to use it for a fixed period. That is why a clean search matters before you file, before you launch a product, and when you receive a notice.
Searches go wrong for three simple reasons.
Designs are filed by article and class, not by brand
A trademark search works on names. A design search works on the article and its class. If you search only by a product name, you can miss a registered design that covers the same shape under a different title.
Applicant names vary
The same company may appear with spelling changes, short forms, or older names. A single exact-name search can miss records.
Status is easy to misread
A design that is filed is not a design that is registered. Pending, registered, ceased, and restored records mean different things for your risk and your rights.
Related search
Designs are one of several IP registers. For a wider view across rights, read how to search the IP registry in India across 5 rights. For trademarks, see how to check trademark status in India.
02What you need before you start
Collect these details first. You do not need all of them, but the more you have, the faster the search.
- Design application number: this gives the most exact result for your own filing.
- Article name: for example "bottle", "chair", or "mobile phone cover".
- Locarno class: the class number for the article. See the section below.
- Applicant or owner name: try short and full forms.
- Filing year: helpful to narrow results.
The online design e-register covers applications filed on or after 1 April 2009. For older records you may need to ask the Designs Wing directly.
03Steps to search and check a design in India
Follow these steps on the official IP India portal. Screens can change, so treat the menu names as a guide.
- Note your details. Keep the application number, article name, applicant name, and Locarno class ready.
- Open the IP India design status page. Go to the Design Application Status section of the IP India search portal. You can also reach it from the Designs section of ipindia.gov.in.
- Choose the right tool. Use the design e-register to look at registered designs and their details. Use the application status check to see where a pending application stands.
- Enter the number, or search by class. If you have the application number, enter it and submit. If you are doing a clearance search, search by Locarno class, then by applicant name and keyword. Run more than one search with spelling variations.
- Read the status and details. Check the status, filing date, class, article, applicant, and registration details on the record.
- Save the record and diarise dates. Take a dated copy (screenshot or print) for your file, and note any renewal or reply deadline. For renewals and lapsed designs, see design renewal and restoration in India.
If the page does not load or shows no record for a new filing, wait a few days and try again. New filings can take time to appear. For an important matter, ask the Designs Wing or your IP attorney to confirm the status in writing.
04Locarno classification explained
India classifies designs using the Locarno Classification, an international system run by WIPO. Under the Designs Rules, 2001, an article is classified under the current edition of this system.
The system groups articles into 32 classes. Each class is split into subclasses. A few examples:
| Class | What it covers (general) |
|---|---|
| Class 01 | Foodstuffs |
| Class 02 | Articles of clothing and haberdashery |
| Class 09 | Packages and containers for goods |
| Class 14 | Recording and communication equipment |
| Class 32 | Graphic symbols, logos, surface patterns |
Use the class to search for similar articles, not just the same product name. If you are not sure of your class, check the WIPO Locarno tool and try two or three nearby classes. A shape can sit in a different class from what you expect.
05Design status stages
The exact labels on the portal can change, but a design usually moves through these stages. Read your record against this list.
| Stage | What it generally means | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Filed or pending | The application is received and waits for examination. | Wait, and watch for an examination report. |
| Examination or objection | The examiner has raised points, for example on novelty or classification. | Reply within the time allowed, with a hearing if needed. |
| Registered | The design is registered and the certificate is issued. | Diarise the renewal date. |
| Ceased | The registration ended, often because renewal was not paid. | Check if restoration is possible. |
| Refused or abandoned | The application did not proceed. | Check the reason and your options. |
Under the Designs Act, a registration runs for 10 years from the date of registration. It can be extended once for another 5 years on payment of the renewal fee, which makes 15 years in all. Miss the renewal and the design can cease.
06Common mistakes to avoid
- Searching only once. Try the number, then class, then applicant name, then keyword.
- Ignoring the class. A different class can hold a near-identical design.
- Treating "filed" as "registered". Check the status before you tell a client the design is protected.
- No dated copy. Portal records change. Keep a dated copy on file.
- Forgetting renewal. This is the most common way a design is lost.
- Using a design search as a legal opinion. A search shows what is on record. Whether two designs are alike is a legal judgment for an IP attorney.
If a design dispute reaches court, you may also need to check the counterparty for other litigation. See how a litigation check API works and the best court record check APIs in India.
07Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
The IP India portal remains the official source for a design record, and you should always read it directly. Claw does not replace that. Where Claw helps is in tracking design registry matters and renewals alongside your other matters, so dates are not kept in a loose spreadsheet. Claw has a free plan for individual advocates, with paid plans for teams and enterprises. Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models.
For design disputes that reach the High Court, Claw case search covers 25 High Courts and the Supreme Court, so you can find judgments on design infringement and cancellation.
08Sources and further reading
- IP India, Design Application Status: search.ipindia.gov.in
- Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks: ipindia.gov.in
- WIPO Locarno Classification: wipo.int/classifications/locarno
- Claw: clawlaw.in
Last verified October 2026. Portal menus and fees change. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
09Frequently asked questions
How do I search registered designs in India?
Use the Design Application Status section of the IP India search portal and its design e-register. Search by application number, Locarno class, applicant name, or keyword, and try more than one variation.
How do I check my design application status?
Open the design application status page on the IP India portal, enter your design application number, and submit. The record shows the current status and key details.
What is a Locarno class?
It is a class in the international system India uses to classify the article a design applies to. There are 32 classes, each with subclasses. Searching by class helps you find similar designs, not just identical names.
How long does a registered design last in India?
A registration runs for 10 years and can be extended once by 5 years on payment of the renewal fee, so 15 years in total. Confirm the current rules and fee with the Designs Wing. See our guide on design renewal and restoration.
Is a design search the same as a trademark search?
No. Designs are searched by article, class, and applicant, while trademarks are searched by name and class. A product may need both searches.
Can Claw check a design status for me?
The IP India portal is the official source for a design record. Claw helps you track design registry matters and renewals alongside your other matters, and has a free plan for individual advocates.