An industrial design is an original creation of an ornamental nature, which, when incorporated in or applied to a product, lends a special appearance to it. These characteristics may result from its shape, lines, outline, configuration, colour, texture or material.
Designs can be protected by different means: through a registration system, through a system of non-registration and through copyright. Registration can be obtained at three different levels: national, regional and international. The best route usually depends on the markets in which the applicant intends to operate.