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Before filing, a design search checks whether the visual appearance of your product is genuinely new and original against IPOPHL's Industrial Design Register and other published designs. Our team at Brealant gives you a clear picture before you invest in filing.
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Legal Definition of a Design Search
A design search reviews IPOPHL's Industrial Design Register and other publicly available design disclosures to identify designs identical or substantially similar in overall visual appearance to yours.
Purpose and Function of a Design Search
Under the IP Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293), a registrable design must be new and original. A search assesses this before you file, since IPOPHL's registration process is built around formalities and publication rather than an exhaustive independent prior-art search.
Protecting Your Filing Strategy
Because an unsearched design can still register and later face a challenge, a search protects the value of the registration you'll eventually rely on.
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Contact
Reach out to Brealant, your trusted design attorney in the Philippines, to discuss your product.
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Search
We search IPOPHL's Industrial Design Register and relevant published sources.
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Quote
Receive a service quote scoped to the number of design views and product category.
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Pay
Proceed with secure payment for the selected search service.
File
We compare overall visual impression against what's found.
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Wait
We finalise the clearance report and filing recommendation.
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Response
You receive your search report with a clear filing recommendation.
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In the Philippines, a registrable design must not be identical to, or an obvious imitation of, a design already publicly disclosed before the filing date. A search against the Industrial Design Register and other public sources is the clearest way to check this before you file.
Because Philippine design registration is centred on formalities and publication rather than a deep independent novelty search, an unsearched application can still register even if it isn't truly new — leaving it vulnerable to a later cancellation petition. Brealant's search protects the value of the registration you eventually rely on.
A search significantly reduces risk, but it has real limits worth understanding
No Absolute Guarantee
No search, however thorough, can guarantee a design won't later face a cancellation petition.
Own Prior Disclosure
Publishing or selling your own design before filing can itself destroy novelty, subject to limited grace-period exceptions.
Unpublished Applications
Very recently filed designs may not yet be visible on the public register at the time of search.
Formalities-Led Registration
Registration proceeds mainly on compliance with formal requirements — a search doesn't replace a requested substantive examination for stronger enforceability.
Foreign Rights
A Philippine search does not clear your design for registration in other countries.
Brealant explains these limits clearly in every search report, so you know exactly what comfort the search gives you.
A thorough Philippine design search reviews multiple sources to protect your filing decision. Our search covers
The Industrial Design Register
Registered and recently filed designs on IPOPHL's Industrial Design Register.
Published Disclosures
Other publicly available design disclosures, including prior product releases.
Overall Visual Impression
Comparison of shape, configuration, pattern, and ornamentation against what's found.
Multiple Product Views
All representations you intend to file, assessed together as the overall design.
Partnering with Brealant means every relevant source is checked before you commit to filing.
A design search typically involves
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Briefing
You provide images or drawings of the product's design features.
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Searching
We search IPOPHL's Industrial Design Register and relevant published sources.
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Comparison
We assess overall visual impression against what's found.
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Reporting
You receive a clearance report with a filing recommendation.
A standard Philippine design search and clearance report is typically completed within 3 to 7 business days, depending on the product category.
Search costs are modest compared to the cost of registering a design later challenged as invalid
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Charged as a fixed professional fee, scoped to the number of design views and the product category.
A written comparison and filing recommendation, included in the search fee.
Brealant explains these limits clearly in every search report, so you know exactly what comfort the search gives you.
If the search is clear, Brealant can move straight into preparing your design application. If it reveals risk, we'll advise on how to adjust the design or filing strategy to keep your project moving forward.
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No, but it substantially reduces the risk of registering a design that's later challenged as invalid.
The design must not be identical to, or an obvious imitation of, a design already publicly disclosed before the filing (or priority) date.
Yes, Brealant reviews all representations you intend to file to check the overall design.
Yes — publishing or selling your own design before filing can itself destroy novelty in most cases, so timing matters and we'll flag this.
A standard search and clearance report is typically completed within 3 to 7 business days, depending on the product category.
Brealant's search primarily reviews the IPOPHL register and relevant public disclosures, since only designs registered or disclosed as of the earliest priority date can defeat novelty in the Philippines.
Yes, if your product could fall under more than one class, the search can be scoped to cover each relevant class to avoid missing a conflicting design.
A search is a preliminary check for obvious conflicts before you commit to filing, while a registrability report is a more detailed formal assessment — many clients use a search first, then request a report if the results look favorable.
Brealant offers a scoped search at a fixed fee, quoted upfront once we understand your product and how many classes need to be reviewed.
Yes, if the search reveals your product's novelty lies more in its function than its appearance, we can advise whether a utility model or patent may protect it more effectively than a design registration.
Discover more insights and stay informed about the latest in intellectual property with Brealant's blog. From expert advice on trademark registration and patent protection to strategies for safeguarding your brand in a competitive market, our resources are here to empower your business. .
Explore our blog to learn how effective IP management can strengthen your brand's position and protect your innovations
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