Starting in the 2025 fiscal year, the examination period for design applications submitted by startups and individual business owners will be shortened.
Until now, it typically took at least six months to receive examination results. However, with the introduction of expedited examination, the process is expected to take only about two months, making it much more user-friendly.
In 2023, the number of design applications filed was reportedly only around 30,000.
If you have a product with distinctive features in its shape that might not warrant a full patent but could benefit from design rights, feel free to reach out to us for assistance!
