100 years of WIPO’s international design system
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) recently celebrated 100 years of its international design registration system, marking a century of supporting designers and fostering global innovation.
The Hague System – named after the Dutch city where the treaty was signed in 1925 – streamlines the international protection of industrial designs, allowing creators to secure rights in up to 99 countries through a single application.
Growth, reach and economic impact
Over the past century, the Hague System has expanded significantly, enabling designers across various industries to protect the appearance of everyday products — from fashion and furniture to consumer electronics and industrial equipment.
As of 2024, more than 2 million design registrations have been filed through the Hague System. Last year alone, applicants submitted 27,161 international design registrations, reflecting a nearly 7% rise compared with 2023.
WIPO’s World Intangible Investment Highlights 2025 underscores the growing economic value of design. In 2024, design-related investment in the United States, the United Kingdom and 22 EU economies reached over US$ 685 billion, representing nearly 10% of total intangible investment.
In several EU countries, such as France and Germany, the proportion of intangible investment linked to design reached 17%, reinforcing the central role of design in economic growth and competitiveness.
Reflecting on a century – and looking forward
WIPO Director General Daren Tang described the centenary as a moment to honour both the system’s history and the designers who rely on it.
“Combining what works with what is beautiful has been a fundamental human instinct since time immemorial… As we celebrate 100 years of the Hague system that has given millions of designers IP protection, we need to ensure that we continue supporting those who bring beauty to the things that we use,” he said.
Mr Tang also emphasised that design rights are still less widely understood than patents or trade marks, highlighting the need to raise awareness of their commercial importance as the Hague System continues to evolve.
To mark the anniversary, WIPO hosted a centenary symposium in The Hague, in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands and the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP). Government officials, IP leaders and design specialists joined the event to reflect on the system’s legacy and discuss its future direction.
Vincent Karremans, Netherlands Minister of Economic Affairs, praised the system’s broad international reach, noting that the ability to register design rights in nearly 100 jurisdictions boosts competitiveness and productivity for designers and businesses alike.
While Hugues Derème, Director General of BOIP, said the Hague System’s longevity illustrates how vital design protection has become for innovation and for enabling creative work to circulate globally.