Undertaking a search for a new design in determining the novelty characteristics on its essential features or, based on infringement issues, it may be very difficult if you do not master the differences among the Intellectual Property concepts.

In any case, your first step should not exclude a deeply study of the International Classification for Industrial Design:

• International Classification for Industrial Design
  (under the Locarno Agreement, Sixth Edition)

As an incentive aspect, and in respect of your interest in designs, we are able to provide you with few links you may use for the beginning:

• Designs Searchable Journal - IP Australia NEW!
  
• Australian Designs Data Searching (ADDS) NEW!
  (The data coverage is of all applications and registrations from 1986 and all registrations captured from 1973 to 1985 that were still active in 1985.)
• Search IP Australia's Design Database - IP Australia Mainframe
• US Copyright Office
• US Patent and Trade Mark Office
• Hague Express Structured Search

If you are faced with any difficulty conducting your search, check it out our "Design - Tools" Web page.