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100 years of the Hague Agreement

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From hat fabric to high-tech design – German traces in the Hague System

6 November 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of "The Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs". The agreement was concluded in The Hague in 1925. Germany was one of the founding members. The agreement marked the beginning of a success story in international design protection that continues to this day. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is celebrating the anniversary with a externer Link symposium and a brochure commemorating the creation of the Hague System – and the first international registration, which came from Germany in 1928.

Design number 1: Fabrics for ladies' millinery

The first registration under the Hague System dates back to 1928, bears the French designation "étoffes pour la chapellerie de dames" (fabrics for ladies' millinery) and was submitted by Kurt Cosman from Germany. This inaugural registration marked the practical launch of the new international protection system. At the same time, it reflects the spirit of the 1920s: fashion was an expression of progress and self-confidence, and hats were considered a symbol of style and change.

German design in an international context

A Century of Design Registration

The PDF-Datei WIPO brochure contains 100 exciting design stories from 100 years of the Hague System for the International Registration of Designs.

Since then, numerous German designs have shaped the Hague System – and set standards worldwide. The PUMA Formstrip stands for athletic dynamism and recognisability, the Braun T 1000 world receiver for functional clarity, and the Bosch SA12 dishwasher for technical design in everyday life.

The PLAYMOBIL figure, the Volkswagen Golf II and the Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle also demonstrate the strong international impact of German design. With the Adidas Al Rihla ball and the fully electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class EQ, current designs continue this tradition – innovative, precise and future-oriented. You can find these German and many other international designs in the brochure.

100 years of international design

The first registration was documented in 1928 by the then "Bureau international de l'Union pour la propriété industrielle" in Bern – the predecessor of today's WIPO. Today, the externer Link Hague System is open to designers from around 100 countries.

Picture: WIPO

Last updated: 6 November 2025