Designs Act, 1911
50. Inspection of registered designs
(1) During the existence of copyright in a
design or such shorter period not being less than two years from the
registration of the design as may be prescribed the design shall not be open to
inspection except by the proprietor or a person authorized in writing by him or
a person authorized by the Controller or by the Court and furnishing such
information as may enable the Controller to identify the design and shall not
be open to the inspection of any person except in the presence of the
Controller or of an officer acting under him and on payment of the prescribed
fee; and the person making the inspection shall not be entitled to take any
copy of the design or of any part thereof :Provided that where registration of
a design is refused on the ground of identity with a design already registered
the applicant for registration shall be entitled to inspect the design so
registered.
(2) After the expiration of the copyright in a
design or such shorter period as aforesaid the design shall be open to
inspection and copies thereof may be taken by any person on payment of the
prescribed fee.
(3) Different periods may be prescribed under
this section for different classes of goods.