* Responses are invited.  The Ministry for Economic Development has to draft new regulations to go along with the new Act. Accordingly it is asking for comments on its proposals. 

* Restoration of lapsed registrations.  Applications for restoration must show that the lapse was unintentional. The commissioner may extend the (proposed six-month) period within which restoration may be sought, so long as the applicant demonstrates that he has applied for it without undue delay -- and pays an extra fee.  

* Protection of third parties. It is proposed that innocent third parties using a design after registration has lapsed will be able to carry on doing so even after registration is restored, as in Australia and the UK, but with the difference that the third party would not be entitled to increase its manufacturing output post-restoration. 

* Postponing registration. It is intended to run a formal system for postponing registration of a design after filing of an application, so the applicant can keep the content of his application confidential so that competitors won't know what he's up to.