Patent?
In the USA, you can do so within 12 months of your disclosure.
Outside the USA, there is a theoretical possibility that you could file
a patent application claiming priority on the Design registration -
depending on the invention being plainly clear from the Design
drawings, and of course national law. In practice this is almost
possible, and so it should generally be considered that a Design
registration from which the invention is clear, would be a damaging
disclosure preventing the grant of a filed Patent (Unless the Design
registration has yet to be published).
In general IP rights are cumulative rather than alternatives, in some
products you could have patent rights, petty patent rights, national
design rights, Europe-wide design rights (both registered and
un-registered), copyright in various aspects of the product
(especially if it came with software), and of course secret
know-how.
Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice, an offer, an offer to treat or a legal relationship.
Always check with your IP consultant.
