Registered Designs protect which aspect of a product?

Registered Designs specifically protect the unique appearance of parts or articles of a product. This means that if a designer registers their product's design, they hold the exclusive rights to how that design looks, encompassing aspects such as shape, color, patterns, and materials used. This legal protection prevents others from copying or imitating that distinctive aesthetic without permission, ensuring that the original creator retains control over their design's visual identity.

The other choices, while relevant in their own contexts, focus on different aspects of intellectual property. The functionality of a product pertains to patents, which protect new inventions or processes that provide a specific utility. The artistic value of a work applies more to copyright, which safeguards original works of authorship like art and literature rather than designs. Lastly, the reputation of a brand is related to trademarks, which protect symbols, names, and slogans used to identify goods or services, rather than the design of the products themselves. Thus, registered designs are distinct in their focus on appearance.