Annual Technical Report 2005 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by United Kingdom (SCIT/ATR/TM/2005/GB)
Where URLs are requested below, it is preferred that either URLs which are likely to remain stable over time (three years or more) are provided, or home (main) page URLs are provided with a short explanation of how to access the corresponding information.
I. Evolution of registration activities
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National Applications
2004 Applications: 26,983
2005 Applications: 28,694
International Designations
2004 Designations: 7,818
2005 Designations: 8,223
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
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The electronic Journal also contains a section called the Journal Backpart where announcements relating to trade mark applications and registrations are listed. Announcements include changes to names & addresses, marks entered onto the register, assignment of marks and details of trade mark licensees.
Notices regarding changes of practice, office procedures, names and contact details of office officials and other changes are published on our web site in the specialised trade mark section.
Word processing and office automation
All staff in the UK Trade Marks Registry are equipped with networked Pentium 4 PCs which are connected to a local area network running Novell Netware 6.5. Standard automation products available to all staff include Microsoft Office products such as Word and Excel. The office uses the Windows XP SP2 operating system.
An object orientated system called TERN is available for generating examination reports. This uses DAIS, a CORBA compliant object request broker, to manage the acquisition of bibliographic and image data. Bibliographic data for domestic UK marks is obtained from the OPTICS mainframe with the image data from IBIS. For details of designations to the UK and to OHIM under the Madrid Protocol and for OHIM marks bibliographic and image data is obtained from IBIS. These details are compiled into a report produced in Word. The image database system IBIS is based on Documentum but is customised to our own requirements. The IBIS system allows for the viewing and printing of bibliographic information in addition to figurative details. The IBIS system is also the primary search system for both word and figurative marks.
A PC system called QUALS is available to trade mark examiners via their networked PCs allowing them to view and print details of cases discussed at weekly quality meetings.
Techniques used for the generation of trademark information (printing, recording, photocomposing, etc.)
The main channels for the distribution of trade mark information are:
a) For individual applications or registrations through the Trade Marks Journal publication and through changes notified in the Journal Backpart
b) Via our web site. This may be specific to trade marks or more Intellectual Property matters. Important announcements are highlighted by way of a “Hot Topic” item.
c) Through the supply of data to commercial providers on a contractual basis
d) Via consultation exercises when statutorily required or when major changes are proposed.
III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of trademark information
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The UK uses the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification) 8th Edition. Applicants are not obliged to use pre-defined terms but any terms which are not understood or which are unclear will be queried during the examination process. Classification terms which are deemed acceptable by our specialist Classification Team are collated and incorporated into a searchable guide which is available to our examiners and via our web site.
For figurative marks the UK uses a version of the Vienna classification system. For some marks a number of entries have been amalgamated and for others the classification does not go below the second level. The classification of figurative marks is undertaken by office staff at the time of application. Marks are scanned into the IBIS system and the Vienna classification allocated. This classification can subsequently be amended.
Use of electronic classification systems to check the classification symbols furnished by an applicant and which are contained in the lists of goods and/or services
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Trade mark applications can be made in paper form and electronically either via a web based form created in ASP.net, through a system established for larger filers entitled PaTraS or via direct xml.
All applications, however filed, are built into paper case files. Case files are kept in examination areas in the main office building until the application is published for opposition. Once publication has been achieved the files are despatched to a dedicated off-site storage facility.
Updating
The search files contain UK domestic marks, designations to the UK and to OHIM under the Madrid protocol and Community trade marks and are updated weekly.
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Searching of all marks is carried out using the IBIS system. Trade Mark examiners have use of an integrated search screen, word terms are then sent to the Marksman search developed by the Swedish Patent Office. Figurative elements use the IBIS system itself for search, the results are then collated and presented as integrated results. Word searching can also be undertaken using the OPTICS mainframe system. The statutory search undertaken covers UK national marks, designations to the UK made through the Madrid Protocol, OHIM marks and designations to OHIM made through the Madrid Protocol.
Commercial search services are also offered covering these marks.
External databases
No external databases are used for trade mark search. Community trade mark information is downloaded using the OHIM XML data which is then passed to the search systems IBIS, Marksman and OPTICS via a reception system. For designations to OHIM under the Madrid Protocol to be introduced to our search systems XML files are downloaded from WIPO.
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Public search is available at the main Patent Office site in Newport, South Wales and at the British Library in London. Only electronic searching is available. Public availability to paper record is only available by request following publication of the relevant trade mark. Copies of paper documents can be purchased.
Information services available to the public (including computerized services and search files contained in libraries remote from your Office and trademark information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web)
Trade mark applications may be made by post, fax, in person, electronically via the Internet or via the PaTraS system which allows customers to file directly by sending us an xml file or by means of an automatically generated e-mail.
Official trade mark publications are available via our web site or through our contact centre. Our website also gives access to legal decisions, examination practice and procedures including classification, pdf versions of all our forms with a range of these also available for submission electronically. All trade marks can be viewed via the Internet through a specific case enquiry function plus a search allows UK national, designations to the UK and OHIM and Community trade marks to be searched.
Our web site also offers an electronic caveat system which allows customers to be notified by e-mail of any changes to a selected trade mark without charge. This is also available as a paper based system with a charge being made. Trade mark renewals can also be made electronically.
The UK offer a commercial Search & Advisory service where customers can obtain advice on the registrability of a specific trade mark. General advice is also available via our Central Enquiry contact centre with more specialised advice being available from examination, classification and legal areas.
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of trademark documentation and information
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IX. Other relevant matters