Annual Technical Report 2006 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by United Kingdom (SCIT/ATR/ID/2006/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.
The expression "industrial designs" covers industrial designs and models. Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in this series of Annual Technical Reports.
I. Evolution of registration activities
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2005
Design Applications filed: 3588
Design Registrations: 3432
2006
Design Applications filed: 3086
Design Registrations: 2855
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
Demand for Designs in 2006 dropped by 14% compared to 2005. This continues the trend which began during 2003, following the establishment of the Registered Community Design (RCD).
New rules were introduced on 1 October 2006 which allow applications for multiple designs on one application form. A new fee regime has been introduced. Fees are split into an application fee and a publication fee. Publication and payment of the relevant fee can be deferred by up to twelve months. The effects of these changes are unlikely to be known until 2007, however levels of demand are rising in the short term.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to industrial designs
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Lists of designs which have been registered, renewed, corrected, or which have requested restoration are published weekly in the Patents and Designs Journal. This is an electronic only weekly journal published on our web site (www.ipo.gov.uk).
We offer a range of search options on our website including Proprietor, Service Agent, image and Locarno Class.
Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of industrial design information
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The UK registration process does not include a novelty search but examiners are able to raise objections against application if their own knowledge is such that they are aware the design is not new. Following a consultation, new rules were introduced with effect from 1 October 2006.
The registered design rules can be found at http://www.ipo.gov.uk/d-law-actrules-rules.htm
Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file
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Applications for design registration can be made by post or in person to our Newport, South Wales or London offices.
Bibliographic details of applications are captured to the ACORD system with design images scanned onnto the DRIMS system.
Information services available to the public (including computerized services and search files contained in libraries remote from your Office and industrial design information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web).
Our web site provides a wide range of information including the benefits of design registration, how to register a design, design law and legal decisions, guides to applicants, examination practice and frequently asked questions. All currently used forms are available in pdf and Word format along with guidance on completion and applicable fee information.
All trade marks can be viewed via the Internet through a specific case enquiry function.
Brochures and guides for applicants are available via the web site or through our Central Enquiry Unit which acts as a contact centre for all areas of Intellectual Property. The Enquiry Unit also offers general guidance about designs, with more specialised advice being available from the designs examination section. A search of registered designs is available on payment of a fee. A search by Proprietor or Locarno classification is available on our web site via the DRIMSweb system.
In 2007, we will be introducing a commercial Search & Advisory service where customers can obtain advice on the registrability of a design. General advice is also available via our Central Enquiry Unit with more specialised advice being available from examination, classification and legal areas
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide information on business procedures such as: filing, publication, examination and registration procedures related to industrial designs; opposition and appeal procedures related to industrial designs; etc.
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A series of events for small and medium sized enterprises were held around the UK advising on how to manage intellectual property including advice relating to the UK design registration process.
Exchanges of information were held with a number of overseas design registries in person with visits to the UK or individual contacts with design examination staff.
Main industrial design and industrial property information magazines/journals published in the country or region of the Office
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X. Other relevant matters