Annual Technical Report 2003 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Australia (SCIT/ATR/PI/2003/AU)
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 term "patent" covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Industrial Design Information Activities.
I. Evolution of patent activities
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For 2002
Patent applications filed = 13912 Patents granted = 14456
PCT designations = 88132
For 2003
Patent applications filed = 13940 Patents granted = 14150
PCT designations = 98121
Note: The above figures include innovation patents filed and granted.
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
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The number of patent documents published in 2003 in the Australian Official Journal of Patents was:
* patent applications open to public inspection (AU-A) 125374
* patent applications advertised accepted (AU-B) 12527
Mass storage media used (paper, microforms, optical storage, etc.)
Australian patent specifications are published on CD-ROM and on IP Australia's web site. Patent specifications of Australian designated PCT applications are no longer being republished by IP Australia at the open for public inspection stage following their original publication by WIPO.
The Office continues to receive foreign patent specifications on CD-ROM and DVD.
Abstracts of published Australian patent specifications, including AU designated PCT applications, are loaded onto an in-house search system, the Patent Abstract Image System (PAIS). The new Patent Administration and Management System (PAMS) contains abstracts as part of the electronic case file. Work is in progress to also have these abstracts loaded into PAIS. Under an agreement with Derwent Publications Ltd., Derwent abstract images on CD-ROM are also being loaded onto PAIS.
Word processing and office automation
The Canberra Office has an ethernet-based LAN providing high speed bandwidth for each user desktop connection. A frame relay-based WAN provides connections from Canberra to each State Capital. A DMZ-based, DSD approved firewall using IAN ports (Internet IEFT Assigned Numbers) provides the secure means to allow access from internal systems/users to external entities such as the Internet or public/private organisations.
Current standard desktop software includes Windows 98 SE with IE 5.0 SP2, Microsoft Office 97 and Lotus Notes. Migration to Windows XP is planned this financial year.
(New) techniques used for the generation of patent information (printing, recording, photocomposing, etc.)
The Office's publication system is partially mainframe based. The mainframe provides the following functions using "XICS" typesetting software:
production of camera ready copy of the Australian Official• Journal of Patents;
production of patent certificates and original• register entries; and
production of notices for patent applicants or• their agents.
The other part of the Office's publication system is based on our strategic server infrastructure environment. This environment includes Sun Solaris, Oracle RDBMS, J2EE, BEA Weblogic, and Objective EDMS. The publication system provides the following functions:
• production of the Australian Official Journal of Patents as a pdf file. The journal is published on the web and is also printed;
production• of patent certificates and original register entries; and
production• of notices for patent applicants or their agents.
III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents
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Patent applications are classified into the 7th edition of the International Patent Classification.
IP Australia no longer reclassifies Australian designated PCT applications at the open for public inspection stage.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
Electronic images of Australian patent abstracts are added on a weekly basis to PAIS. Full specifications of all non-PCT designated AU-A and AU-B patent specifications are available on CD-ROM and on the Internet, and are updated on a weekly basis. Complete sets of pre-1999 AU specifications are available in microfiche form. AU classification details are added to the Patindex mainframe database at filing. A link between Patindex and PAIS allows abstracts to be brought up on PAIS corresponding to searches carried out on IPC classification marks on Patindex.
IP Australia is capturing a backfile of non-convention Australian Patent Specifications back to 1975 which will be published on CD-ROM and on IP Australia's web site in 2004.
Introduction of the Patent Abstract Image System has largely eliminated the need for shoebox storage of the non Capri component of manually retrieved paper abstracts required for international searches. Existing abstract shoeboxes are only updated with JAPATIC abstracts.
V. Activities in the field of computerized and other mechanized search systems
IP Australia has on-line filing facilities for patent applications which allows all new standard patent applications as well as innovation patent applications to be filed on-line. These on-line filings interface directly to IP Australia's electronic case file management system which allows these applications to be processed electronically. This system is referred to as 'PAMS'.
A search engine is available as part of IP Australia's on-line services which allow access to the bibliographic data held in PAMS..
IP Australia is currently finalising the design of a system to support business-to-business data exchange of patents, industrial designs and trade marks transactions with its high volume clients (Patents and Trade Mark Attorneys). This system will be consistent with WIPO electronic filing and National e-commerce standards.
VI. Administration of the industrial property office library and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, for assisting clients on searching procedures, for obtaining official publications and registry extracts)
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IP Australia hosted a workshop under the Regionally Focused Actions Plan (RFAP) on IP administration, in Canberra in November 2003 with participants from the Forum Island Countries. A draft operational plan to establish a regional mechanism for IP in the Pacific is being considered by those countries. This regional mechanism includes establishing IP Australia as an external examining body in patents and trade marks for participating countries.
IP Australia has provided public education and awareness training as part of an APEC Trade and Investment Liberalisation and Facilitation (TILF) two year project for Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia. The core component of the program relates to the development of websites, promotional documentation and information, structures and implementation strategies for seminars to enable economies to effectively deliver IP public education and awareness programs.
IP Australia participated in the 16th meeting of the APEC IPEG held in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2003. At this meeting IP Australia made several presentations including updates on work in public education and awareness raising activities, electronic processing of IP applications and technical cooperation projects.
As part of the Regionally Focussed Action Plan (RFAP) IP Australia has been providing assistance to 14 Forum Island countries in relation to improving IP awareness.
In July 2003, IP Australia carried out an expert mission to Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Kiribati to gauge the current levels of IP awareness and the information requirements of the 14 Forum Island Countries.
IP Australia has continued to provide support for the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore in relation to search and examination of patents, as well as for the Gulf Cooperation Council. Also, IP Australia has provided assistance to the IP offices of Papua New Guinea and Tonga on aspects of search, examination of patents and administration of the system.
IX. Other relevant matters
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| 1. | Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application.
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| 2. | Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner). Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office.
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| 3. | Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC). The new symbols are available on patent databases.
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