Annual Technical Report 2002 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by United Kingdom (SCIT/ATR/ID/2002/GB)
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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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The year 2002 was the best year for Design applications in the UK. However, since the opening of the Community Designs Office on April 1, 2003 Design applications to the UK have fallen by more than 40%.
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of industrial design documents and of secondary sources of industrial design information, i.e., official gazettes
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The UK Patent Office publishes lists of designs which have been registered, renewed, corrected, or which have applications for restoration in the Patents and Designs Journal . The Journal is published weekly and is available in electronic format on our web site (www.patent.gov.uk). A paper version is also available.
Designs information is also available via Designs in View, an illustrated journal, published weekly in paper form only. The journal contains a selected black and white image of each design recently granted along with bibliographic details. Consultations are currently taking place with subscribers and users about the format of an electronic version of this Journal.
III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of industrial design information according to the classification systems applied
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Bibliographic details of designs are kept electronically on the ACORD mainframe system. Design images and associated bibliographic details are maintained on the internal Designs Registry Image Management System (DRIMS). Both this and the public web based search system DRIMSWeb have a standard Documentum architecture.
DRIMSWeb allows public users to search and view images of registered designs, either by classification, proprietor or design number. Images are available for registered designs that were in force as at June 1, 1997 and that have been registered since, (with the exception of Textiles).
External databases
No external databases are used as part of the examination process. All design staff have access to the Internet from their networked PC.
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In addition to the search facility, the Patent Office website provides information relating to design registration including forms and fees, design law and legal decisions, guides for applicants and examination practice guidance. Information is also available from our enquiry centres and directly from the Design Registry. Design information is also available at a network of Patent Information Libraries.
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information
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Members of the Designs Registry and the Marketing Directorate have been involved in seminars to both business and students.
Training courses for national and foreign participants
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IX. Other relevant matters