Annual Technical Report on

...

Industrial Design Information Activities in 2022 submitted by Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Please provide links to your website where the requested information can be found in English, French, or Spanish.  Alternately, you may provide text responses instead of URLs if desired.  If the information is not available on your website in an ATR language, then please provide text.

URLs in responses should meet the following requirements:

• Link to pages with information in English, Spanish, or French
• The URL will remain stable over time (at least three years, preferably more)
• Goes to the specific information requested, not to a general homepage
• If the URL goes to a long PDF document such as an annual report, please indicate which sections or pages contain relevant information.
• Provide additional instructions for using the URL if needed. For instance, if the page requires the user to login first, or if the requested information requires selecting certain options or filters on the page that can not be included in the URL. 

1. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of trademark information activities and expected time frames for their realization

Canada continues to expand their online services to allow clients to process trademark applications/registrations electronically.  This expansion was considered particularly important in 2021 given the restrictions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic which meant both CIPO staff and clients were not always in their physical offices.  By expanding the online services available to the clients this allowed for more remote working arrangements while at the same time improving speed to receipt of these requests.

1. New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks

Canada implemented a rebranding of it’s online services and added some new online transaction types along with enhancements to existing services by adding full automation to some of its online service offerings.

• The "Trademark E-Filing" online service has been renamed to "Trademark E-Services".
• The following correspondence types have been removed from the online General Correspondence service:
  1. Appointment of agent or revocation of agent;
  2. Change of name or address;
  3. Transfer of ownership;
  4. License agreement; and
  5. Security agreement.
• A link to the Trademark E-Registration and E-Renewal online service can be accessed from within the Trademark E-Services.
• New transaction types have been introduced online under the section of "Ownership & Representation", they can apply them to one or multiple files. The new request types will include:
  1. Change of name/address - the following sub-types apply:
     1. Change of name
     2. Change of address
     3. Change of name and address
  2. Transfer of ownership
  3. Security agreement – the following sub-types apply:
     1. Add
     2. Remove
     3. Amend
  4. License agreement – the following sub-types apply:
     1. Add
     2. Remove
     3. Amend
  5. Appointment of agent
  6. Revocation of agent
  7. Change of agent's "Attention to"

The Office initiated the creation and sending of Pre-Assessment letters to inform applicants if the specific statements of goods/services may be acceptable and allow them to update them based on the CIPO Goods and Services Manual prior to examination.

1. Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
2. Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes

Trademark Filings

Domestic

Madrid Designations (based on Notification of Designation Date)

Madrid Office of Origin Filings

Trademark Registrations

Domestic

Designations Registered in Canada

Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

CIPO 2020/2021 Annual Report:

https://www.canada.ca/en/intellectual-property-office/news/2021/11/cipo-releases-its-20202021-annual-report.html#

1. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) – URLs

File a new or amended trademark or certification mark application - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

1. Availability of the application dossier in electronic form

Currently trademark documents are in a combination of paper format and electronic format.  CIPO has undertaken a project to create an application dossier containing all documents related to the trademark.  This electronic dossier will be available on the CIPO website in 2023.

1. Matters concerning classifying
1. Classification and reclassification activities; classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification

Since June 17^th 2019, CIPO requires the use of Nice Classification for goods/services.  CIPO applies the Vienna Classifications on all figurative elements of marks.

1. Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied

A Goods and Services Manual is available on CIPO’s website. This searchable database is designed to assist applicants in compiling the statements of goods or services required to file a Canadian trademark application. This representative listing of terms has been classified according to the latest version of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification). All entries are pre-approved by CIPO and, if selected, will be accepted by the Office without the need for further specification.

1. Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, color mark, etc.)

Amendments to the Trademarks Act that came into force on June 17, 2019, allow for non-traditional trademarks for example and not limited to scent, texture, holograms, movement trademarks, etc.

1. Other activities

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)

Trademarks Journal (Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca)): Our weekly Trademarks Journal contains marks for applications filed, which are advertised following approvals. These announcements include:

• the date of the application;
• the file number of the application/registration;
• the name and address of the owner;
• a reproduction of the trademark or necessary information for public inspection;
• a statement of goods and/or services;
• any priority claims.

Practice Notices (Trademark practice notices - Canadian Intellectual Property Office): Practice notices pertaining to Office Practices and Policies are available on the Trademarks home page of the CIPO website under Practice Notices.

Trademark News email subscription service: Clients can register to our email subscription service to stay in touch with the latest trademarks developments at CIPO. These emails will include:

• updates to the Goods and Services Manual;
• new consultations on trademarks;
• practice notices on trademarks; and
• "What's New" announcements on trademarks posted on the CIPO website..

Twitter: CIPO's Twitter presence is intended to enhance two-way communication between CIPO and its customers as laid out in the Business Strategy.

1. Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.

The Trademarks Journal is available in electronic form (Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca)) on the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) web site (Home - Canadian Intellectual Property Office). The Journal is produced on a weekly basis and is available in PDF format and can be downloaded (free of charge), viewed and printed with Adobe Reader. The electronic form of the Journal is the official version. All Trademarks Journals from January 2000 onwards are available online.

1. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases

Trademarks Examination Manual (TEM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Madrid Examination and Procedures Manual (MEPM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

1. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)

Trademarks Examination Manual (TEM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Madrid Examination and Procedures Manual (MEPM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Search - Canadian Trademarks Database - Intellectual property and copyright - Canadian Intellectual Property Office - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Goods and Services Manual - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

List of Geographical Indications

Trademark Opposition Board Decisions Home - Canadian Intellectual Property Office (opic-cipo.gc.ca)

1. Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
2. Other sources

Trademarks Act (justice.gc.ca)

Trademarks Regulations (justice.gc.ca)

Trademarks - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

1. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements

The Trademarks Branch utilizes an end-to-end trademark processing system, INTREPID II, and the system became fully operational in November 1996. INTREPID II operates in a client/server environment. All trademark employees have access to the system via an internal, Local Area Network (LAN). The system contains bibliographic trademark data dating from the beginning of Canada's trademark management system in 1864, including pending and registered trademarks, trademark designs, outgoing correspondence and trademark notices. INTREPID II is used within the office to manage the overall trademark process, including examination, opposition, assignments and renewals, and is able to make process decisions automatically. The system supports such specific office processes as preparing correspondence, updating information, preparing and transmitting notices electronically.

In July 1999, an electronic trademark application filing component was added to allow a client to file their trademark application electronically over the Internet. The e-services are continuously expanding: Trademark Renewals, the payment of the Registration Fee, and the renewal can be performed electronically over CIPO’s online services.

On June 17, 2019, CIPO improved the trademarks online services to comply with the new modernized legislative framework. Furthermore, the Canadian Trademarks Databases has also been revamped with a partial new look and feel as well as new search features and new data elements, all driven from a series of engagement sessions with key Canadian stakeholders.

For all client front-ends, the information is checked for completeness, where the transaction is transferred automatically into the INTREPID II system following by an electronic acknowledgement (in PDF) via email to the client. CIPO continued to improve their electronic interactions by releasing two systems automations pertaining to the formalities of the trademark application as well as the renewal of the registered trademark. Both transactions no longer require user interventions, while the office response is issued automatically via email.

On June 17, 2019, CIPO launched their new Madrid Console, which assists CIPO to receive, examine and process international trademarks for which Canada has been designated. The console works as a workflow engine where the user can either notify a task by validating the data in INTREPID II system or perform a task with respect to a Protocol Application/Registration of a Madrid designation. The console is also designed to process the monthly financial transaction from WIPO.  For Canadians wishing to register their trademarks in any of the contracting parties of the Madrid Protocol by filing an application for international registration (AIR), CIPO adopted WIPO’S Madrid e-Filing (Mef) to submit an AIR through a basic application or registration.

1. Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

The INTREPID II system is a client/server system with the client component developed with Team Developer (Gupta SQL Windows 2005 v 4.0.0), and the UNIX (AIX) server using Oracle RDMS V11g database with plans to upgrade to V19. Windows file servers are used for electronic mail and for sharing common files during development. A NFS disk area on the main server is used to hold the design images. This allows client workstations to access the designs within the client interface, while storing all design images under the control of the main server.

SERVER

IBM AIX servers

Operating System AIX

935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM

Oracle RDMS V 11g

Oracle SQL*Net V 9

Microfocus server express 5.0

TCP/IP

Image Converter: Alchemy 1.13

Electronic Forms Generator: DocOrigin

CLIENT WORKSTATION

Over 290 workstations are connected to the server

Intel based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)

SVGA monitors 19", 21" or 22" LCD  mostly dual monitors

MS-Windows as a Service (WaaS) v.22H2,  MS365,

Team Developer (Gupta SQL Windows 2005 v 4.0.0), TCP/IP SQL*Net 9.0 Samba NFS (Network File System)

Some workstations with Bar-code readers and/or scanners

PRINTERS

Xerox network printers

NETWORK

TCP/IP

1 gb between server and switches

100 mb between switches and workstation

1. Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources

CIPO's Trademarks Branch maintains a complete history of its trademark files in paper and/or electronic form, and information pertaining to all active marks from 1864 and inactive marks from 1979 to date in electronic form.

An initiative is underway to digitize all the trademark paper files. The scanned documents are transferred in a document management solution.

CIPO uses a Web-based search system from OnScope for trademark searches. As well, CIPO provides its trademark data to other commercial databases for external client use, through Cloud Services, in XML ST.96 format.

CIPO offers a search tool to query the database, namely Canadian Trademarks Database (Search - Canadian Trademarks Database - Intellectual property and copyright - Canadian Intellectual Property Office - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)which is updated on a weekly basis.

The trademark information is disseminated in WIPO ST.96 XML format.

1. Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file

All bibliographic data contained in trademark applications and registrations are maintained on the INTREPID II system. Since the treaty's accession, the Madrid Console serves as a workflow system to manage WIPO’s transactions on a weekly on a monthly basis. The console is interconnected to INTREPID II system.

The Canadian Trademarks database is available to the public on the Internet via the CIPO website. This version of the database is comprised of all active and many inactive marks that were either applied for or registered pursuant to the current Trademarks Act or former trademark legislation. The database also includes all trademarks that were cancelled, expunged, abandoned or refused after 1979, and some marks that were cancelled, expunged, abandoned or refused prior to 1979. Since the coming into force of June 17, 2019, the CTD also contains the International Registration.

Canada no longer maintains a manual search file. All trademark information is maintained within the INTREPID II database system and contains over a million marks (1,7029,184). This information is provided to various external search services.

Improved Bilingual Search Capability

We have added a feature to help clients to conduct searches in both English and French. This will help to ensure that their search query includes more terms, thereby resulting in an increased results list. This improvement is of interest to those who know their search criteria in one of Canada's official languages but not in the other.

1. Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)

The INTREPID II system is integrated with an improved version of the previous Trademarks Executive Information System (EIS). The EIS system permits detailed and comprehensive tracking and monitoring of trademark processes. The EIS system provides daily information on production volumes and turnaround times for trademark processes. The EIS system is available via the Intranet to allow broader access to reports within the Office.

The trademark search collection is managed in electronic form. The clients have access to the latest versions of the electronic records. A structured backup regime is in place to ensure preservation of the information.

1. Other matters

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

1. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Office's library (if deals with trademark information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries

Public access to the trademark electronic processing system (INTREPID II) is available in the Client Service Centre.

The Canadian trademark database (Search - Canadian Trademarks Database - Intellectual property and copyright - Canadian Intellectual Property Office - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) is available to the public on the Internet via the CIPO web site.

The official index that is required to be kept under the supervision of the Registrar of Trademarks pursuant to subsection 28(1) of the Trademarks Act, is accessible in the Canadian Trademarks Database on the CIPO Internet site.

The following trademark reference material is also available to the public via the CIPO web site:

Trademarks Act (Trademarks Act (justice.gc.ca)) and Regulations (Trademarks Regulations (justice.gc.ca))

Examination Manual (Trademarks Examination Manual (TEM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office) / Madrid Examination Manual (Madrid Examination and Procedures Manual (MEPM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office)

System Release Notes

Trademark Online Services - Release Notes (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canadian-intellectual-property-office/en/trademarks/trademark-online-services-release-notes )

Goods/Services Manual (CIPO Goods and Services - Goods and Services Manual - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)

Practice Notices (Trademark practice notices - Canadian Intellectual Property Office)

Trademarks Guide (Trademarks guide - Canadian Intellectual Property Office)

Other reference materials

All Trademarks Journal (in PDF format) as of January 2000 E-Services (Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca))

Service Interruption Messages

I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

 Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of industrial design information activities and expected time frames for their realization
2. New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
3. Main areas of industrial design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
4. Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
5. Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

1. Further to the implementation of The Hague Agreement for the International Registration of Industrial Designs focus in 2022 was to further improve procedures and processes used for the registration of International applications.
2. Industrial design information activities for 2022 were to continue to maintain dialogue with our stakeholders in order to benefit from stakeholder feedback on the changes implemented as part of the implementation of the Hague Agreement as well as continuing to improve online services.
3. The practice of meeting with representatives of the IP profession was continued in 2022 within the context of the Industrial Design Office Practice Committee, which consists of representatives of the IP profession and CIPO. The objective of this committee is to strengthen communications between CIPO and its stakeholders in order to identify and discuss issues and improvements to the industrial design office practices and services to clients.
4. The information concerning IT activities for 2022 are located on a release notes page that identifies all changes to the industrial designs online services. http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04752.html
5. N/A
6. N/A

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
2. Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
3. Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification
4. Other activities

1. Industrial designs guide: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02300.html

          Industrial design office practices: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00256.html

          How your industrial design application is processed: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00255.html

          Filing or amending an application online: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr03953.html

          Roadmap of the application process: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04357.html

          Industrial designs – Fact sheet: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04316.html

          Industrial designs – Learn the basics: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04697.html

          CIPO Calendar of events: https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/crmsri/cipo/events/?lang=eng

      2. Industrial design applications are not currently available electronically. An applicant or its agent may order a copy of the application through CIPO’s website: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr02468.html

III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Main types of publications in the field of industrial design information, outline of the content (industrial design applications, design patents, registrations, etc.) and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
2. Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
3. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
4. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
5. Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
6. Other sources

1. Industrial design registrations or applications that have been made available to the public are available for consultation on the Canadian Industrial Designs Database. This online database provides bibliographical data relating to the application or registration and a representation of the design.

        https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/bscSrch.do?lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main&wt_cxt=toptask

        An industrial design guide is available online to learn what industrial designs are, why they are important for business, and what makes them a key element of a comprehensive intellectual property strategy. The guide allows the reader to find out why they would want to register an          industrial design, and how to apply for registration in Canada and abroad.

        http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02300.html

        The Industrial Design Office Practice Manual provides information on the Industrial Design Office's operational procedures and examination practices; it is the primary source of information on how to prosecute an application for the registration of an industrial design in Canada.

        http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00256.html

       2. CIPO does not publish industrial design information via an official gazette. Announcements are made either on CIPO’s website or via email distribution lists:

       http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr02989.html

       3. CIPO examiners have access to CIPO’s internal industrial database, which includes all designs registered in Canada and pending applications. Examiners also have access to “Orbit”, a web-based search tool for industrial design prior art.

       4. Industrial Design News email subscription services.

       Clients can register for our email subscription service to receive news and updates on the latest information regarding industrial design.

       https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr02989.htm

      CIPO’s website makes available information pertaining to industrial designs registered in Canada from 1861 to date from the Canadian Industrial Design Online Database.

      http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/bscSrch.do?lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main&wt_cxt=toptask

      Subscription to Industrial Design bulk data is available at the following link.

      http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr01933.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-id-main#industrialdesigns

      Industrial Design Release Notes page

      http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04752.html

1. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
2. Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
3. Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
4. Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
5. Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
6. Other matters

1. The Industrial Design Application (DesignPlus) has a built-in workflow - once the application is scanned/data entered into DesignPlus, the application number is automatically assigned and the processing clerk completes the filing process. Once the filing is confirmed, the application is automatically added to the classification workload queue. Once classified it proceeds to the pre-examination workload queue; then to the search workload queue; then to the examination workload queue; etc.

Once allowed the registration is confirmed and the registration certificates are printed and sent to the applicant or sent to the clients e-mailbox.

The maintenance fee is paid within the first 5 years from the registration date. A 6-month grace period is available with additional fees. Failure to pay maintenance fee within five years will cause the registration to become expired.

For all applications filed through our e-filing application, the information is checked for completeness by the front-end application, following this the transaction is transferred automatically into DesignPlus system.

The Industrial Design office has several online services permitting a variety of online transactions, such an electronic filing, submission of amendments, payment of maintenance of fees, a mailbox, a search database and a general correspondence. Only few transactions are still paper-based, although a new initiative is foreseen to offer the last paper-based transactions via the online services.

  2. SERVER

  IBM AIX

 Operating System AIX

 935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM

 Oracle RDMS V 10.2.0.3

 TCP/IP

 Image Converter: Alchemy 1.13

CLIENT WORKSTATION

Pentium based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)

2 SVGA monitors 22” LCD

MS-Windows

MS-Word

Samba NFS (Network File System)

Ascent Capture

Some workstations with Bar-code readers and/or scanners

PRINTERS

Lexmark T644 network printers

NETWORK

TCP/IP

1 GB between server and switches

100 MB between switches an SERVER IBM AIX

Operating System AIX

935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM

Oracle RDMS V 10.2.0.3

Microfocus server express 5.0

TCP/IP

Image Converter: Alchemy 1.13

Electronic Forms Generator: JF Central 5.4.1

1. In June 2002 the industrial design processes were automated with the implementation of DesignPlus. Today the system contains bibliographic design data dating back to 1861, including pending and registered designs. DesignPlus is used within the office to manage the overall industrial design process, including classification, search, examination, assignments and maintenance. The system supports such specific office processes as preparing correspondence and updating information.<

In July 2007, an electronic industrial design filing component was added to allow clients to file their applications electronically over the internet. For all client front-ends, the information is checked for completeness, the information is transferred to the Office via the Internet and the information is automatically loaded into DesignPlus.

In 2018, two new online services were implemented by Industrial Designs Branch in regard to issue electronic correspondence to clients. A first application, called E-Access, serves as authenticate the users so that they are able to manage their access and account in the E-Mailbox. This second application is a platform where users pull their electronic outgoing correspondence issued by the office.

In 2019 and 2020 came the introduction of E-Amend where authorised and authenticated users are able to amend previously filed applications electronically

In 2022 we introduced the AI search tool from Clarivate 

CIPO industrial design searchers and examiners use a Web-based search system from Oracle called Orbit to conduct international searches

2. All bibliographic data and images contained in industrial design applications and registrations are maintained on the internal system DesignPlus, in an NFS-based structure. A common repository across CIPO, called IP Document File Management (IPDFM) serves a document management storage. A synchronization between the NFS-structure and IPDFM occurs overnight to ensure that both structures are synchronized at all time. IPDFM is also connected to Enterprise Scan, a scanning solution for all the paper files, including paper correspondences, figurative elements, evidences and other paper documents.

Registered application data and images is available to the public on the Canadian Industrial Design Database via CIPO’s website.

3. DesignPlus is integrated with an EIS (Executive Information System) through a Cognos application. This EIS system provides detailed and comprehensive reports used for tracking and monitoring industrial design processes. Information on the production volumes and turnaround-times can be obtained from the EIS system.

SQL (Toad) is also used to query the database and retrieve ad hoc statistics that are often not programed in Cognos

1. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Office's library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
2. Publications related to different business procedures and industrial design Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
3. Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
4. Education and training: training courses, e - learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
5. Other activities

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

1. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. International exchange of trademark information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)

Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca)

CIPO is presently providing trademark data in XML ST.96 format, to a number of external database search providers and IPOs including weekly updates of Trademark data and design images

1. Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information

CIPO attends the WIPO Madrid Working Group on a yearly basis where all of the members of the Madrid System discuss various items.

...

The Industrial Design Office Practice Manual provides information on the Industrial Design Office's operational procedures and examination practices; it is the primary source of information on how to prosecute an application for the registration of an industrial design in Canada.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00256.html

Other industrial design publications:

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00026.html#IndustrialDesign

VI.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. International exchange of industrial design information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
2. Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information
3. Assistance to developing countries
4. Other activities

1. Dissemination of data to clients and other Intellectual Property Offices.
2. WIPO’s Standing Committee on the law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications

 Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS

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