Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2017 submitted by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of industrial design information activities and expected time frames for their realization
CIPO focused on better understanding their clients by engaging in a series of meetings with them. Efforts were mainly dedicated to policy development and regulation amendments in preparation for the implementation of The Hague. Discussions with clients also captured performance improvement needs to deliver on CIPO’s modernization efforts.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
Groundwork for updating examination and operational manuals, as well as practice notices in preparation for Canada’s accession to International treaties on Industrial Designs were initiated. CIPO’s focused mainly on the drafting of new regulations and in defining the transformation to the business processes. CIPO continued to work in collaboration with the International Bureau and other IPO’s to ensure smooth transition as it implements change.
Main areas of industrial design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
Industrial Design Applications
| Year | Resident | Non-Resident | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 790 | 4,437 | 5,227 |
| 2012 | 847 | 4,514 | 5.362 |
2013 | 846 | 4,500 | 5,346 |
2014 | 859 | 4,908 | 5,767 |
2015 | 797 | 5,049 | 5,846 |
| 2016 | 916 | 5,254 | 6,170 |
| 2017 | 760 | 5,808 | 6,533 |
Industrial Design Registrations
| Year | Resident | Non-Resident | total |
|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 720 | 4,010 | 4,730 |
2012 | 582 | 3,593 | 4,175 |
2013 | 577 | 3,208 | 3,785 |
2014 | 928 | 5,315 | 6,243 |
2015 | 785 | 4,943 | 5,728 |
| 2016 | 801 | 4,902 | 5,703 |
| 2017 | 692 | 4,493 | 5,185 |
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
Industrial Design Service Commitments
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04041.html#id
Annual Report
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00025.html#annualreports
CIPO Business Strategy 2012-2017
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr03473.html#value
CIPO News
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/whatsnew.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-home
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
CIPO Website: A guide to Industrial Design
CIPO Website: Protect your industrial design
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr03586.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-id-main
CIPO Website: How your application is processed
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00255.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-id-main
CIPO Website: Filing an Industrial Design online
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
Currently industrial design application dossiers are not available electronically. Under CIPO’s IT Modernization initiative industrial design dossier will be made available electronically.
Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification
Canadian industrial designs are classified according to the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard.
To better align our processes with The Hague System CIPO will be converting to a modified version of the International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno) to simplify the classification and search processes.
Other activities
III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
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)
Industrial Design registrations are disseminated on the online searchable database via CIPO’s website weekly. Industrial design registration information and images are available via the website.
https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/bscSrch.do?lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main&wt_cxt=toptask
Industrial Design Practice Notices are published on the Industrial Design home page of CIPO’s website.
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00004.html?Open&src=cipo-mm-id
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
CIPO does not publish industrial design information via any official gazettes.
The “News” section of the Industrial Design Page of CIPO’s website provides updates to the public of any news surrounding Canadian Industrial Design’s.
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00004.html?Open&src=cipo-mm-id
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
Industrial design searchers and examiners uses a web based search system “ORBIT” for Industrial design searches.
The Canadian Industrial Design data is available on this database for external client use.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
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.
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
CIPO provides the ability to search the status of industrial design applications via their website.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/dsplySttsSrch.do?srchTyp=status&lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main
Other sources
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
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, 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. 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.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
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 7 Professional
- MS-Word 2010
- ViewNow 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
CLIENT WORKSTATION
- Pentium based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)
- 2 SVGA monitors 22” LCD
- MS-Windows 7 Professional
- MS-Word 2010
- ViewNow 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 and workstations
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
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.
CIPO industrial design searchers and examiners use a Web based search system from Oracle called Orbit to conduct international searches.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
All bibliographic data and images contained in industrial design applications and registrations are maintained on the internal system DesignPlus.
Registered application data and images is available to the public on the Canadian Industrial Design Database via CIPO’s website.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
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.
Other matters
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION
Office's library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
Publications related to different business procedures and industrial design information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
Education and training: training courses, e learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
Other activities
VI.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION
International exchange of industrial design information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information
Assistance to developing countries
Other activities