Annual Technical Report 2002 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Kenya (SCIT/ATR/ID/2002/KE)
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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
In the year 2002, there was a decline of 30% in industrial design application compared to the previous year. At the same time, few applications were registered in the same year because of changes in the National Law. A new Law came into effect in May 2002, which necessitated lots of changes in the office.
The number of applications filed by non-resident went up considerably although many applicants opted to seek protection in Kenya through the ARIPO office. The Republic of Kenya is a full member of Harare protocol, which governs the ARIPO office and registers Industrial Design on behalf of member states. Therefore, any applicant can seek protection in Kenya through ARIPO, likewise Kenyan citizens and residents can seek protection of their designs through ARIPO.
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of industrial design documents and of secondary sources of industrial design information, i.e., official gazettes
The main official publications concerning the industrial designs are done in the Kenya Industrial Property Journal. The Industrial property journal was started in the year 2002 when the new act came into force.
The following are published in the gazette:
1. Registered industrial design
2. Industrial design applications which the office has approved for
registration
3. Renewal of term of industrial design
4. Change of ownership of industrial design
5. Deletion of industrial design from the register
Mass media uses paper as a data carrier, however, most of the applications and registered designs have been stored as PDF in the computer hard disk.
III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of industrial design information according to the classification systems applied
The Kenya Industrial Property Institute uses the International classification for industrial design (Locarno agreement). The Republic of Kenya is not yet party to the Lorcano Agreement.
WIPO standards ST.80 is used for bibliographic data coding.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
The Kenya industrial Property Institute uses a database of registered industrial design and applications received by the office. It also uses manual search on files that are on paper media. The industrial design applications are advertised before registrations to allow public to lounge any objection against registration. The office maintains a permanent register for search and inspection purposes.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
The institute is in the process of establishing a database on the existing granted designs, applications and, if available, acquire databases from the other industrial property offices.
VI. Administration of industrial design services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, registering designs, assisting clients with search procedures, obtaining official publications and registry extracts
Searches are carried out at the Institutes’ information and documentation center at the request of the user and the customer pays a moderate price for the services. At the same center the public is assisted in filling their application, acquiring the Industrial Property Journal and any other reading material.
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information
The Institute has been able to receive a gazette containing the information on Industrial designs from ARIPO although we would like to receive more from other offices. Likewise, the Institute sends the Institutes' journal to ARIPO.
VIII. Matters concerning education and training including technical assistance to developing countries
The Institute held several seminars and outreach activities such as participating in trade fairs, shows and industrial visits during the year. In the same year, the Institute also hosted several delegates from different countries in Africa on fact-finding missions. At the same time, several examiners underwent training offered by developed countries.