Annual Technical Report 2006 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Canada (SCIT/ATR/ID/2006/CA)
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 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
Changes experienced in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to the previous year
Industrial Design Applications
Year Residents Non-residents Total % change
2002 752 2,641 3,393
2003 748 2,951 3,699 9.02%
2004 636 3,488 4,124 11.49%
2005 583 3,886 4,469 7.72%
2006 640 4,195 4,835 8.19%
Industrial Design Registrations
Year Residents Non-residents Total % change
2002 499 1,679 2,178
2003 460 2,130 2,590 18.92%
2004 564 2,546 3,110 22.15%
2005 530 2,771 3,301 5.79
2006 411 3,043 3,454 4.63%
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to industrial designs
www.cipo.gc.ca
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of industrial design documents and of secondary sources of industrial design information, i.e., official gazettes
Publishing, including printing, copying techniques and electronic printing
CIPO does not publish an industrial design gazette. The automated processing system called ‘DesignPlus’ along with existing media such as word processing software, microfiche, fiche readers/printers, CD-Roms and photocopiers are used to produce searchable records of registered industrial designs.
Mass storage media and microforms used
The archival of industrial design documents is done electronically in ‘DesignPlus’ as well as on paper, microfiche and CD-Roms.
Databases and office automation
Since the launch of ‘DesignPlus’ in June 2002, applications and requests have been entered, processed and stored electronically in the system. Registrations from 2002 to date are now available online via CIPO’s website. A complete database of Industrial Design registrations since inception (December 1861) is expected to be available on-line within the next year.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide access to online industrial design gazettes and other sources of industrial design information, including download of bulk industrial design data
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-e.html
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-f.html
III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of industrial design information according to the classification systems applied
Classification and reclassification activities; Classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification (please indicate whether industrial designs are classified by your Office and, if so, which classification is used)
Industrial design documents are classified according to the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard.
In 2005, CIPO conducted the second important phase of the Industrial Design re-engineering initiative to address needed improvements to the classification process. Specifically, the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard is in need of updating and simplification. CIPO conducted an analysis of the Locarno Classification and a comparison study of other IPO classification standards. Recommendations from this initiative will identify the approach CIPO will take to address the deficiencies in the current system and any possible implementation of Locarno Standard as the main framework
Bibliographic data and processing
Designs are searchable by class and are organized according to the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
File building
The Canadian industrial design prior art search file comprises approximately 100,000 registered designs.
All designs registered since June 2002 are stored electronically in ‘DesignPlus’. Access to these registered designs is now available for public search via the CIPO’s web site.
In 2006, all registered designs pre-dating June 2002 (dating back to 1861) were scanned and entered in the Canadian Industrial Design database (designPlus). These records will be made available for public search in late 2007. Currently these records are available in paper(including document files and index cards), microfiche and CD-rom formats for public searching through the Client Service Center
The Industrial Design Division maintains a searchable record of registered industrial designs as follows:
On-Line Electronic search file: For designs registered since June 2002 in the ‘DesignPlus’ system, this search file includes the application as registered (owner name/address, title, description, agent and/or representative for service in Canada), drawings, and bibliographic data (filing date, priority date, registration date, classification). Registrations are searchable by registration number, title, agent name, owner name, and by class.
Paper drawings search file: For designs registered prior to June 2002, this search file includes the drawings with bibliographic data such as filing date, registration date, classification, title and owner name. The paper drawings are arranged by class according to the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard.
Microfiche / CD-rom search file: For designs registered prior to June 2002, this search file includes microfiche and CD copies of the registration certificate, the application as registered, assignments and maintenance documents. It is maintained in numerical order by registration number.
Paper correspondence file: This search file includes a complete file document history including prosecution and correspondence. These files are maintained in numerical order by application number.
Index cards: For designs registered prior to June 2002, an alphabetical index card system arranged by owner, assignee and licensee is maintained as a means of obtaining the registration number of a particular design.
Updating
The Canadian industrial design prior art search file is updated on a daily basis.
Storage, including mass storage media
Industrial design documents are currently stored electronically in ‘DesignPlus’, as well as on paper, microfiche, and CD-Rom
Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file
CIPO maintains a collection of WIPO International Design Bulletins and United States patent gazettes.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
In-house systems (online/offline)
For electronic search purposes the Canadian Industrial Design database “DesignPlus” is used for internal searching.
External databases
The design databases maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and by IP Australia are accessible via the Web to industrial design searchers for search purposes.
Administrative management systems (e.g., register, legal status, statistics, administrative support, etc.)
The ‘DesignPlus’ system provides statistics for customized reports, file tracking (location of all paper and electronic application/registration files), and status information.
Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), data carriers used
The DesignPlus system is a client/server system with the client component developed with Oracle*Forms, and the UNIX (HP-UX) server using an ORACLE v9 database. Novell 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
· HP 9000 series model HP RP4410
· Operating System HP-UX 11.23
· 935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM
· Oracle RDMS V 9.2.0.7.0
· Oracle SQL*Net V 9
· TCP/IP
CLIENT WORKSTATION
· Pentium based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)
· dual 19" LCD
· MS-Windows XP Professional Version 2 Service Pack 2, Word 2000,
· TCP/IP SQL*Net 9.0
· ViewNow NFS (Network File System)
· Some workstations with scanners
PRINTERS (networked)
· Lexmark T632, T642 and T644 network printers
NETWORK
· TCP/IP
· 1 gb between server and switches
· 10 mb between switches and workstation (upgradable to 100mb)
VI. Administration of industrial design information products and 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)
Planning, administration, automation, security
The Industrial Design Division within the Copyright and Industrial Design Branch of CIPO manages the industrial design product line. The primary function is the granting of exclusive industrial design rights and the maintenance of the Canadian Register of Industrial Designs. The Division also provides certified documents for use in civil proceedings and criminal investigations, furnishes information to the public by making the registers accessible, answers detailed questions, distributes information materials, advises on appropriate legislative change, and manages new and revised regulations.
The industrial design search files are located in the Client Service Centre search room at CIPO Headquarters at 50 Victoria Street, Gatineau, Québec. K1A 0C9.
Collection management, preservation
The Industrial Design Division maintains a complete historical register in electronic form for designs registered since 1861, as well as on microfiche and CD-Rom. Archival material is disposed of in accordance with National Library and National Archives requirements.
Information services available to the public (including computerized services and search files contained in libraries remote from your Office and industrial design information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web).
The CIPO Internet website was first established in 1995, and has continued with major enhancements since 1999. These enhancements included the use of the website for major consultations on new intellectual property legislation, the posting of new industrial design regulations and office practice notices and the provision of electronic filing services.
The Guide to Industrial Designs and the Industrial Design Office Practices manual can be found under the Industrial Design link of the CIPO website.
The CIPO Client Service Centre provides general information to clients interested in applying for industrial design registration as well as assisting clients to perform searches in the prior art.
Industrial design examination staff are available to provide additional guidance and assistance to the public interested in searching the prior art.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide information on business procedures such as: filing, publication, examination and registration procedures related to industrial designs; opposition and appeal procedures related to industrial designs; etc.
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-e.html
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-f.html
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide a description of information products and services offered by the Office (e.g., industrial design search service(s), industrial design databases, etc.), as well as information on how to access and utilize them
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-e.html
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-f.html
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information
There is no mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information at this time. However, information exchange with respect to classification issues and other matters of mutual interest continue to be exchanged with counterparts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Discussions are continuing with the USPTO with respect to the potential exchange of registered designs between Offices over the Internet.
VIII. Matters concerning education and training including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)
Promotional activities (seminars, exhibitions, visits, advertising, etc.)
The Information Branch of CIPO is responsible for coordinating and carrying out activities related to promoting the benefits of intellectual property and disseminating the associated technological and business information to Canadians. Like other product lines of CIPO, the Industrial Design Division provides input on publications (paper or web) destined for clients pertaining to industrial design.
IX.Other general information related to the Office that is available on the Internet -- URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that:
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-e.html
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_main-f.html
X. Other relevant matters
In 2005 a new organizational structure was implemented and resources were increased to assist in the reduction of inventory and improve turnaround times. In 2006 all positions were created and staffed. As a result, the industrial design division showed increased production for the issuance of registrations and examination first actions plus tat’s were reduced to 12 months.
Continued progress was made towards completion of the electronic version of the Canadian Industrial Design Database. The first phase of this database was launched in December 2005, with a partial database of records from June 2002 to present. When the completed database is made available by the end of 2007, the public will online access to all industrial designs registered in Canada since 1861.
As part of the Quality Management System aimed to improve product and service quality, the industrial design division developed and implemented an enhanced training program for industrial design examiners.
The Industrial Design Division continued to work closely with stakeholders through the spring and fall meetings of the Partnership Committee on Industrial Design.