Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2025 submitted by the Israel Patent Office


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

Growth Following Hague System Integration

Since Israel's accession to the Hague Agreement for the International Registration of Industrial Designs in January 2020, the Industrial Design Department has experienced consistent growth. For example, the number of new applications increased from 1,438 in 2019 to 1,822 in 2025, representing a 20% increase. Additional comprehensive statistical data and analysis will be available in the Office's forthcoming Annual Report, to be published in Hebrew at https://www.gov.il/he/pages/new-annual-reports and in English at https://www.gov.il/en/pages/new-annual-reports. This growth has resulted in an extended examination waiting period, currently standing at seven months for first examination, with an average substantive examination period of approximately two months, though the Department maintains its commitment to high professional examination standards.

Enhanced Digital Services and Public Outreach

Updated Training and Educational Materials:

Targeted Training Initiatives:

  • Initiated planning for comprehensive training program at design academies to ensure graduates understand their design registration options

Professional Development and Standards

Enhanced Examination Training: Design examiners received specialized training on novelty and individual character requirements, including updates on Intellectual Property Adjudicators' decisions, relevant judicial rulings, and reinforcement of substantive examination procedures and prior art search methodologies.

Engagement with WIPO Working Groups and Committees

Working Group on the Legal Development of the Hague System

  • Ongoing engagement with the professional working group under WIPO framework
  • Continued monitoring of legal developments within the Hague System

Committee of Experts of the Locarno Union for International Classification of Industrial Designs

  • Maintained observer status and engagement with Committee activities
  • Updated Israeli design regulations regarding goods classification in accordance with Committee decisions and recommendations*

    * As a non-signatory to the Locarno Agreement, Israel maintains observer status and regularly updates design regulations regarding goods classification in accordance with the Committee's decisions

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

Comprehensive Online Database and Search Services

Public Design Search Database: The Office maintains bilingual online design search capabilities accessible to the public:

The database provides complete access to registered designs and pending applications, enabling comprehensive prior art searches and rights verification.

Official Publication Services: Design registrations and related notices are published through:

Electronic Filing

Online Application System: Comprehensive electronic filing platform available at: https://designsonline.justice.gov.il/

  • Full electronic filing capabilities
  • Integrated payment processing

Legal Framework and Information Services

Regulatory Information: Complete legal framework accessible in multiple languages:

Service Information: Detailed information about Office services: https://www.gov.il/he/services/department/4ce56f25-7d6d-4f2c-991a-2e87d984494d?unitId=&topicId=e29f9720-5f62-43a4-832e-9034a98e7420&subTopicId=&targetAudienceId=&subTargetAudienceId=

Fee Transparency: Current fee schedules available at: https://ecom.gov.il/counterspa/home/14/3/samples

Comprehensive Educational Resources

Applicant Guidance Materials:

Classification Support: Comprehensive goods classification guidance:

Regular Communication: News and updates portal: https://www.gov.il/he/collectors/news/?officeId=4ce56f25-7d6d-4f2c-991a-2e87d984494d

Professional Examination Services

Substantive Examination: The Office conducts comprehensive substantive examination including:

  • Novelty assessment and individual character evaluation
  • Prior art searches using professional international design databases (both free and subscription-based)
  • Access to all available internet resources containing industrial design information

Examination Guidelines: Detailed examination procedures available to the public:

III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

National Information Sources

Comprehensive Design Database:

Regulatory and Educational Information:

Advanced Prior Art Search Methodology

Two-Stage Search Protocol (as outlined in Appendix 6 of examination work instructions): https://www.gov.il/he/pages/designs-instructions

Stage One - Specialized Database Search:

  1. Internal departmental operational system
  2. Professional international design databases (free and subscription-based)
  3. Foreign patent office design search engines

Stage Two - Comprehensive Internet Search: When specialized databases yield insufficient results, examiners expand searches to include:

  • Google Lens for visual design identification
  • Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest)
  • Video platforms (YouTube and similar services)
  • Commercial databases containing designs from multiple countries
  • Blogs, magazines, and industry publications
  • Commercial catalogs and e-commerce websites

International Information Integration

Hague System Integration:

  • Processing and sharing information for international design applications
  • Contributing to and accessing WIPO Global Design Database

Classification Standards:

  • Regular updates to national classification system based on international Locarno Classification decisions
  • Adoption of international best practices in design information management

Quality Assurance:

  • Comprehensive examiner training on search methodologies
  • Source verification and documentation standards
  • Continuous improvement of search techniques and information sources

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

We use in-house developed to manage the complete lifecycle of design cases. This includes everything from receiving applications, conducting examinations, searching information, handling oppositions, registrations, cancellations, publications, classifications, appeals, and sending documents to clients.

  • Features:
    • Based on a Client/Server architecture
    • Developed using MVC combined with C# (Object-Oriented Programming)
  • Advantages:
    • Full control over internal processes and customization to the Office's specific needs
    • Broad coverage of all stages of design handling
  • Possible Improvements:
    • lacks support for Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities
    • Recommended to upgrade to newer technologies to improve integration capabilities, add AI functionality, and enhance overall performance

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

We utilize computing servers for our general IT infrastructure, mail servers for distributing correspondence, and laptops to enable remote work.

Internal databases:  coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
Our internal database primarily contains:

  • design application information and related documents
  • Information about the examination process
  • Conclusion information and associated documents

We have several key interlinks with external sources and systems:

  • A connection to BI (Business Intelligence) reports for statistics and data extraction
  • An integration with financial management systems

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

Our system includes functions for registration, legal status, and sharing statistical data.

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

Digital Access and User Interface

Bilingual Public Access System: The ILPO provides comprehensive online design search capabilities in both Hebrew https://designsearch.justice.gov.il/DesignFile/FileSearch?lang=he and English https://designsearch.justice.gov.il/DesignFile/FileSearch?lang=en , designed to serve both professional users and the general public efficiently.

Streamlined Application Process: The online application system at https://designsonline.justice.gov.il/ provides direct access to design registration services with integrated support features.

Comprehensive User Education Program

Enhanced Application Support Materials (Updated 2025):

Multimedia Training Resources:

Professional Training and Outreach

2025 Training Initiatives:

  • Academic outreach program planning for design academies

Information Transparency and Communication

Legal Framework Access:

Regular Updates and Communication:

International Integration Impact

Hague System Benefits: The significant increase in applications (20% growth since 2019) demonstrates successful integration with international systems. In 2025, over 50% of applications (1091 out of 1,822) were filed through the Hague System, reflecting strong user adoption of international registration options.

Future Development Support: The Office actively monitors international developments.

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

Hague System Integration and Impact

Active Participation and Growth: Since joining the Hague System in January 2020, Israel has experienced growth in design applications. In 2025, the Office processed 1,822 new applications, with 1091 (Almost 60%) filed through the Hague System, demonstrating strong user preference for international registration.

Engagement with WIPO Working Groups and Committees

Working Group on the Legal Development of the Hague System

  • Ongoing engagement with the professional working group under WIPO framework
  • Continued monitoring of legal developments within the Hague System

Committee of Experts of the Locarno Union for International Classification of Industrial Designs

  • Maintained observer status and engagement with Committee activities
  • Updated Israeli design regulations regarding goods classification in accordance with Committee decisions and recommendations*

    * As a non-signatory to the Locarno Agreement, Israel maintains observer status and regularly updates design regulations regarding goods classification in accordance with the Committee's decisions

Information Services

VII. ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WIPO STANDARDS CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION


WIPO Standard ST.2:  Standard manner for designating calendar dates by using the Gregorian calendar

Fully implemented


WIPO Standard ST.3:  Recommended standard on two-letter codes for the representation of states, other entities and intergovernmental organizations

Fully implemented


WIPO Standard ST.13:  Recommendation for the numbering of applications for industrial property rights (IPRs)

No plan to implement


WIPO Standard ST.80:  Recommendation concerning bibliographic data relating to industrial designs

No plan to implement


WIPO Standard ST.81:  Recommendation concerning the content and layout of industrial design gazettes

No plan to implement

 

WIPO Standard ST.86:  Recommendation for the processing of industrial design information using XML (extensible markup language)

No plan to implement


WIPO Standard ST.87:  Recommendation for the exchange of industrial design legal status data

No plan to implement


WIPO Standard ST.88:  Recommendations for electronic representation of industrial designs

No plan to implement


WIPO Standard ST.90:  Recommendation for processing and communicating intellectual property data using web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)

No plan to implement


WIPO Standard ST.91:  Recommendations on digital three-dimensional (3D) models and 3D images

No plan to implement


WIPO Standard ST.92:  Recommendations on the data package format for the electronic exchange of priority documents

Fully implemented


WIPO Standard ST.96:  Recommendation for the processing of intellectual property information using XML (extensible markup language)

Fully implemented


WIPO Standard ST.97:  Recommendation for processing of intellectual property data using JSON

No plan to implement


VIII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS