Annual Technical Report 2007 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by United Kingdom (SCIT/ATR/ID/2007/GB)
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
2006:
Design applications filed - 3086
Design applications registered - 2855
2007:
Design applications filed - 4683
Design applications registered - 4296
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
The number of designs filed has increased by 51% since 2006. This is likely to be an effect of the designs modernisation whereby applicants can file both single and multiple designs.
The increase in those filed is mirrored in the number registered which also increased by 50.1%.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to industrial designs
www.ipo.gov.uk
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
Designs which have been registered, notices, renewals, and changes to the register are all published in the weekly electronic designs journal which is available on our website.
We offer a range of search options on our website, including Proprietor, Agent, image and Locarno class.
Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of industrial design information
Office notices are published in the weekly journal. Notices are also published on the Office's website.
Databases and office automation
Design information is stored on the ACCORD database where bibliographic details are held. Designs images are maintained on the internal Designs Registry Image Management System (DRIMS) which is used for searching within the office.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide access to online industrial design gazettes and to other sources of industrial design information, including download of bulk industrial design data
www.ipo.gov.uk
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)
Designs applications are currently classified according to Locarno Classification system.
Bibliographic data and processing
Although no formal search is carried out as part of the examination process, a commercial search is available. An internet search allows you to search by Locarno Class, proprietor or a combination of the two.
Bibliographic data and processing
Although no formal search is carried out as part of the examination process, a commercial search is available. An internet search allows you to search by Locarno Class, proprietor or a combination of the two.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
File building
A paper file is kept for each design application. Information is stored on our internal databases and within the file.
Updating
When changes occur, the ACORD mainframe and DRIMS image system are updated when necessary. Any notices, renewals, and changes to the register are reported in the weekly electronic designs journal available on our website.
Storage, including mass storage media
Design files are stored in the Designs Team area until registration.
After registration they are transported to our designated filestore facility.
Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file
No documentation from other offices is maintained or considered as part of the search files.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
In-house systems (online/offline)
Searches are undertaken in numerous ways. Bibliographic details are held on the ACORD system which runs on an ICL mainframe. Designs images and assiciated bobliographic details are maintained on the internal Designs Registry Image Management System (DRIMS) which is used for searching within the office. A public web0based service is offered via the DRIMS web system. Public search is also available from the British Library and IP Centre sited in London. Both DRIMS and DRIMSweb are based on standard Documentum architecture.
External databases
No external databases are searched.
Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), data carriers used
All UK Designs Registry staff are equipped with networked Pentium 4 PCs. Standard automation products available to all staff include Microsoft Office products such as Word and Excel. Novell GroupWise 6.5 is currently used for email although the Office will be upgrading to Microsoft Outlook during 2008.
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
Applications for design registration can be made by post or in person at our Newport South Wales or London offices.
Bibliographic details of applications are captured onto the ACORD system with designs images scanned on to the DRIMS system.
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)
Our website provides a wide range of information including the benefits or design registration. We are currently redesigning our office's website which will be launched in the Autumn of 2008. This redesign should make the information available more accessible to its users.
All forms are available online and via our Central Enquiry Unit, as are all printed materials relating to design applications.
All designs can be views online using our online search facility.
In 2007, we launched a designs Search & Advisory service where customers can obtain advice about their proposed design application. General advice is also available from our Central Enquiry Unit with more specialised advice being given available from the designs area.
URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of industrial design applications
E-filing for design applications is not available
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.
www.ipo.gov.uk
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) and industrial design databases), as well as information on how to access and utilize them
www.ipo.gov.uk
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information
International or regional cooperation in the exchange of industrial design information, e.g., in the form of official gazettes
There is no formal exchange of documentation or information but this is made freely available to other intellectual property offices.
Exchange of machine-readable information, e.g., data contained on CD-ROM or magnetic tape
We do not exchange machine readable information.
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.)
Representatives from the office attended seminars, conferences and exhibitions throughout the year offering advice and guidance in relation to industrial designs.
IX.Other general information related to the Office that is available on the Internet -- URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that:
provide information on legislation related to industrial designs
www.ipo.gov.uk
contain the Annual Report of the Office
www.ipo.gov.uk