Annual Technical Report 2012 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Japan (CWS/ATR/ID/2012/JP)
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
In 2012, the number of applications was 32,391 (up 5.1% compared to the previous year) and the number of registrations was 28,349 (up 7.9% compared to the previous year).
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
In 2012, the number of design applications in the following technical fields has significantly increased compared to the previous year.
H7 Electronic Information Input/Output Equipment (up 11.7% compared to the previous year)
J1 Weighing Instruments, Measuring Machinery and Instruments and Surveying Machinery and Instruments (up 59.5% compared to the previous year)
F4 Wrapping Papers, Containers or the like (up 8.6% compared to the previous year)
On the other hand, the number of design applications in the following technical fields recorded significant declines from the previous year.
M2 Pipes for Wiring and Piping, Pipe Joints, Valves or the like (down 18.5% compared to the previous year)
B3 Additional Clothing Accessories and Personal Goods (down 23.7% compared to the previous year)
K9 All-Purpose Parts and Attachments for Industrial Machinery and Instruments (down 33.8% compared to the previous year)
*The number of applications is based on the main class classification of the Japanese Classification for Industrial Designs.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to industrial designs
http://www.jpo.go.jp/index/toukei.html
Please refer to IX.2 (English) for the English version of the Japan Patent Office Annual Report.
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
The Japan Patent Office (hereinafter referred to as the “JPO”) published the following design documents in 2012:
- Published Registered Design Applications:27,815issues
- Decision on Appeal/Trial in Design: 300 issues
Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of industrial design information
Nothing in particular
Mass storage media and microforms used
The JPO has started to receive online design applications (electronic applications) since January 2000. The JPO electronically edits the collected data acquired from electronic applications or the electronic conversions of paper-based applications and compiles them and publishes the Design Gazette.
a)Published Registered Design Applications
The JPO issued Published Registered Design Applications in the form of CD-ROMs between January 2000 and December 2006. Starting from January 2007, they have been issued weekly on the website “Official Publication via the Internet”, thereby making it possible to download the publication free of charge at any time, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. In addition, in order to meet the needs of the long-term storage of the original gazettes data published via the Internet, the JPO prepares and makes available, one week after the publication of the original gazettes, CD-ROMs titled "Information on Publication of Registered Design Applications" which contains exact reproductions of the original Published Registered Design Applications which have been published through the Official Publication via the Internet.
A single volume of Published Registered Design Applications contains about 600 issues and it was issued 50 times in 2012.
Published Registered Design Applications enables a search using 13 keys as search keys, including registration number, indication of articles (goods), Japanese Design Classification and D-term. The Design Gazette contains a mixed-mode type data, composed of text data and image data, thus text search using text data is available.
The JPO has been providing viewer software free of charge for viewing the Design Gazette. The software is also operable on Windows English version so that it can be used in overseas Patent Offices.
Databases and office automation
Refer to the third section of the paragraph.
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
The following URLs provide public access to web pages that include information on design:
http://www.publication.jpo.go.jp/utility/do/usr/topmenu?lang=e (Official Publication via the internet）
http://www.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/homepg_e.ipdl (Industrial Property Digital Library (hereinafter referred to as the “IPDL”).
http://www.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/Isyou/isyou.htm（IPDL Japanese service）
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)
In January 2005, the JPO started using the revised Japanese Design Classification in order to cope with the new conception of articles etc. such as the information and communication devices. The revised Japanese Design Classification mainly uses the concept of the usage in the same way as the former Japanese Design Classification, which is comprised of a 3-stage classification; group, main class, and minor class, and consists of about 3,200 classification branches in total. Also, JPO provides about 1,800 branches of D-terms, which are search keys to further subdivide the Japanese Design Classification mainly based on the forms of articles.
In addition, in April 2007, the JPO started using the revised Japanese Design Classification that was amended again in order to cope with design protection of user interfaces. After this amendment another classification stage for graphical user interface was added below the aforementioned minor class.
In 2012, the JPO assigned the Japanese Design Classification and D-terms to 32,391 filed applications and about 220,000 cases of examination materials collected from foreign design gazettes, magazines, catalogues, Internet, etc.
Bibliographic data and processing
As bibliographic data of filed applications for searches, application numbers, filing date, registration numbers, registration date, indication of articles (goods), Japanese Design Classification, D-terms (classification branches for search made by further subdividing the Japanese Design Classification) and others are used. As bibliographic data of other documents for searches, disclosure dates, acceptance dates, publishing date, indication of articles (goods), Japanese design classifications, D-terms and others are used. The data is stored in a database according to the type of materials.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
File building
The JPO has stored in search files the following: designs presented in magazines published in Japan and abroad, in catalogs, on home pages on the internet and elsewhere; image data (including color image data) and bibliographic data (including the Japanese Design Classification and D-term) of foreign design gazettes. These are used as the base data for the JPO’s design examination.
On January 1, 2000, the JPO started accepting design registration applications on-line. Accordingly, information on designs of which the registration has been applied for is automatically put into the search files. By the end of 2012, the search files accumulated the image and bibliographic data of about 2.39 million applications and about 5.46 million publicly-known designs.
Updating
In 2012, the image data and bibliographic data for 32,391 applications and approximately 220,000 examination materials for the publicly known design were added.
Storage, including mass storage media
The image data is stored on RAID and the bibliographic data on a database.
Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file
The bibliographic data and image data of design gazettes published by the KIPO, OHIM, the SIPO the USPTO, and WIPO are stored and those data can be searched by using the Japanese Design Classification and D-Terms.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
In-house systems (online/offline)
a) Design Search System
This is a client server-type online system for retrieving application documentary materials and publicly known documentary materials (including foreign design gazettes) by using the Japanese Design Classification and D-terms (search keys that subdivide the Japanese Design Classification), indication of articles (goods), applicant identifying numbers, etc. as search keys. The image data of the document retrieved is sent from the image file server and displayed (color image data is displayed in color) onto the screen of a terminal, for enabling high-speed screening. For an efficient document search, a function is provided to display the design classifications and applicant identifying numbers etc. by the frequency of them coming up as cited references based on past examination results.
In March 2007, search functions were strengthened and reference functions were improved along with the renewal of the search server. In addition, the screen design was made more convenient through a thorough review of the user interface.
b) Search System for Appeal/Trial and Court Decisions (J-term search system)
Appeal/trial and court decisions are accumulated in the form of electronic data with a search index, called “J-term” and searching and screening for the appropriate appeal/trial and court decisions are conducted by using “J-term”.
In addition, a full-text search service is available for appeal/trial and court decisions issued after January 2000.
External databases
Nothing in particular
Administrative management systems (e.g., register, legal status, statistics and administrative support)
In January 2000, a paperless system for design was launched and the administrative and examination procedures were completely moved to a system based on electronic data. Therefore, a total system, covering every procedure from design application filing, formality check and substantive examination, dispatching, registration, publishing the gazette, requesting inspection of files, to requesting certification, was realized. The effect of this system is far reaching, such as more efficient drafting based on the close link between the administrative system and the design search system, more efficient examination by implementation of electronic approval, faster design gazette publication and the separate management of each application.
With the realization of the above system, the JPO started receiving online applications for designs. Since the introduction of the system, the online filing rate has been consistently high reaching 92.4% in 2012. The JPO's system is a comprehensive system and the data processing and search system of designs are a part of this comprehensive system. Therefore for more information on the overall system please refer to the "Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities".
Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), data carriers used
Please refer to the "Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities".
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 JPO Library, as a branch library of the National Diet Library, is located on the first basement of the JPO office building, and is operated in the following manner:
1. Users
- JPO staff and general users
2 Open
- 9:30 to 18:00
Collection management, preservation
The books are labeled and stored with a storage number and classification data, and the bibliographic information is inputted in the library system constructing a database for the books.
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)
a) Providing industrial property (IP) rights information via the Internet
The JPO has been providing the Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) service since March 1999. This service is accessible through the Internet and covers 93 million documents of IP information by using document numbers and/or classifications as search keys. This service was transferred in October 2004 to the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (hereinafter referred to as the “INPIT”), and has been operated there since.
Main services relating to design information that the INPIT provides are as follows:
(1) Design Gazette database search
Design Gazette published in and after 1889 can be searched by using document number. The English version has also been provided since March 2004.The downloading and printing of each document from the publications was made possible in May 2011.
(2) Search for design documents by reference numbers
Various kinds of Design Gazettes and the Decision on Appeal/Trial Gazette in design published since 1964 can be searched by using reference numbers. The downloading and printing of each document from the publications was made possible in May 2011.
(3) Searching of Design Gazettes by text search
A general search, entering classifications under the International Classification for Industrial Designs, or entering document numbers, enables access to design gazettes and publications of disagreed consultation on design applications published in 2000 and thereafter. Search-result thumbnails as well as the downloading and printing of each document from the publications were made possible in May 2011.
(4) Japanese Design Classification and D-term Search
Applying set operations using the Japanese Design Classification and D-terms enables searches for design gazettes and access to these documents. Search-result thumbnails as well as the downloading and printing of each document from the publications were made possible in May 2011.
(5) Design Gazette classification search (displayed in English)
Design Gazette published in and after January 2000 can be searched by using the Japanese design classification, D term and Locarno Classification.
(6) Publicly known data on design inquiry
Bibliographic data of publicly known designs and foreign design gazettes can be searched by entering publicly known reference numbers. From the image data of publicly known designs, those which the owner of the copyright has given the consent to disclosure have become available. Since March 2010, U.S. design gazettes and Korean design gazettes have become accessible.
(7) Publicly known data on design text retrieval
It has been made possible to inquire bibliographic data of public known designs and foreign design gazettes by key word and Japanese design classification. The scope of searchable documents is same as (5) above. Search-result thumbnails were made available in May 2011.
(8) Classification lists
The Japanese Design Classification, the D-term lists and the Locarno-Japan Design Classification Cross-Reference Table, etc. are available as references.
In January 2005, the revised Japanese Design Classification and D-term list became available. The Locarno and the Japanese Design Classification Cross-Reference Table and the Korean and the Japanese Design Classification Cross-Reference Table became available in September 2005. The U.S. Design Classification and the Japanese Design Classification Cross-Reference Table became available in December 2006. In addition, information on “screen designs” that corresponds with the Japanese Design Classification (put into force on April 1, 2007) was added to the “(current) Japanese Design Classification/D terms” in October 2007. Moreover, the “design gazette classification search (displayed in English),” an English design gazette search service based on the Japanese design classification and Locarno Classification, was added in March 2013.
In addition, the published appeal and trial decisions from 1940 onwards, and as related information, the legal status information (for applications filed from 1990 onwards) on applications, registrations and appeal and trial decisions can be referenced.
b) Providing JPO data
In March 1999, the JPO began providing the bibliographical and status information of the JPO to external users by organizing and converting it into a standard format with better usability. Furthermore, the service was transferred to the INPIT in October 2004, and the service is currently being provided to the external users once every two weeks. Bibliographic data of publicly known design materials and foreign design gazettes has been available since April 2005.
c) Reference to design gazettes, etc
INPIT has 44 access devices, including those capable of conducting advanced searches, which is available in the Public gazettes reading room on the second floor of the JPO office building. This allows free public access to the IPDL Service, gazettes on CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, etc.
d) Reference to examination and trial documents
The INPIT is collecting various technical documents (books, etc.), which are used in the examinations and trials by the JPO, widely from inside and outside of Japan and making them available to the public.
URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of industrial design applications
The INPIT has developed software for electronic application, enabling administrative procedures such as the filing of applications for patent, utility model, trademark and industrial design, appealing for trial and payment of the annual fees, to be conducted online.
The software can be downloaded for free at: http://www.inpit.go.jp/pcinfo/index.html
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://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_gaiyo_e/de_right.htm
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
Same as II. 5. above.
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
The JPO mutually exchanges official gazettes, etc. with 58 organizations (including international organizations) in 49 nations, out of which it sends CD-ROM Design Gazette (“Published Registered Design Applications”) to 23 organizations.
As part of the exchange of data between two countries, the JPO has sent to China and the Republic of Korea Design Gazette image data and analyzed D-term data prior to the first publishing of CD-ROM Design Gazette, recorded on an electronic medium (DVD-R etc.).
Exchange of machine-readable information, e.g., data contained on CD-ROM or magnetic tape
The JPO has been sending CD-ROM “Published Registered Design Applications” since January 2000.
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.)
a) IPDL training seminars
Training seminars of design search using Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) were held for beginners of industrial property right search from individuals and SMEs (12 times in 7 major cities nationwide in FY2012). The second session of the seminar was held on weekends in Tokyo and Osaka, and on weekdays in other cities. IPDL has been managed at the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) since October 2004 (Trainings have been held since FY2006).
Training courses for national and foreign participants
See previous/next items
Assistance to developing countries (sending consultants and experts, receiving trainees from developing countries, etc.)
a) Activities/cooperation utilizing voluntary contributions (Japan Funds-in-Trust) for WIPO
(1) Training for government officials
Training related to informatization was provided for two weeks in Japan under the cooperation with WIPO.
http://www.training-jpo.go.jp/en/modules/pico2/index.php?content_id=6919
(2) Support for acquiring patent document search techniques
In March 2013, the JPO held a workshop for staff of local research institutions and governmental organizations in Rwanda with the aim of helping them to understand usefulness of patent information and acquire patent search techniques.
(3) Project for Digitization of IP documentation
The JPO has launched the Project for Digitization of IP Documentation to support digitization of patent documents for countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The digitization project for Indonesia saw its completion in October 2011. In addition, the JPO sent an expert to Cambodia to provide guidance and advice on digitalization in March 2013.
b) Cooperation using other organizations for developing countries
(1) Sending experts
As of May 2013, the JPO sends one long-term expert to the Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights (DGIPR) and the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP), respectively, under the JICA project-scheme technical cooperation.
(2) Modernization of Intellectual Property Right Administration
Responding to requests from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, the JPO sent experts to these countries from 1995 to 2009 under ODA programs, and cooperated on establishing the IT systems needed by these countries, such as administrative processing systems, intra-office search systems, information provision systems (industrial property digital libraries (IPDL), etc.) and electronic filing systems. This was in addition to working on developing human resources. Currently, the JPO cooperates with Southeast Asian countries, providing guidance and advice by sending experts to these countries.
*For further information, visit the following JPO's website.
http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/kokusai_e/ipcoop_asia-pacific_e11.htm
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
http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=01&dn=1&co=01&ky=%E6%84%8F%E5%8C%A0%E6%B3%95&page=7
contain the Annual Report of the Office
(Japanese) http://www.jpo.go.jp/cgi/link.cgi?url=/shiryou/toushin/nenji/nenpou2012_index.htm
(English) http://www.jpo.go.jp/shiryou_e/toushin_e/kenkyukai_e/annual_report2012.htm
if necessary, provide further information related to the topics referred to in the current ATR
Nothing in particular
provide open source codes related to industrial design information systems
Nothing in particular
contain industrial design-related news regarding the Office
http://www.jpo.go.jp/index.htm
X. Other relevant matters
a) A Cross-reference table between International Classification for Industrial Designs (the Locarno Classification) and the Japanese Design Classification (a concordance data):
For effective usage of the Japanese Design Gazettes as examination materials in foreign countries, the JPO established a cross-reference table between the International Classification for Industrial Designs and the Japanese Design Classification (a concordance data). As reference information, the JPO lists the International Classification in the gazettes in addition to the Japanese Design Classification.
b) The English translation of the Japanese Design Classification:
The JPO has prepared an English version of the revised Japanese Design Classification in 2005, which has been posted on the JPO website since October 2006.
c) Information on reference design documents:
The JPO provides in Design Gazettes information on reference designs which were referred to by the examiner in the examination process of each registered design.