Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2024 submitted by United Kingdom
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of industrial design information activities and expected time frames for their realization
We have continued our review of the UK designs framework and expect to consult in mid-2025 on possible changes to the system
We have been publishing our Customer Quality Standard (CQS) performance on a quarterly basis from July 2024 via our Customer Service Standards page on the IPO website IPO customer service standards - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). We intend to continue to develop this metric and consider how we can incorporate the customer view into our assessment process.
We have recruited an additional 5 Design examiners to help us maintain service standards.
Work continues in preparation for Transformation in Designs.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
In 2024/25, we consulted on our proposals for the second phase of our transformation programme. We will undertake the initial exploratory phases relating to our processes for Designs before we start designing and building them.
Our new research IP service launched in January 2025 making our data more accessible than ever before with new ways to search, view and analyse it. Users will be able to take more informed decisions regarding their IP, so that it is easier to innovate in the UK.
Main areas of industrial design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
The UKIPO simplified its Trade Marks, Patents and Designs landing pages to allow customers access to the frequently used areas.
We amended wording on our Application to register designs divided from an earlier application (DF2B) form to make them easier to use for applicants.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
Domestic Designs Applications
2017 19272
2018 26164 (increase of 36%)
2019 25550 (decrease of 2%)
2020 26229 (increase of 3%)
2021 61063 (increase of 133%)
2022 53707 (decrease of 12%)
2023 66535 (increase of 24%)
2024 63173 (decrease of 5%)
2025 (YTD) 25697
International Designs Applications
2018 263
2019 3345 (increase of 1100%)
2020 5231 (increase of 56%)
2021 11095 (increase of 112%)
2022 13608 (increase of 23%)
2023 15053 (increase of 11%)
2024 14313 (decrease of 5%)
2025 (YTD) 6652
Designs Registered
2017 17076
2018 24425 (increase of 42%)
2019 27558 (increase of 12%)
2020 27220 (decrease of 1%)
2021 59983 (increase of 120%)
2022 70096 (increase of 16%)
2023 77254 (increase of 10.2%)
2024 74624 (decrease of 3%)
2025 (YTD) 31188
The above information is based on the calendar year.
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
Statistics related to Industrial Designs at the Intellectual Property Office can be accessed through the annual reports, annual reviews and facts and figures at: Research and statistics - GOV.UK
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
Information regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing can be found at: Register a design: Send your application - GOV.UK
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
Registered designs can be searched by design number or owner name at: Register a design: Overview - GOV.UK
Registered designs can also be searched by other methods such as classification at: DSView
Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification
Designs are classified using the Locarno Classification system. The classification is completed internally by the Designs examiners.
Other activities
The IPO is an active participant in WIPO’s Standing Committee on the Law of Trade Marks, Industrial Designs & Geographical Indications and meets with other participating offices at WIPO during Hague Working Group.
The UKIPO is a member of Locarno and meets bi-annually with other members of the Locarno Committee of Experts meetings.
III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Main types of publications in the field of industrial design information, outline of the content (industrial design applications, design patents, registrations, etc.) and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
The Registered Designs Act 1949 makes up part of the Designs legislation in the UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/737827/Registered_Designs_Act_1949.pdf
The Registered Designs Rules 2006 as amended: The Registered Designs Rules 2006 (as amended) and The Registered Designs (Fees) Rules 2016
Registered Designs Examination Practice sets out guidance on the Intellectual Property Office work practices: Registered Designs Examination Practice - GOV.UK
Designs Practice Notices (DPNs) announces changes to our practice, such as how we interpret a provision of the law, or how we handle applications:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/designs-practice-notices
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
The designs journal is published daily in digital form and contains details of all designs that have been registered and published: https://www.gov.uk/check-the-design-journal
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
Examiner use the Registered Designs Examination practice guidance, Registered Designs Examination Practice guide - Guidance - GOV.UK, the Registered Designs Act 1949, the Registered Designs Rules 2006, and case law. They also liaise with Patent Examiners if the design is of a technical nature.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
Our main office is located in Newport, Wales, where the public can file applications and discuss possible IP protection with an IPO Advisor over the phone or in person via appointment. In addition, we also have a front office in London where customers can file any correspondence for the attention of the Office.
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
The legal status is contained on the journal and may be searched by design number: https://www.gov.uk/search-registered-design
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
The UKIPO uses an internal system for checking if any priority claims declared are exact copies of the filing submitted to the earlier country, if they are not exact copies we would write to the customer for a copy; it also contains a copy of the images pre-conversion into our processing system for reference. This application is for internal use only and for domestic applications only.
The UKIPO has introduced a Real Time Sampling Dashboard which collates the results from our sampling checks and supports our Management team to highlight any trends relating to quality, which enables us to tailor the Examiner training
We have recently reviewed all the information we hold internally on our Share point sites and moved it to a Knowledge Information Board (KIB), which is a much more user-friendly system and allows our examiners and our Management Team to access all the information they need in a much more efficient way.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
Staff access a Windows 10 desktop via Microsoft Surface Pro devices, which are connected to two 24 inch widescreen monitors or one 32 inch monitor via a dock.
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
DEPS - Database used to process designs applications.
KIB – knowledge information base used to support designs related activities.
Share point – information to support designs related activities.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
Registered designs are published overnight.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
Management information is produced from DEPS.
Other matters
We continue work on our Transformation programme. This will include a huge change to our ICT and will improve things for the future. We are excited about the changes ahead, but don’t have any specific details to share at this time.
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION
Office's library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
The UK Patent Library (PatLib) network is part of the 340-strong European Network of Patent Information Centres, managed by the European Patent Office.
The UK PATLIB Network’s main aims are: -
- To enable easy access to IP information locally,
- To provide an effective, efficient IP information service to the general public and businesses.
The UK IPO supports the UK Patlib Network who provide local access to guidance and support through a network of 25 centres based within city centre libraries. The centres have trained, experienced staff to provide practical support to businesses, such as database searching. A recent evaluation of the centres demonstrated that they had supported 48,725 people in 2022/23, providing IP information guidance and support to new prestart, start-up and growing businesses.
The majority of the UK PatLibs are part of the national network of Business & IP Centres (BIPC), which was started by the British Library in 2012 in partnership with the IPO. The network now consists of 21 established centres, located across England and Scotland. The UK IPO works with the British Library to ensure all centres meet the PatLib requirements to deliver specialised IP services.
In the three-year period, April 2020 to March 2023, the BIPC supported a total of 62,876 individuals, through a combination of 17,831 in-person and online one-to-ones, 4,314 workshops or webinars and 1,121 in-person, online or hybrid events.
In addition, BIPC Network staff responded to 51,591 business enquiries, providing aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners with key information. Of the BIPC users who went on to start a new business, 72% were women (60% in London), 26% identified themselves as from a minority ethnic community (e.g. Black British, British Asian, British Chinese, etc.) (43% in London) and 10% had a disability (14% in London). (Democratising Entrepreneurship 2.0, 2023[1]).
Training to deliver these services has been supplied by the IPO through the IP Master Class programme as well as ongoing individual training sessions as needed.
Publications related to different business procedures and industrial design information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
Our main office is located in Newport, Wales, where the public can file applications and discuss possible IP protection with an IPO Advisor over the phone or in person via appointment. In addition, we also have a front office in London where customers can file any correspondence for the attention of the Office.
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centres, etc.
The IPO works with universities, researchers and entrepreneurs to improve understanding how to identify, manage, protect, and use IP to support careers, research, business, commercialisation, and collaboration. This includes the:
- IP Tutor and IP Tutor Plus resources targeting key subject disciplines, with independent and trainer-led resources for students, academics, and educators.
- IP for Research education programme to help researchers understand how IP fits into their research and the commercialisation process.
We are currently working with the sector to update our Intellectual Asset Management guidance to help university leaders and researchers make informed decisions about their IP. This supports UK government’s goal of ensuring that research excellence translates into effective industrial and commercial application.
The IPO’s resources are comprehensive and available in formats that can be tailored to specific needs. All our tools and guidance to support innovation and knowledge exchange are freely available at: Welcome to IPO’s online support tools. These have been designed to help you: | Intellectual Property Office
Education and training: training courses, e learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
As the innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow, it is vital that students learn how to identify, use, and protect their IP as well as respect others' IP. We have a comprehensive strategy to build the IP critical skills needed to support careers, innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. We believe it is important to educate people about IP across all levels and stages of education. We want students to start their careers equipped with an understanding of IP and for educators to have the skills to pass on that knowledge.
We have developed an IP Education Framework that sets out the IP knowledge needed across all levels and stages of education, from primary schools to higher education. To support use of the Framework, we produce and promote accessible, engaging resources for teachers to incorporate IP in core syllabus subjects. These free, curriculum-led lesson plans and resources have been co-created with educators and partners such as UK Music, Aardman Animations and the Industry Trust, to ensure they align with the school curriculum. Our education resources are available on our IP-Support Website at www.ipo.gov.uk/ip-support. This site has global reach with around 31,000 site visits each year.
We also work with international partners to promote the importance of IP education and exchange information on our respective approaches. We recently proposed a project to WIPO members on enhancing IP education capacities of artistic and creative academic institutions to equip youth with IP skills. The project was adopted on 1 May.
Our business outreach activities continue to help businesses make informed decisions how to use, manage, and enforce their IP to its full potential. This is done in a range of ways including attending in person and virtual events, delivering training and working with partner organisations to integrate IP support into business support programmes. We also provide IP Masterclass training for businesses and business advisors. Courses are offered online, in person at the IPO’s main office and in regional locations. The Designs section of the course focuses on the application process and explains how having a registered design can benefit businesses.
We have also developed a range of digital tools for businesses. By adopting a ‘digital first’ approach we can increase the scope and reach of our tools to a diverse and global audience. IP: Business tools and training - GOV.UK
In addition, the UK government is taking steps to support public sector understanding of IP and wider knowledge assets to inform government policy making and the management of public sector assets. The UK IPO is developing targeted government IP education programs to help upskill public sector workers and promote an understanding and appreciation of the importance of IP and IP rights to the innovation ecosystem. We have launched the IP for Government eLearning on the IPO’s website here: Welcome to IPO’s online support tools. These have been designed to help you: | Intellectual Property Office
Other activities
We have a range of digital content which we use to promote and explain the different types of Intellectual property IP BASICS: What is Intellectual Property? - YouTube. We use our social media channels to promote this content.
VI.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION
International exchange of industrial design information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
DEPS release for processing of Hague IR designs, this architecture uses IBM MQ/Middleware.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information
The IPO is an active participant in WIPO’s Standing Committee on the Law of Industrial Designs, Trade Marks and Geographical Indications and meets with other participating offices at WIPO during Hague Working Group.
Assistance to developing countries
Nothing to report.
Other activities
The IPO provide reports to World Trade Organisation on TRIPS Agreement, TRIPS responses details work done with other offices and relate to all areas of IP, reporting on activities around technology transfer and technical cooperation.
VII. ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WIPO STANDARDS CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION
WIPO Standard ST.3: Two-letter codes for the representation of states, other entities and organizations
No plan to implement
We expect this to be reviewed as part of the Transformation programme.
WIPO Standard ST.13: Numbering of applications for IPRs
No plan to implement
WIPO Standard ST.80: Bibliographic data relating to industrial designs
No plan to implement
We expect this to be reviewed as part of the Transformation programme
WIPO Standard ST.81: Content and layout of industrial designs gazettes
Planning to implement.
The UKIPO are currently undergoing a Transformation programme, and we are planning to implement ST.81 as part of this.
WIPO Standard ST.86: Processing of industrial design information using XML
No plan to implement
WIPO Standard ST.87: The exchange of industrial design legal status data
Planning to implement.
The UKIPO are currently undergoing a Transformation programme, and we are planning to implement ST.87 as part of this.
WIPO Standard ST.88: Electronic representation of industrial designs
No plan to implement
We expect this to be reviewed as part of the Transformation programme
WIPO Standard ST.90: Recommendation for processing and communicating Intellectual Property data using Web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
Planning to implement.
The UKIPO are currently undergoing a Transformation programme, and we are planning to implement ST.90 as part of this.
WIPO Standard ST.91: Recommendations on digital three-dimensional (3D) models and 3D images
No plan to implement
We expect this to be reviewed as part of the Transformation programme
WIPO Standard ST.96: Processing of Industrial Property information using XML
Implemented
The UKIPO only process new registrations. However, this will be reviewed as part of Transformation.
VIII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
Nothing to report.