Annual Technical Report 2003 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by United Kingdom (SCIT/ATR/ID/2003/GB)
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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
2002
Design applications filed: 9505
Design registrations: 9192
2003
Design applications filed: 5910
Design registrations: 6470
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year:
Following a record year for Design applications in the UK in 2002 there has been a fall of 50% in applications in the year 2003 following the opening of the Community Designs Office.
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of industrial design documents and of secondary sources of industrial design information, i.e., official gazettes
Lists of designs which have been registered, renewed, corrected, or which have applications for restoration are published weekly in the Patents and Designs Journal . The Journal is published weekly and is available in pdf format on our web site (www.patent.gov.uk). This Journal is only published in electronic form.
Our illustrated journal Designs in View is published on a weekly basis in paper format weekly. Recently granted designs are published with a selected black and white image and the relevant bibliographic details. Changes have been developed to produce an electronic version of this journal allowing search by a number of indices including proprietor, agent and Locarno class.
III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of industrial design information according to the classification systems applied
All design applications are currently classified internally according to the Locarno Classification, 7th edition system. Locarno. Work is currently underway to introduce Locarno 8th edition and update our designs search databases. Internal adaptions have been made to Locarno class 99 to include design applications which consist of a logo.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
The UK registration process does not include a novelty search. Searches for earlier design registrations are undertaken on application and payment of a fee. Copies of design representations are held for non-textile designs from January 1991 onwards and for Textile designs from August 1989 onwards. The UK Public Records Office holds representations for earlier registrations.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
Bibliographic details of designs are kept on the mainframe ACORD system which runs on an ICL mainframe. Design images and associated bibliographic details are maintained on the internal Designs Registry Image Management System (DRIMS). These system are used internally for searching purposes and for commercial searches. DRIMS and the public web based search system DRIMSWeb have a standard Documentum architecture.
DRIMSWeb allows public users to search and view images of registered designs, either by classification, proprietor or design number. Images are available for registered designs that were in force as at 1 June 1997 and that have been registered since, (with the exception of Textiles).
UK Designs Registry staff are all equipped with networked Pentium 4 PCs which are connected to a local area network running IntraNetWare 6. Standard office automation products available to all staff include Microsoft Office products such as Word and Novell GroupWise for e-mail. Access to the ACORD mainframe system, the DRIMS image system and other networked applications is available via the networked PCs.
VI. Administration of industrial design 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)
The Patent Office website provides information relating to design registration including forms and fees, design law and legal decisions, guides for applicants, examination practice guidance and frequently asked questions. Forms are available in pdf format. Our Central Enquiry Unit acts as a contact centre issuing information and general guidance on designs and design registration. Advice and guidance is also available directly from our Design Registry staff. Copies of our publications can be ordered through our sales branch.
Applications can be made by post or in person to our offices in Newport, South Wales or in London. Designs search through the DRIMSweb system is available for public access at both offices.
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information
There is no exchange of industrial design documentation.
VIII. Matters concerning education and training including technical assistance to developing countries
Designs Registration and Administration have been involved in seminars to both business and students. Our Marketing Section are also involved in the dissemination of design information.
IX. Other relevant matters