Annual Technical Report 2002 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by United Kingdom (SCIT/ATR/ID/2002/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
Changes experienced in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to the previous year
2001
Design applications filed: 8,703
Design registrations: 7,828
2002
Design applications filed: 9,505
Design registrations: 9,192
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
The year 2002 was the best year for Design applications in the UK. However, since the opening of the Community Designs Office on April 1, 2003 Design applications to the UK have fallen by more than 40%.
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 UK Patent Office publishes lists of designs which have been registered, renewed, corrected, or which have applications for restoration in the Patents and Designs Journal . The Journal is published weekly and is available in electronic format on our web site (www.patent.gov.uk). A paper version is also available.
Designs information is also available via Designs in View, an illustrated journal, published weekly in paper form only. The journal contains a selected black and white image of each design recently granted along with bibliographic details. Consultations are currently taking place with subscribers and users about the format of an electronic version of this Journal.
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)
All designs are classified internally according to the Locarno Classification, 7th edition system. Locarno, miscellaneous Class 99 has been adapted internally to include design applications which consist of a logo.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
File building
No novelty search is undertaken as part of the registration process. Searches for earlier design registrations are undertaken by request. Paper copies of design representations are held for non-textile designs from January 1991 onwards and for Textile designs from August 1989 onwards. Earlier representations are held at the UK Public Records Office.
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 available search file.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
In-house systems (online/offline)
Bibliographic details of designs are kept electronically on the ACORD mainframe system. Design images and associated bibliographic details are maintained on the internal Designs Registry Image Management System (DRIMS). Both this 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 June 1, 1997 and that have been registered since, (with the exception of Textiles).
External databases
No external databases are used as part of the examination process. All design staff have access to the Internet from their networked PC.
Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), data carriers used
All staff in the UK Designs Registry are equipped with networked Pentium 4 PCs which are connected to a local area network running IntraNetWare 6.5. 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
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).
In addition to the search facility, the Patent Office website provides information relating to design registration including forms and fees, design law and legal decisions, guides for applicants and examination practice guidance. Information is also available from our enquiry centres and directly from the Design Registry. Design information is also available at a network of Patent Information Libraries.
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information
VIII. Matters concerning education and training including technical assistance to developing countries
Promotional activities (seminars, exhibitions, visits, advertising, etc.)
Members of the Designs Registry and the Marketing Directorate have been involved in seminars to both business and students.
Training courses for national and foreign participants
Seminars for formalities staff dealing with the filing and administering of designs are held when required.
IX. Other relevant matters