Annual Technical Report 2008 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Republic of Korea (SCIT/ATR/ID/2008/KR)
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 2008, the number of industrial design applications was 58,912, a 5.8% increase over the number for the previous year (when measured on a multiple class basis). While the number of registered designs was 39,858, representing a 2.2% decrease compared with the number for the previous year.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to industrial designs
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=3041&catmenu=m02_06_01
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
Gazette publication
Since July 2001, PDF gazettes of registered designs have been made available on KIPO's website (http://www.kipo.go.kr) and updated daily. In addition, XML-formatted DVD-ROM gazettes are distributed to 29 domestic and foreign organizations twice a month. The master DVD-ROMs of the publications are archived after the publications have been uploaded to the Internet. In 2008, 42,271 industrial design applications and registered designs were disclosed in official gazettes.
Digitalization Center (Data Conversion Center)
In January 2001, KIPO began operating a Digitalization / Data Conversion Center for digitalizing paper-based industrial design applications and intermediate documents such as amendments, written opinions, objections, registrations, trials and paper-based gazettes at both its Daejeon headquarters and its Seoul branch office.
The Center automatically receives applications, performs formality checks and data conversions on them. Delays and errors during the conversion process is avoided through the use of state-of-the-art technologies, such as, Multi OCR, dual key-inputs, automated verification of electronic data, and color-scanning technology for documents attached to applications.
In 2008, the Center digitized 116,786 documents, which were a combination of 777 different kinds of paper-based documents, including 4,762 industrial design applications.
Data Management Center
Since May 2002, KIPO has been operating a Data Management Center to provide high-quality data services. The Center is responsible for generating data, processing it and fixing any errors found in it. In 2008, data analysis was conducted on the following:
• Database building: 1,273,000 domestic data and 766,000 foreign data
• Data transfer: In order to improve on the availability and accuracy of public data, KIPO provided the Korea Institute of Patent Information with 790,000 raw data on industrial designs in 2008. These are available to the public through a free online design information search service - KIPRIS.
• Media Management System: In 2008, 3,016 media collected from foreign offices were assigned individual ID numbers and recorded in the Media Management System.
Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of industrial design information
Industrial design-related information intended for the public (including applicants) from KIPO is usually announced at KIPO's website. Other announcements include:
• Announcements about notifications that couldn't be delivered due, for example, to an applicant changing his or her postal address without informing KIPO.
• Advance notice on industrial designs expiring due to the non-payment of fees.
• Other notices, such as, changes in laws or fees.
Internet gazette search service
Since July 2001, KIPO has had an Internet gazette search service, which is available through its website . At this website, customers can refer to publications from the year 2002 to date in PDF format. In addition, they can be sent notifications about their areas of interests through a push-mail service or a Short Message Service (SMS).
Databases and office automation
With the launch of the KIPOnet system in 1999, almost all IPR administrative processes was computerized including the receiving, examining, and granting of applications. In addition, the system facilitated the sending of examination results to applicants via email and SMS; publishing of official gazettes on the Internet, and handling most registration and opposition procedures online. And then due to the KIPOnet II system (an upgrade to the original KIPOnet system), which was completed in 2005, KIPO started offering nonstop services, a work-at-home examination system, a real-time notification service as well as a public service for notifying applicants of when their applications will be examined.
Through the WEB-PASS, which was launched in November 2007, all types of IPR applications including industrial designs can now be filed on the web through KIPO's homepage. Moreover, in 2008, for the convenience of users, the WEB-PASS was configured to enable applicants to submit documents related to registration, trial or other intermediate processes online. In addition, KIPO started having automatic notifications mailed to applicants and handling semiconductor integrated circuit layout registration procedures online. For the database on designs, please refer to the attached file, below.
DesignDB - Design database status of KIPO
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
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=4012&catmenu=m02_01_01
http://eng.kipris.or.kr/
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)
KIPO uses the Korean Industrial Design Classification System, a unique system comprising of 73 main classes. Although KIPO is yet to adopt the Locarno Classification for examination activities, it cross-references the Locarno Classification on official gazettes with a search index containing information, such as classification, applicant, application number/date, publication number/date and registration number/date.
Bibliographic data and processing
With regard to prior application and registration, bibliographic data and images of industrial design applications dating back to 1960 are loaded into the Industrial Design Search System, including gazette data of registered designs. Besides, the Design Search System includes foreign data collected from the design gazettes of the JPO, WIPO and OHIM.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
File building
Regarding the searchable database for KIPO’s examiners, please refer to the table attached under “databases and office automation” of section II. We have continued building and updating files necessary for improving the quality of examinations, with data acquired from domestic and foreign offices and organizations. As at the end of 2008, we had built a database of 28.6 million data comprising of 18.3 million data on domestic designs and 10.2 million data on foreign designs.
Storage, including mass storage media
Design data are stored on disks either in Text, TIFF or SGML/XML formats.
Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file
In addition to the searchable data introduced under the file building and updating section above, for easy public access, the official gazettes of the GB, CA, CN, TW, RU and TH are also available at KIPO’s IP Digital Library on microform, roll film and tape cartridge.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
In-house systems (online/offline)
Industrial Design Search System
The Industrial Design Search System enables KIPO's examiners to electronically retrieve and display domestic and foreign databases, including gazettes, design catalogues, and typefaces from Korea, Japan and WIPO. It provides bibliographic data, images, and SGML/XML data. The system features an electronic folding screen system that compares examination results with reference searches on two monitors.
Due to its convenient interface, examiners can easily move to the Examination System to prepare a notification and send it to an applicant in real time soon after the examiner finishes retrieving relevant designs etc.
Trial and Court Decision Documents Search System
With the launch of the KIPOnet system in 1999, KIPO established the Trial and Court Decision Documents Search System for its examiners. Due to this system, examiners can easily access detailed information on trial and court decisions on industrial designs and relevant texts.
Its main functions and features are as follows:
• Full text (or keyword) search
• Individual user interface option on first screen, search items, and search results
• User interface that shows Grid style search results
• Search function by classification code for figures, similar groups, and trials
• A function for checking whether an application is on trial or not
• Check and view function for trials on controversial issues
Administrative management systems (e.g., register, legal status, statistics and administrative support)
As at the end of 2008, the KIPOnet had about 39 subsystems, some of which are listed below. Each subsystem plays an important role in managing data produced during the various phases of the IPR administrative processes; for instance, dealing with issues that originate in the transfer of data from one phase to another, and streamlining search-related administration.
General Information Management System
The General Information Management System generates a variety of statistical and policy data on industrial designs as well as trademarks, patents and utility models by using a variety of information retained by KIPO's databases. The system efficiently manages large volumes of data and provides end-users with various functions and tools.
Electronic Approval and Routing System
The Electronic Approval and Routing System enables electronic approval of IPR and general administration processes. The system comprises of two major parts: an approval system for IPR examinations, introduced with the KIPOnet system in 1999; and an approval system for general administration, launched in June 2000 and upgraded in January 2004. The system is used for the following:
• Electronic approval: preparation, approval, dispatch, and receipt of electronic documents, management of a document box, and circulation of documents
• Electronic mail: preparation, transmission, receipt, and management of emails
• Electronic bulletin board: posting and review
• Management and preservation of records
The system has a pop-up window feature, which shows messages on the approval status of documents and could be used for managing individual schedules. The electronic approval system was used for 99.9% of all the documents approved in 2008.
Knowledge Oasis
In 2006, the Knowledge Management System that was launched in 2001, was renamed Knowledge Oasis (KOASIS). The KOASIS does not only represent a change in name, but also represents a significant upgrade to the previous version of the system. The system is dedicated to the efficient management of a variety of knowledge and information created by KIPO staff. It is for assisting them in their work, and enables them to discuss and share knowledge through the bulletin board of the KOASIS website. Furthermore, it offers a keyword search function for gleaning details of approved documents and allows them to utilize various management tools, such as, knowledge maps, knowledge warehouses, personalized portals, and cyber knowledge communities.
In addition, the system enables KIPO to share ideas and knowledge with 18 external R&D institutes including the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) through an online Q&A communication corner. Some high quality information posted on the KOASIS is available to the public through KIPO's homepage and private search portals like Naver. Since November 2007, it has been linked to the Government's Knowledge Management System for more extended information sharing between government agencies.
Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), data carriers used
Hardware
As at the end of 2008, KIPOnet had 48 UNIX Enterprise servers, 64 NT servers, and 17 Linux servers. For higher availability, individual servers are clustered for the e-filing system, internal transaction system, and search system and particularly between the Homepage Server and the Portal Server. In case of system failures, the cluster paired systems temporarily substitute for each other. Since servers based on the clustering structure use the same database when applying the Oracle Parallel System, the accuracy and consistency of data is maintained even when server failures occur.
The storage capacity of the servers is 311 terabytes. RAID 0, 1, or 5 is used according to the method of data protection. For security, 44 sets of equipment, such as VPNs and IDSs have been deployed. The peripherals consist of 6 backup devices, 5 jukeboxes and 341 sets of network equipment.
The improvements made in terms of hardware performance in 2008 are as follows:
• Increase and adjustment of server resources for the internal transaction system
• Increase and adjustment of sever resources for the search system
• Change of disc configuration for the search system
• Replacement of servers for the e-filing system and the internal transaction system
• Replacement of database servers for the search system
Network
In 2008, two sets of communication devices were configured for search services and 22 old communication devices were replaced with new ones. The communication line and devices were doubled for improved services at the Call Center, targeting applicants and the public. In addition, the KIPOnet system was linked to the email one-stop service system of the Korea Post, as well as to a new outsourcing agency for prior art searches.
The placement of KIPO's IT resources and network connections were as follows:
• 45Mbps * 2 lines between the Headquarters and the Seoul Branch office
• 45Mbps * 1 line between the Headquarters and the International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI)
• 40Mbps * 1 line for intra-network connection between the Headquarters and the Call Center
• 10Mbps * 1 line for Internet connection between the Headquarters and the Call Center
Software
For databases, performance tests are regularly conducted with support from Oracle's customer support team. In addition, we continuously upgrade the backup tools, middleware, and web servers to improve the KIPOnet system's performance and functionality.
As at the end of 2008, about 177 commercial software applications were in use. The software applications can be grouped into three major groups and are mostly related to database and middleware. The major groups are:
• 164 perpetual licensed software including DBMS and web servers
• 6 subscription licensed software including V3
• 7 packaged software for KOASIS, web mail, messenger, performance management, electronic approval, six sigma, and etc.
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 Information Policy Bureau organizes comprehensive services for the public by managing the IP Digital Library and the e-Patent Portal System, while other departments support customers according to their duties and responsibilities.
e-Patent Portal System
Since 2001, for the convenience of applicants, KIPO has served the public through the e-Patent Portal System implemented at KIPO's website. This portal helps applicants to file all kinds of industrial property applications online with the applicant code and digital signature authorized by KIPO via the Internet. In addition, they can change their personal information on the website, pay their fees via Internet banking, and are informed of the legal status of their applications. They are also informed in advance, of when their applications will be examined by e-mail and/or SMS. Furthermore, they can request and receive certificates, download electronic dossiers, such as, priority certificates via the Internet, and check the status of their requests.
Besides, individual applicants can check the status of their applications through an HTML-based service titled "How is my application going?" and enterprises, universities, institutes and IP law firms through a SOAP-based web service. This e-Patent Portal System is linked to the WEB-PASS, which is a web-based e-filing system that is being used for receiving all kinds of IPR applications including industrial designs. In 2008, the WEB-PASS service was extended to include intermediate, registration and trial documents.
IP Digital Library
The IP Digital Library located at KIPO's headquarters supports its customers by enabling them to search for design information in a variety of formats including online, microfilm, and paper, as well as of journals and magazines the Library has. They could also order copies of published industrial design applications as filed.
Call Center
To integrate scattered counseling resources and promptly provide technical advice, the Call Center was established in March 2002. Its roles can be summarized as follows:
• Counseling: procedural and technical advice on (electronic) filing; examination; registration; trial; search and use of IPR information; and on the evaluation of disputes, such as IPR infringement.
• Customer Relationship Management: customized information based on the record of past phone requests and opinions collected through customer satisfaction surveys for better policies and promotional events.
• Outreach service: informs applicants in advance that their applications would be extinguished and suggests reasonable solutions.
• Others: managing a quick response system that is available on the Internet; dispatching a troubleshooter to help applicants with their e-filing problems, online meetings between an examiner and an applicant through the local IP information center and the Multimedia Center in KIPO.
Security
In terms of security, the digital signature of electronic documents is used based on a public key infrastructure for encryption and decoding. To protect customers' computers from external attack, a lot of security equipment such as IDS, firewall, and VPN have been deployed. Unauthorized access to the main database is prohibited via database security tools. 24-7 Enterprise Security Management has been introduced for security equipments and servers. Also, a key logger security and hacking-diagnostic system is used for protecting PCs against other risks, such as spy wares; and a single sign-on system has been implemented for tighter security in accordance with the standardized Directory Access Protocol.
The KIPOnet system won the ISO 27001 certification in 2006 in recognition of its highly secure web services for applicants, SecureOS for servers, individual information protection marks, and secure site mark.
Collection management, preservation
IP Library
The IP Digital Library archives design documents, such as, bibliographic data, abstracts and full texts collected from seven countries and one international organization in a variety of media such as, paper, microform, and CD-ROM. The library also possesses 8,138 volumes of journals, magazines and books that were either donated or purchased.
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)
Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS)
Since January 2001, domestic industrial design information has been made available free-of-charge through KIPRIS at http://www.kipris.or.kr/kor/main/main.jsp: bibliographic data (in text format from 1948), images (in JPG format from 1948), and gazette data (in TIFF format from 1964 to 1997 and in PDF/XML from 1998 onwards). This service also covers up-to-date information on the legal status of industrial design applications and statistical information. In terms of its functions, the service offers a view function for hexagonal drawings, a Korean to English (and English to Korean) translation service, sorting function for search results, and popular search queries.
URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of industrial design applications
http://www.kiporo.go.kr
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.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=10004&catmenu=m07_01_11_04
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
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=4012&catmenu=m02_01_01
http://www.kipris.or.kr/kor/main/main.jsp
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
KIPO distributes its official gazettes on industrial designs via CD-ROMs to 19 IPOs including the AU, CA, DE, FR, IT, JP, PH, SE, SG, and US. And we receive official gazettes on CD-ROM from IPOs, such as, the JP, RO, RU, and WIPO.
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.)
2008 Trademark-Design Exhibition (December 2008)
To raise public awareness of the importance of trademarks and designs as an intellectual property right, KIPO has been holding an annual trademark and design exhibition since 2006. The event for 2008 focused on successful management strategies for individual trademarks and designs to strengthen the competitiveness of interested enterprises. The exhibition covered issues like the promotion of the creation and use of related IP rights. It had seven exhibition booths: KIPO, New trends of trademarks and designs, Best practices of Enterprises, Original/Counterfeit Experience, Contest Awards for University Students, Trademark and Design Counselor, and the Brand and Design Seminar.
Training courses for national and foreign participants
International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI)
In 1987, the International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI) was established in Seoul as an organization affiliated with KIPO. It initially offered 11 IPR training courses and then moved in February 1991, to the Daedeok Science Valley in Daejeon with the support of WIPO and the United Nations Development Programme.
As at 2008, out of a total of 91 courses, the IIPTI offered seven courses to foreign trainees. Notably, customized courses were offered to the officials and examiners of the Vietnamese government on the special request of their government. The IIPTI also provided consultations on the establishment of an IP education center in Indonesia in cooperation with WIPO.
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.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=10004&catmenu=m07_01_11_04
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=3031&catmenu=m02_03_01
contain the Annual Report of the Office
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=3072&catmenu=m02_04_04
http://www.kipo.go.kr/en/
contain industrial design-related news regarding the Office
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=5001&catmenu=m03_01_01