Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2023 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
Designs examination have fully embedded the new quality assessment process reviewing a proportion of high-risk cases in real time before they are issued to the customer.
We know how important our quality of service is to our customers. Over the last year we have been developing and trialling a measure to assess the quality of our work across the examination process in Trade Marks and Designs and searches, examinations and amendments in Patents. We are now in a position to be able to publish our quality performance, which we will do 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.
The office has recruited 10 designs examiners to keep up with customer demand and to maintain service standards.
The process for examiners to progress to senior examiners was reviewed, with amendments made to streamline the process whilst ensuring it was fit for purpose and incorporated relevant technical training courses.
Work continues preparing data for transformation.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
In 2023/24, 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. We expect to pilot these services in late 2025.
Our new research IP service is working towards 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. Data relating to designs will be made available through this service in the next phase of our transformation programme.
The transformation project has created and delivered new MIBI reports using Power BI for designs, upgrading to a new platform for reports to be stored on, allowing for decommission of old platforms.
Main areas of industrial design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
Further improvements were made to the website guidance, simplifying designs landing pages to improve customers access to the frequently used areas.
The character length for the applicant address field in the online application form was increased. Wording on DF2B forms (to register designs divided from an earlier application) has been updated to improve clarity for customers.
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 (YTD) 26199
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(YTD) 4608
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 (YTD) 26371
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: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics?departments%5B%5D=intellectual-property-office
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: https://www.gov.uk/apply-register-design
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
Registered designs can be searched by design number or owner name at: https://www.gov.uk/search-registered-design
Registered designs can also be searched by other methods such as classification at: https://www.tmdn.org/tmdsview-web/welcome
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: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/626163678fa8f523bf22abae/consolidated-registered-design-rules-2006.pdf
Registered Designs Examination Practice sets out guidance on the Intellectual Property Office work practices: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registered-designs-examination-practice
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 (www.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
Other sources
Nothing to report.
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 are in the very early stages of Transformation, 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 https://www.ipo.gov.uk/ip-support/
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 and resources specifically for schools can also be found at www.crackingideas.com. 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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/intellectual-property-for-business
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: IP for Government | Intellectual Property Office (ipo.gov.uk).
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.com) 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. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
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