Annual Technical Report 2003 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Australia (SCIT/ATR/ID/2003/AU)
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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
For 2002
Design applications filed = 4111 Design applications granted = 3842
For 2003
Design applications filed = 4658 Design applications granted = 3949
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
Filings increased 13% as compared to the previous year.
Small increase in design registrations/grants (3%).
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
Number of design registrations published in 2003 was = 3949
Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of industrial design information
The Australian Official Journal of Designs is available through electronic means using web services as well as available in paper form.
Mass storage media and microforms used
Australian registered designs are published in the Australian Official Journal of Designs and on microfiche (historical).
Bibliographic data and images for registered designs post 1985 are also available on the Australian Designs Data Search (ADDS) system on the internet
Databases and office automation
The Canberra Office has an ethernet-based LAN providing high speed bandwidth for each user desktop connection. A frame relay-based WAN provides connections from Canberra to each State Capital. A DMZ-based, DSD approved firewall using IAN ports (Internet IEFT Assigned Numbers) provides the secure means to allow access from internal systems/users to external entities such as the Internet or public/private organisations.
Current standard desktop software includes Windows 98 SE with IE 5.0 SP2, Microsoft Office 97 and Lotus Notes. Migration to Windows XP is planned this financial year.
The strategic server infrastructure environment includes Sun Solaris, Oracle RDBMS, J2EE, BEA Weblogic, and Objective EDMS.
The Office's publication system is partially mainframe based. The mainframe provides the following functions using "XICS" typesetting software:
- production of camera ready copy of the Australian Official Journal of Designs;
- production of design certificates and original register entries; and
- production of notices for design applicants or their agents.
III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of industrial design information according to the classification systems applied
Designs applications are classified into the International Designs Classification. Active IDC sub-classes are further classified into internally defined subdivisions
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
The Designs Office maintains and updates a search file system using the abovementioned IDC subdivision of current applications, previously registered designs in Australia and maintains a store of current local and international publications.
V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs
Designs bibliographic data and representations [images] for registrations from 1985 can be searched through a web browser application (ADDS – Australian Designs Data Searching). The Official Journal of Designs is also searchable over the Internet for data from July 2001.
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)
In addition to ADDS, Designs bibliographic data remains available through IP Australia’s web site on Desadmin, the mainframe based Designs administration computer system.
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
Copies of the Australian Official Journal of Designs are sent to 13 countries.
VIII. Matters concerning education and training including technical assistance to developing countries
Assistance to developing countries (sending consultants and experts, receiving trainees from developing countries, etc.)
IP Australia hosted officers from Papua New Guinea and Bhutan.
As part of the Regionally Focussed Action Plan (RFAP) IP Australia has been providing assistance to 14 Forum Island countries in relation to improving IP awareness.
IX. Other relevant matters