Annual Technical Report 2006 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Canada (SCIT/ATR/ID/2006/CA)
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
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Industrial Design Applications
Year Residents Non-residents Total % change
2002 752 2,641 3,393
2003 748 2,951 3,699 9.02%
2004 636 3,488 4,124 11.49%
2005 583 3,886 4,469 7.72%
2006 640 4,195 4,835 8.19%
Industrial Design Registrations
Year Residents Non-residents Total % change
2002 499 1,679 2,178
2003 460 2,130 2,590 18.92%
2004 564 2,546 3,110 22.15%
2005 530 2,771 3,301 5.79
2006 411 3,043 3,454 4.63%
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to industrial designs
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Industrial design documents are classified according to the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard.
In 2005, CIPO conducted the second important phase of the Industrial Design re-engineering initiative to address needed improvements to the classification process. Specifically, the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard is in need of updating and simplification. CIPO conducted an analysis of the Locarno Classification and a comparison study of other IPO classification standards. Recommendations from this initiative will identify the approach CIPO will take to address the deficiencies in the current system and any possible implementation of Locarno Standard as the main framework
Bibliographic data and processing
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The Canadian industrial design prior art search file comprises approximately 100,000 registered designs.
All designs registered since June 2002 are stored electronically in ‘DesignPlus’. Access to these registered designs is now available for public search via the CIPO’s web site.
In 2006, all registered designs pre-dating June 2002 (dating back to 1861) were scanned and entered in the Canadian Industrial Design database (designPlus). These records will be made available for public search in late 2007. Currently these records are available in paper(including document files and index cards), microfiche and CD-rom formats for public searching through the Client Service Center
The Industrial Design Division maintains a searchable record of registered industrial designs as follows:
On-Line Electronic search file: For designs registered since June 2002 in the ‘DesignPlus’ system, this search file includes the application as registered (owner name/address, title, description, agent and/or representative for service in Canada), drawings, and bibliographic data (filing date, priority date, registration date, classification). Registrations are searchable by registration number, title, agent name, owner name, and by class.
Paper drawings search file: For designs registered prior to June 2002, this search file includes the drawings with bibliographic data such as filing date, registration date, classification, title and owner name. The paper drawings are arranged by class according to the Canadian Industrial Design Classification Standard.
Microfiche / CD-rom search file: For designs registered prior to June 2002, this search file includes microfiche and CD copies of the registration certificate, the application as registered, assignments and maintenance documents. It is maintained in numerical order by registration number.
Paper correspondence file: This search file includes a complete file document history including prosecution and correspondence. These files are maintained in numerical order by application number.
Index cards: For designs registered prior to June 2002, an alphabetical index card system arranged by owner, assignee and licensee is maintained as a means of obtaining the registration number of a particular design.
Updating
The Canadian industrial design prior art search file is updated on a daily basis.
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The DesignPlus system is a client/server system with the client component developed with Oracle*Forms, and the UNIX (HP-UX) server using an ORACLE v9 database. Novell file servers are used for electronic mail and for sharing common files during development. A NFS disk area on the main server is used to hold the design images. This allows client workstations to access the designs within the client interface, while storing all design images under the control of the main server.
SERVER
· HP 9000 series model HP RP4410
· Operating System HP-UX 11.23
· 935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM
· Oracle RDMS V 9.2.0.7.0
· Oracle SQL*Net V 9
· TCP/IP
CLIENT WORKSTATION
· Pentium based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)
· dual 19" LCD
· MS-Windows XP Professional Version 2 Service Pack 2, Word 2000,
· TCP/IP SQL*Net 9.0
· ViewNow NFS (Network File System)
· Some workstations with scanners
PRINTERS (networked)
· Lexmark T632, T642 and T644 network printers
NETWORK
· TCP/IP
· 1 gb between server and switches
· 10 mb between switches and workstation (upgradable to 100mb)
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)
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The Industrial Design Division within the Copyright and Industrial Design Branch of CIPO manages the industrial design product line. The primary function is the granting of exclusive industrial design rights and the maintenance of the Canadian Register of Industrial Designs. The Division also provides certified documents for use in civil proceedings and criminal investigations, furnishes information to the public by making the registers accessible, answers detailed questions, distributes information materials, advises on appropriate legislative change, and manages new and revised regulations.
The industrial design search files are located in the Client Service Centre search room at CIPO Headquarters at 50 Victoria Street, Gatineau, Québec. K1A 0C9.
Collection management, preservation
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The CIPO Internet website was first established in 1995, and has continued with major enhancements since 1999. These enhancements included the use of the website for major consultations on new intellectual property legislation, the posting of new industrial design regulations and office practice notices and the provision of electronic filing services.
The Guide to Industrial Designs and the Industrial Design Office Practices manual can be found under the Industrial Design link of the CIPO website.
The CIPO Client Service Centre provides general information to clients interested in applying for industrial design registration as well as assisting clients to perform searches in the prior art.
Industrial design examination staff are available to provide additional guidance and assistance to the public interested in searching the prior art.
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.
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There is no mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information at this time. However, information exchange with respect to classification issues and other matters of mutual interest continue to be exchanged with counterparts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Discussions are continuing with the USPTO with respect to the potential exchange of registered designs between Offices over the Internet.
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)
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In 2005 a new organizational structure was implemented and resources were increased to assist in the reduction of inventory and improve turnaround times. In 2006 all positions were created and staffed. As a result, the industrial design division showed increased production for the issuance of registrations and examination first actions plus tat’s were reduced to 12 months.
Continued progress was made towards completion of the electronic version of the Canadian Industrial Design Database. The first phase of this database was launched in December 2005, with a partial database of records from June 2002 to present. When the completed database is made available by the end of 2007, the public will online access to all industrial designs registered in Canada since 1861.
As part of the Quality Management System aimed to improve product and service quality, the industrial design division developed and implemented an enhanced training program for industrial design examiners.
The Industrial Design Division continued to work closely with stakeholders through the spring and fall meetings of the Partnership Committee on Industrial Design.