Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2022 submitted by the EUIPO

Please provide links to your website where the requested information can be found in English, French, or Spanish.  Alternately, you may provide text responses instead of URLs if desired.  If the information is not available on your website in an ATR language, then please provide text.

URLs in responses should meet the following requirements:

  • Link to pages with information in English, Spanish, or French
  • The URL will remain stable over time (at least three years, preferably more)
  • Goes to the specific information requested, not to a general homepage
  • If the URL goes to a long PDF document such as an annual report, please indicate which sections or pages contain relevant information.
  • Provide additional instructions for using the URL if needed. For instance, if the page requires the user to login first, or if the requested information requires selecting certain options or filters on the page that can not be included in the URL. 

The term "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. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of industrial design information activities and expected time frames for their realization
  2. New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
  3. Main areas of industrial design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
  4. Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
  5. Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

A comprehensive overview of the EUIPO main policies and plans can be found on the EUIPO ONLINE website, which can be found at:

The main link to the EUIPO website is: www.euipo.europa.eu

The EUIPO has a Strategic Plan that is prepared every five years that includes a comprehensive set of Programmes and Projects to be delivered in the coming years.  The latest Strategic Plan (SP 2025) which runs from 2020 to 2025 has been approved and is progressing well.  The SP 2025 is split into three strategic drivers that covers the following areas:

  • IPnetwork – strategic drive 01

Our cooperation goals: our networks; our international activities; our work with enforcement authorities and other partners; and our global reach.

  • IPexcellence – strategic drive 02

Advanced customer-centric services for all our users, especially SMEs. Effective and simplified working practices. Increasing added value to businesses.

  • IPinnovation – strategic drive 03

Continuous learning and sustainable staff engagement. Evolving with the digital era. Moving towards the future sustainable workplace.

For more information on the SP2025, please go to the following link:

https://euipo.europa.eu/ - under Strategic drivers  

  • Main areas of trade mark and design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year  

The titles of the most important ICT services under development as part of the SP2025 include the following projects:

  • Enhancing IP protection on e-commerce marketplaces
  • Anti-Counterfeiting Blockathon Infrastructure
  • SME programme: SME (Small and medium sized enterprises) Website
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • New trade mark efiling form both for novices and experts
  • Trade mark pre-assessment tools
  • Blockchain IP register
  • Artificial Intelligence implementation
  • Integration and expansion of IT security
  • Modernised EUIPO Online Platform

Please refer to SP2025 for further information.

  • Statistics:  changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes  

Please find below the links to the most important sources of information with respect to statistics in both the trade mark and design area:

  • The Annual report

Under "About the EUIPO" on the website.

  • The Work Programme

Under "About the EUIPO" on the website.

Broader statistics on trade mark and design activities can be found at the following link,

Under "About the EUIPO" on the website - transparency

This includes the following useful information:

  • The EUIPO Trade Mark Focus Report (2010-2017 Evolution)
  • The EUIPO Design Focus Report (2010-2019 Evolution)
  • The Alicante News – our newsletter

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
  2. Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
  3. Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification
  4. Other activities

The main link to the EUIPO website is: www.euipo.europa.eu

There is a dedicated section on designs which includes "route to registration".  Here you are provided with support to electronically file to the Office.  It also includes access to Design efiling and DesignClass (for indication of products)


III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. 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)
  2. Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
  3. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
  4. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)

  5. Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)

  6. Other sources

The main link to the EUIPO website is: www.euipo.europa.eu

  • Main types of publications in the field of trade mark and designs information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online – URLs)

eSearch Plus - Search trademarks, designs, owners, representatives, Bulletins and Office decisions in one single application

https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/

  • Official Gazettes:  main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online (URL), etc.

Also available via eSearch Plus

  • Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases

Also available via eSearch Plus

  • Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)

Also available via eSearch Plus

  • Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)

Also available via eSearch Plus


IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
  2. Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
  3. Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
  4. Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
  5. Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
  6. Other matters

The main link to the EUIPO portal (website) is: www.euipo.europa.eu

  • Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office:  general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements

The EUIPO is using specific software tools tailored to their specific business processes. A series of tools allows the complete electronic management of the full process of EU trade marks and designs from:

  • Electronic filings available on the EUIPO portal (https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/web/guest/home)
  • Complete examination process for EUIPO examiners using the an internally developed IPTool software ( EU design examination, registration, invalidity; Appeals)
  • Register of designs available via the online IP Register in the EUIPO website.

The EUIPO is using commercial off-the shelf tools for supporting business processes such as finance and HR management, for instance. In this particular business areas, the EUIPO is using SAP solutions.

  • Hardware used to support business processes of the Office

The EUIPO has 2 Tier 4 data centres to host their applications. These two data centres allow load balancing and disaster recovery.

Currently EUIPO is also exploring the capabilities proposed by the cloud, migrating little by little, some IT application in a controlled way.

All EUIPO staff work with laptops, allowing them to be able to work from anywhere. These laptops are running with Microsoft Windows, the Office 365 suite (authorized software only based on data protection rules).

  • Internal databases:  coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
  • Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file:  file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file

The EUIPO use for themselves and also propose to the general public via their web site (https://euipo.europa.eu/) a series of on-line tools to perform searches on various databases on IP related matters:

  • “eSearch plus” - Trade marks, designs, owners, representatives, and bulletins  
  • eSearch Case Law - EU and national case law
  • TMview - Trade marks in the European Union and beyond
    • DesignView - Designs in the European Union and beyond
    • GIview - Geographical indications in the European Union and beyond

The underlying databases are built by the EUIPO and all other IP offices that officially agree to share the information and make it available.

  • Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
  • Other matters 


V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Office's library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
  2. Publications related to different business procedures and industrial design information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.

  3. Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.

  4. Education and training: training courses, e learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
  5. Other activities
  • Office’s library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries

The EUIPO Library consists of a physical facility on EUIPO premises, which includes 6 workstations, a consultation area and reception. This library also has a digital library catalogue known as the Knowledge Hub. The library is in principle for internal EUIPO staff, however, it does open its doors upon request for IP university students. In 2022 the EUIPO Library supported the Academy Research visits initiative by making the library content available to the attending researchers.

The library holds 23,218 items, both physical and electronic of which 4,628 are IP books; 9,198 are IP bulletins, journals and reviews; 435 WIPO publications; 6 IP databases; 81 EUIPO publications and 82 IP related works and dissertations of EUIPO Trainees. The EUIPO Library is a member of EUROLIB, the European Community and Associated Institutions Library Co-operation Group.

  • Publications related to different business procedures and industrial design information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.


Check on EUIPO ONLINE.

  • Cooperation with universities, technology, and innovation support centers, etc.

Academic Initiatives

Pan-European Seal Programme

In the 2022 the Pan-European Seal Programme (PES) reached 117 partner universities from 26 EU countries and 11 EPC member states. Approximately 100 high-achieving graduates benefited from a year-long, paid traineeship at the EUIPO in 2022.

During this traineeship, in addition to the on-the-job training professional experience gained at the EUIPO, trainees were invited to attend several major events:

  • EUIPO Trainees Orientation Programme (ETOP);
  • EUTM/RCD Intensive Module (open to all PES Universities as well)
  • Pan-European Seal IP Campus event was held in hybrid modality from 2 to 6 May 2022. Trainees, EUIPO Staff, EPO, NIPOs, PES Universities, PES Alumni, and Talent Bank Associated Partners were invited to participate, with a total of 339 participants in total.
  • Career Event, where different career paths and future career prospects were presented.


Post-traineeship professional opportunities:

Exchange Programme

It allows PES trainees that are currently working at the EUIPO to apply for an exchange opportunity and second traineeship at the European Patent Office (EPO), and for the EPO Pan-European Seal trainees to apply for an exchange traineeship at the EUIPO. Until October 2022 in total 50 EPO trainees have been welcomed at the EUIPO and 87 EUIPO at the EPO respectively.

Hosting Programme

EUIPO trainees are given the opportunity to extend their traineeship by participating in the hosting programme in which they will be hosted by a national IP office (from 3 to 6 months). During the hosting programme, they experience different working contexts (SME programme, European Cooperation projects, etc.). In October 2022, 5 trainees participating in the hosting programme with the relevant national offices on board (BOIP, France, Spain, Slovakia and Hungary).

Talent Bank

This is an online platform that allows public and private partners, including law and consultancy firms, companies, EU and international organisations, national institutions and universities to offer traineeships or jobs to Pan-European Seal alumni seeking further career opportunities. In 2022, 14 new partners joined this initiative and more than 40 job offers have been published in the platform.

Additional activities within the Network of Intellectual Property Academies (NIPA)

NIPA Annual meeting

The NIPA consists of the PES university members, the Talent Bank Associate Partners and the national IP offices. EU institutions and European university networks can also join as observers. NIPA members meet once a year to discuss further opportunities for collaboration between them and common projects. The Annual meeting was held in December 2022 in a hybrid format with around 120 participants and a 96,3% satisfaction rate.

Academic research visits

Professors, researchers, PhD candidates and/or academic staff from the PES member universities are invited to visit the EUIPO for 1 week (and up to 2 months) to attend panel discussions with EUIPO staff and consult the EUIPO library and knowledge hub. In 2022, two (2) researchers participated in this initiative (from University College Dublin,  Ireland and Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Macedonia).

Academic research programme

This is a grant offered to any university, researcher, PhD candidate, professor, etc. who would like to prepare a research paper for a maximum period of 12 months. 80 % of this will be funded by the EUIPO, and it can be on a variety of topics related to EUIPO practice.

In 2022 three (3) researchers applied successfully to the call (from Vrije Universteit Amsterdam, University of Groningen and Fraunhofer Institute of Technology).

  • Education and training:  training courses, e learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.

Almost 25 000 participants attended any of the multiple training events organized by the EUIPO Academy in 2022 or completed courses in the Academy Learning Portal, with an approval rate of 89%.

Major IP and non-IP events

The XX European Union Trade mark Intensive Module and the XII Community Design Intensive Module were organised in cooperation with Magister Lvcentinvs (Alicante University, Spain) between 24 January and 2 February. The EUIPO provided 26 experts, who addressed topics in both modules. A total 300 participants signed up.

A specific Seminar on Auditing Quality Management Systems (SQAP) 2022 was held for members of the user associations in February. The goal was to make SQAP auditors more familiar with quality management systems and the Office’s legal practice. 7 members of user associations benefited from this training activity.

The first IP Regional Seminar of the year took place in April in hybrid mode and was organised in collaboration with the Lithuanian Intellectual Property Office. It was focused on absolute grounds, recent case-law and topics such as ‘Trade mark management challenges in the digital space’. The seminar gathered 116 participants from EU National Offices and user associations.  The second IP Regional Seminar was organised in November in hybrid modality, in cooperation with the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic.  The themes of non-traditional trade marks, case-law in design, proof of use of an earlier trade mark in opposition proceedings, and new case-law related to conflict between 3D trade marks and designs were addressed during the event which was attended by 122 participants.

On 7 and 8 July 2022, the first IP Seminar consisting in the IP Case Law Conference was organised in hybrid mode in collaboration with the Boards of Appeal, with an average of 500 daily participants from 58 countries.

The 19th edition of the annual INTA Industry Day took place in October 2022 in hybrid format. The topic was ‘IP and Virtual Goods’ and highlighted the current issues and developments regarding IP protection that information technology is facing. 154 participants attended the event.

The joint EPO-EUIPO Academies Focal Point Network Meeting was organised online in December with 54 participants from 33 National Offices.  Experiences, challenges, and best practices related to the training area were shared.

IP webinars

Tuesday IP webinars improve the IP knowledge of EUIPO’s users or topics of high interest, such as the relation between IP rights and emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, blockchain and metaverse. 

In 2022, 29 Tuesday webinars have been organized. They reached a total of 13 771 participants with an overall satisfaction of 89,4%.  In average, we have reached 475 participants (live and replay) per webinar which represents an increase of 105.7% compared to the previous year.

The most relevant webinar was “Trade marks and designs in the metaverse: legal aspects/EUIPO practice”, with 1 511 external participants, received a satisfaction of 91.7%.

School and university visits

The Virtual School Visits (VSV) programme was launched in October 2021. In 2022, a total of 11 virtual visits (over 600 students attending) were organised in Spanish and English, with a satisfaction rate of 88%. The programme is ready in to be delivered in the five working languages of the Office to reach out to schools Europe-wide.

As for the Virtual University Visits, 32 PES Universities participated in the 8 visits organized between January and December 2022. Those sessions were attended by 317 students in total, who gave the initiative an overall satisfaction rate of 92 %.

Education Programmes

The EUIPO Trade Mark and Design Education Programme (ETMD EP) is a practical programme, delivered by EUIPO staff, leading IP professionals and academics. It focuses on the interaction between the EUIPO and IP practitioners/paralegals in trade mark and design registration and prosecution.The ETMD EP for Practitioners 2021/2022 (4th edition) had 44 participants of which 31 sat the exams and 28 participants successfully completed the programme. As of this year the programme will be held every second year, the next edition taking place in 2023/24.

The ETMD EP for Paralegals 2021/2022 (1st edition) had 59 participants: 56 participants coming from 17 EU Member States and 3 EUIPO staff members. 52 of them successfully completed the programme.

As regards the ETMD EP for Paralegals 2022/2023 (2nd edition), it was fully booked before the end of the application period, and it started with 72 participants coming from 24 countries. Onsite workshop was delivered at the EUIPO on 26-28 October. The workshop consisted of 6 workshop sessions and was attended by 40 participants with a satisfaction rate of 96.36 %.  It will conclude in March 2023.

e-Learning content in the EUIPO Academy Learning Portal

There were over 220 000 visits to the EUIPO Academy Learning Portal in 2022. Portal visitors benefited of over 1.200 online courses, 700 of which provide a certificate. Relevant online content continued to be made available to the public in 2022.

VI.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. International exchange of industrial design information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
  2. Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information

  3. Assistance to developing countries

  4. Other activities

  • International exchange of industrial design and TM information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)

The EUIPO currently provides data though web-based tools, both in human readable way as well as bulk download of files and certain APIs for enterprises. TMview and DSview collect trade marks and designs from participating offices in ST66, ST86 and ST96 formats. The EUIPO is engaged with the Committee of WIPO Standards (CWS) and its task forces and participates in the development and application of standards for IP Offices to exchange data in automated, machine-readable ways, including APIs.

The EUIPO uses WIPO's Madrid electronic communication system (MECA) for the exchange of data and documents in electronic format (XML).

  • Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to TM and industrial design information

The  EU Intellectual Property Network – EUIPN (EUIPN) has created and developed projects related to trade mark and design. Each project is supported by a working group, comprising EU, national and regional IP office experts, users, and, where relevant, experts from international organisations. Since its inception, the EUIPN has continuously sought to advance 2 key areas:

  • Public and restricted online tools to support examiners, businesses and the enforcement community. These provide a wealth of information on trade mark, design and classification issues.
  • European IP system: created in order to make the examination process for trade marks and designs more efficient for IP offices and stakeholders. These common practices and standards are based on Court decisions and IP Offices best practices.

In addition to these advancements, special attention is now also being given to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through the EUIPO SME Fund and the new ECP6 - ‘Supporting SMEs’. Additionally, almost all tools, guidelines, documentation and training courses are available on the EUIPN portal.

International Cooperation activities at EUIPO take distinct forms,  through bilateral cooperation with IP offices in third countries, with regional and international organisations (including WIPO and EPO), as well as the Trade Mark Five (TM5) and the Industrial Design Five (ID5) ; and the implementation of EU-funded international IP projects.

The EUIPO works in close cooperation with the European Commission to support the implementation of EU policies, promoting robust intellectual property systems outside the EU. The EUIPO is currently implementing 8 EU-funded projects outside Europe. The projects are IP Key China, IP Key Latin America, IP Key South-East Asia, ARISE+ IPR, CarIPI, AfrIPI, AL-INVEST PI and EUGIPP.

  • Assistance to developing countries

In addition to the EU-funded IP projects, the EUIPO provides assistance to developing countries through its cooperation framework (MoU), which includes extension to the European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) and Office’s tools, standards and practices to non-EU-countries. The EUIPO actively cooperate with international partners including developing countries to:

 

VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS