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Annual Technical Report 2004 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Australia (SCIT/ATR/ID/2004/AU)

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

For 2003
Design applications filed = 4658
Design applications granted = 3949

For 2004
Design applications filed = 5627
Design applications granted = 3323

Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year

Filings increased 20% as compared to the previous year.
Registrations/grants decreased 16% as compared to the previous year.

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 advertised in the journal in 2004 was = 3323

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 XP and Lotus Notes.

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

Largely restricted to the Official Gazette which is available on-line.

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 a visited on 4 February by the Director General, Professor Abdul Bari Azed, and senior officials from the Indonesian Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights (DGIPR).


Mr Michael Arblaster, Acting Registrar of Trade Marks, attended the Twelfth Session of the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) held in Geneva between 26 and 30 April 2004

IP Australia hosted a two-week visit from Ms Finnie Quek, a hearing officer from the Intellectual Property Department of Hong Kong from 8 to 19 March 2004.

Mr Michael Arblaster, Acting Registrar of Trade Marks, attended the Twelfth Session of the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) held in Geneva between 26 and 30 April 2004

Director of Business Directions and International Cooperation Mr Gary Kichenside and Assistant Director Mr Peter Willimott undertook significant activities towards IP Australia's obligations with the APEC TILF Project #1. The project covered issues raised in Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines from 16-23 July 2004.

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

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