Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2019 submitted by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office

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

The main developments in the Industrial Design Office was the introduction of new online services.  E-mailbox, E-access and E-amendment.

Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of industrial design information activities and expected time frames for their realization

In 2018, CIPO’s main priority was to implement international IP treaties and harmonize Canada’s IP system with international standards.  As such, Canada acceded to The Hague Agreement for the International Registration of Industrial Designs on November 5, 2018.  During that time, most industrial design information activities carried out by the Office were focused on the Hague Agreement, the amended Industrial Design Act, the new Industrial Design Regulations and the new Industrial Design Office Practices Manual.

Building on the accomplishments of the previous year, industrial design information activities carried out in 2019 aimed at maintaining the dialogue with our stakeholders, not only to raise awareness of the new industrial design regime, but also to benefit from stakeholder feedback on the recent implementation of those changes.

Activities revolved around stakeholder feedback, questions and issues on the implementation to date; continuing to update various products and webpages in light of the industrial design regime; launching online service improvements; and releasing new products and tools for the IP Toolbox and IP Academy.

New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks

Industrial Design Office Practice Committee: consists of representatives of the IP profession and CIPO.  The objective of the Industrial Design Practice Committee is to broaden and strengthen communications between CIPO and the industrial design stakeholders, and to identify and discuss issues with a view to improving industrial design practice and services to clients.

Release of a learning module.  Industrial designs – Learn the basics: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04697.html 

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

Engagement and promotion initiatives, including information sessions in Canadian cities and an update of various products and webpages in light of the accession to the Hague Agreement and the coming into force of the new industrial design regime.

The information concerning IT activities are captured on a release notes pages that encompasses all industrial designs online service.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04752.html

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

Industrial Design Applications

Industrial Design Registrations

Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

Client service standards for industrial designs: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04399.html#Industrial_Branch

CIPO’s Annual Reports and IP in Canada Reports: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00026.html#Corporate

CIPO’s 2017-2022 Business Strategy: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04283.html

CIPO’s News releases: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/whatsnew.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-home

CIPO’s IP Statistics: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04727.html

CIPO IP Data (IP Horizons): http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr01933.html

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

Industrial designs guide: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02300.html

Industrial design office practices: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00256.html

How your industrial design application is processed: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00255.html

Filing or amending an application online: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr03953.html

Roadmap of the application process: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04357.html

Industrial designs – Fact sheet: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04316.html

Industrial designs – Learn the basics: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04697.html

CIPO Calendar of events: https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/crmsri/cipo/events/?lang=eng

Availability of the application dossier in electronic form

Industrial design applications are not currently available electronically.  An applicant or its agent may order a copy of the application through CIPO’s website: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr02468.html

Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification

On November 5, 2018, CIPO introduced an updated version of its Canadian Classification Standard for Industrial Designs.  This new version uses the Locarno Classification System as its core framework, with additional subclasses to reflect the Canadian examination regime.

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/vwapj/di-Classification-idClassification-eng.pdf/$file/di-Classification-idClassification-eng.pdf

Other activities

Intellectual Property Advisors: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04014.html

IP Academy: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04234.html

IP Hub: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04406.html

IP Toolbox: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04320.html

Intellectual Property Strategy: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/108.nsf/eng/home

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)

Industrial design registrations or applications that have been made available to the public are available for consultation on the Canadian Industrial Designs Database.  This online database provides bibliographical data relating to the application or registration and a representation of the design.

https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/bscSrch.do?lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main&wt_cxt=toptask

An industrial design guide is available online to learn what industrial designs are, why they are important for business, and what makes them a key element of a comprehensive intellectual property strategy.  The guide allows the reader to find out why they would want to register an industrial design, and how to apply for registration in Canada and abroad.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02300.html

The Industrial Design Office Practice Manual provides information on the Industrial Design Office's operational procedures and examination practices; it is the primary source of information on how to prosecute an application for the registration of an industrial design in Canada.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00256.html

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

CIPO does not publish industrial design information via an official gazette.  Announcements are made either on CIPO’s website or via email distribution lists: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr02989.html

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

CIPO examiners have access to CIPO’s internal industrial database, which includes all designs registered in Canada and pending applications.  Examiners also have access to “Orbit”, a web-based search tool for industrial design prior art.

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

Industrial Design News email subscription services.

Clients can register for our email subscription service to receive news and updates on the latest information regarding industrial design.

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr02989.htm

CIPO’s website makes available information pertaining to industrial designs registered in Canada from 1861 to date from the Canadian Industrial Design Online Database.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/bscSrch.do?lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main&wt_cxt=toptask

Subscription to Industrial Design bulk data is available at the following link.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr01933.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-id-main#industrialdesigns

Industrial Design Release Notes page

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04752.html

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

The legal status (whether it is registered, expired, etc.) of an industrial design registration is available on the Canadian Industrial Designs Database: https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/bscSrch.do?lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main&wt_cxt=toptask

Applicant may consult the status of pending applications on CIPO’s website: http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/id/dsplySttsSrch.do?srchTyp=status&lang=eng&wt_src=cipo-id-main

Other sources

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 Industrial Design Application (DesignPlus) has a built-in workflow - once the application is scanned/data entered into DesignPlus, the Application number is automatically assigned; the processing clerk completes the filing process.  Once the filing is confirmed, the application is automatically added to the classification workload queue.  Once classified it proceeds to the pre-examination workload queue; then to the search workload queue; then to the examination workload queue; etc.

Once allowed the registration is confirmed and the registration certificates are printed and sent to the applicant.  The maintenance fee is paid within the first 5 years from the registration date.  A 6-month grace period is available with additional fees.  Failure to pay maintenance fee within five years will cause the registration to become expired.

For all client front-ends, the information is checked for completeness, where the transaction is transferred automatically into DesignPlus system following.  In 2019, ID has now several online services permitting a variety of online transactions, such an electronic filing, submission of amendments, payment of maintenance of fees, a mailbox, a search database and a general correspondence.  Only few transactions are still paper-based, although a new initiative is foreseen to offer the last paper-based transactions via the online services.

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

SERVER

• IBM AIX
• Operating System AIX
• 935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM
• Oracle RDMS V 10.2.0.3
• TCP/IP
• Image Converter: Alchemy 1.13

CLIENT WORKSTATION

• Pentium based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)
• 2 SVGA monitors 22” LCD
• MS-Windows 10 Professional V.1809
• MS-Word 2016
• Samba NFS (Network File System)
• Ascent Capture
• Some workstations with Bar-code readers and/or scanners

PRINTERS

• Lexmark T644 network printers
• NETWORK
• TCP/IP
• 1 GB between server and switches
• 100 MB between switches an SERVER IBM AIX
• Operating System AIX
• 935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM
• Oracle RDMS V 10.2.0.3
• Microfocus server express 5.0
• TCP/IP
• Image Converter: Alchemy 1.13
• Electronic Forms Generator: JF Central 5.4.1

CLIENT WORKSTATION

• Pentium based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)
• 2 SVGA monitors 22” LCD
• MS-Windows 10 Professional v.1809
• MS-Word 2016
• Samba NFS (Network File System)
• Ascent Capture
• Some workstations with Bar-code readers and/or scanners

PRINTERS

• Lexmark T644 network printers
• NETWORK
• TCP/IP
• 1 GB between server and switches
• 100 MB between switches and workstations

Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources

In June 2002 the industrial design processes were automated with the implementation of DesignPlus.  Today the system contains bibliographic design data dating back to 1861, including pending and registered designs.  DesignPlus is used within the office to manage the overall industrial design process, including classification, search, examination, assignments and maintenance.  The system supports such specific office processes as preparing correspondence and updating information.

In July 2007, an electronic industrial design filing component was added to allow clients to file their applications electronically over the internet.  For all client front-ends, the information is checked for completeness, the information is transferred to the Office via the Internet and the information is automatically loaded into DesignPlus.

In 2018, two new online services were implemented by Industrial Designs Branch in regard to issue electronic correspondence to clients.  A first application, called E-Access, serves as authenticate the users so that they are able to manage their access and account in the E-Mailbox.  This second application is a platform where users pull their electronic outgoing correspondence issued by the office.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04670.html 

CIPO industrial design searchers and examiners use a Web-based search system from Oracle called Orbit to conduct international searches.

Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file

All bibliographic data and images contained in industrial design applications and registrations are maintained on the internal system DesignPlus, in an NFS-based structure.  A common repository across CIPO, called IP Document File Management (IPDFM) serves a document management storage.  A synchronization between the NFS-structure and IPDFM occurs overnight to ensure that both structures are synchronized at all times. IPDFM is also connected to Enterprise Scan, a scanning solution for all the paper files, including paper correspondences, figurative elements, evidences and other paper documents.

Registered application data and images is available to the public on the Canadian Industrial Design Database via CIPO’s website.

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

DesignPlus is integrated with an EIS (Executive Information System) through a Cognos application.  This EIS system provides detailed and comprehensive reports used for tracking and monitoring industrial design processes.  Information on the production volumes and turnaround-times can be obtained from the EIS system.

SQL (Toad) is also used to query the database and retrieve ad hoc statistics that are often not programed in Cognos.

Other matters

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

CIPO’s internal library, the CIPO Resource Centre, is available for employees only.  The Resource Centre provides access to various IP and Law Resources services.

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

The Industrial Design Office Practice Manual provides information on the Industrial Design Office's operational procedures and examination practices; it is the primary source of information on how to prosecute an application for the registration of an industrial design in Canada.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00256.html

Other industrial design publications: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00026.html#IndustrialDesign

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

CIPO has more than 50 partnerships and collaborations with federal government departments, provincial governments, businesses, intermediaries and academia.  Through these partnerships, CIPO supports SMEs and innovators in key growth sectors—such as digital technology, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and agri-food — as well as under-represented groups.

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

IP Academy: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04234.html

Other activities

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)

Dissemination of data in ST.86 XML to other Intellectual Property Offices.

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

WIPO’s Standing Committee on the law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications

Assistance to developing countries

Other activities

VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS