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.
2007:
Design applications filed = 5796
2008:
Design applications filed = 6078
Difference: + 4.85%
Note: A single application may include a number of designs (multiple). However, each design in the application will be allocated a separate application number even if it is filed as a multiple. The figures above are for the number of designs filed.
The market interest in seeking design rights has continued to increase at a rate consistent with general annual increases (based on historical data) of around 3%. However, as new legislation was introduced in June 2004, it may still be too early to confirm trends.
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/about/statistics.shtml#Designs
The Australian Official Journal of Designs is published fortnightly. There are 25 issues per year - the Easter and Christmas weeks being excluded. The Journal is available on-line, free of charge, via the IP Australia internet site and contains both bibliographic text, and images.
Standard Notices and Letters are produced via the Designs mainframe business application as XEROX XICS output.
Examination Reports are generated in Microsoft Word.
The Official Journal contains the following announcements:
- Applications Filed
- Applications Registered or Published
- Amendments and Changes
- Applications Lapsed/Withdrawn
- Assignment, Transmittals and Transfers
- Cancellation of Entries in Register
- Renewal of Registration
- Official Notices
The Office's bibliographic data is maintained on an ADABAS Natural (zOS) mainframe. Design images (representations) are stored in a Unix file directory.
Australian registered designs are published in the Australian Official Journal of Designs and on microfiche (historical from 1906 to 30 September 1998).
Bibliographic data and images for registered designs post 1985 are also available on the Australian Designs Data Search (ADDS) system on the internet.
Current standard desktop software includes Microsoft Windows XP SP2 with Microsoft Office 2003.
The Office's publication system is partially mainframe based and produces:
- camera ready copy of the Australian Official Journal of Designs;
- design certificates and original register entries; and
- notices for design applicants or their agents.
General information about the Australian Designs IP system, processes forms and fees can be accessed at the following URL:
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/designs/index.shtml
The Australian Official Journal of Designs can be accessed at the following URL:
http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/epublish/content/olsEpublications.jsp
The Australian Designs Data Searching (ADDS) system can be accessed at the following URL:
http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/adds2/adds.adds_start.intro
Industrial Design applications are classified according to the International Designs Classification [Locarno].
Active IDC classes are, in specific instances, further subdivided into internally defined subdivisions.
Bibliographic data is maintained on an ADABAS Natural (zOS) mainframe.
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.
Search files are regularly updated as appropriate
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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.
Disclosures relating to other designs filings/registrations of other countries are accessed via relevant Internet databases and search facilities.
The primary business system is the ADABAS Natural mainframe application, DESADMIN, running on IBM zOS. DESADMIN interfaces to a number of satellite applications, eg Word for production of reports, XICS for publishing output and ADDS. Document management is handled via paper casefiles.
All processing relating to the life-cycle of a design (apart from financial processing) is conducted within this environment. The Designs Office, along with the Patent and Trade Mark Offices in IP Australia is in the process of transitioning its business applications from the mainframe to our strategic server infrastructure environment. This environment includes Sun Solaris, Oracle RDBMS, J2EE, BEA Weblogic, and Objective EDMS.
The Canberra Office has an ethernet-based LAN providing high speed bandwidth for each user desktop connection. 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.
The current SOE includes Windows XP with Office SE 2003, IE 6.0 SP1, and Lotus Notes.
Customer Service Delivery (CSD) provides a central contact for customers to obtain information to support their decisions about a wide range of Intellectual Property issues. Customers contact the CSD via telephone, fax and email with around 95% of matters of a general nature solved at the first point of contact. The CSD provides face-to-face, phone, email and web-based assistance through State-based and Canberra Offices as well as general financial receipting and front end processing of attorney and private applicants' lodgements.
The State Offices:
• provide information about patents, trade marks and designs processes;
• maintain search facilities so customers can research Australian patents, trade marks and designs;
• receipt application forms and fees, providing a filing facility for IP documents in each state capital except Darwin;
• raise IP awareness and promote IP Australia’s corporate image in their respective communities by providing general IP presentations and information sessions They also liaise with other government agencies sharing the same customer base to promote our services and publications; and
• act as a referral point for enquiries on other IP areas eg copyright.
IP Australia will begin transitioning away from the use of state offices during the second half of 2009. Increasingly, IP Australia is using its web site as a means of providing an alternative means of public access to these services. Designs can be searched via ADDS.
IP Australia is currently finalising the design of a system to support business-to-business data exchange of patents, industrial designs and trade marks transactions with its high volume clients (Patents and Trade Mark Attorneys). This system will be consistent with WIPO electronic filing and National e-commerce standards.
All Australian Designs records/documents are handled in accordance with Office procedures set down under Australian Law and archiving practices.
IP Australia’s State Offices maintain the following facilities:
• Public Access Work Stations in our State Offices to allow customers to search the on-line collections.
• limited other holdings (generally older Official Journals) are held at some State Offices, Production of the “hard copy” Official Journals ceased in January 2005 and is now only available in electronic form, via the IP Australia web site.
Holdings for each State Office are listed at http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/contacts.shtml
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General information
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/designs/index.shtml
Publications and forms
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/forms_designs.shtml
Examiners Manual
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/manuals_designs.shtml
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/index.shtml
Largely restricted to the Official Gazette which is available on-line.
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Key promotional activities in 2008:
• IP Australia ran an Australia-wide seminar series focussing on SMEs, IP and exporting. The seminar series focussed on educating SMEs on intellectual property issues associated with exporting with particular emphasis on a number of exporting destinations. These countries were chosen based on current export value and differences in their IP system to the system in Australia were explained. http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/ippassport/index.shtml
• IP Australia issued a media release for World IP Day and organised a number of initiatives for World IP Day, including: promotional activities on major national television and radio networks; an on-line forum; and events at all State Offices.
• IP Australia produced two IP “How to” kits targeting the Australian Graphic Design and Industrial Design sectors. The kits were produced in partnership with the Victorian State Government and are titled "Protect your Creative and Make your Mark". Through industry consultations and research, the information in each publication was tailored specifically to each audience, ensuring the product was well received by these audiences. http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/forms_general.shtml
• IP Australia developed an advocacy program to assist Australian traders more confidently protect their IP in Japan which included a series of fact sheets and website content dedicated to providing tailored information on trade issues. http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/japan_casestudy_turningjapanese.shtml
IP Australia conducted a seminar in Beijing to inform business, IP professionals and government about the Australian IP system and how it works. Three hundred people attended the seminar.
IP Australia hosted a three month leadership training program, the Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Fellowship Program for six developing nation IP officials. Its objectives were to enhance the management and leadership capability in IP offices in the region through the provision of training and mentoring for mid to senior level overseas IP officials.
IP Australia hosted a three month placement by the IPOPNG Legal officer.
IP Australia provided library resources for the National Office of IP of Vietnam.
IP Australia conducted an advanced IP public education and awareness course for in Thailand for Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) staff and staff from other Thai Government Agencies.
Designs Legislation:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/da200391/
Annual Report:
http://www.innovation.gov.au/Section/AboutDIISR/Documents/AR0708_chapter8.pdf
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Latest news:
Latest news is featured on the home page of IP Australia's website:
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/
Subscription-based mailing lists
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/lists_index.shtml#
The Australian Design IP system
The Australian Design IP system provides for 2 types of applications:
• Application for registration to obtain rights in the design
• Application for publication which provides no rights except to exclude others from obtaining a valid registration as subsequent designs would not be new.
All applications are assessed against a Formality check prior to Registration or Publication.
Once registered, the owner has a range of rights including the right to use, license and assign the design. However, the right to enforce and prevent others from using, selling or importing the design can only be commenced once the design has been examined and a certificate of examination has issued.