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.
For 2003
Design applications filed = 4658
Design applications granted = 3949
For 2004
Design applications filed = 5627
Design applications granted = 3323
Filings increased 20% as compared to the previous year.
Registrations/grants decreased 16% as compared to the previous year.
Number of design registrations advertised in the journal in 2004 was = 3323
The Australian Official Journal of Designs is available through electronic means using web services as well as available in paper form.
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
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.
Designs applications are classified into the International Designs Classification. Active IDC sub-classes are further classified into internally defined subdivisions
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.
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.
In addition to ADDS, Designs bibliographic data remains available through IP Australia’s web site on Desadmin, the mainframe based Designs administration computer system.
Largely restricted to the Official Gazette which is available on-line.
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.