Annual Report 2007-08

Strategic direction: Client services

• Patents
• Patent Appeal Board
• Trade-marks
• Trade-marks Opposition Board
• Copyrights
• Industrial designs
• Integrated circuit topographies
• Accessible, user-friendly products, services and processes
• Clear, consistent, accurate and comprehensive communications

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Copyrights, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies

The Copyright, Industrial Design and Integrated Circuit Topography product lines are managed by the same branch — the Copyright and Industrial Design Branch (CIDB).

In line with the EBR initiative and to ultimately improve CIPO's service offerings to clients by transforming operational processes, CIDB, along with the other branches, completed the copyright and the industrial design business process documentation and process mapping.

Copyrights

Copyrights provide protection for artistic, dramatic, musical and literary works (including computer programs), sound recordings, performer's performances and communication signals. In the simplest terms, copyright means the right to copy a work. CIDB is responsible for the administration section of the Copyright Act which means registering copyright ownership and maintaining the official copyright register.

Highlights

In 2007–08, the Branch received 9321 copyright applications, 2009 grant of interest requests, and 9254 copyrights were registered.

As part of CIDB's ongoing client service improvements, the Branch upgraded its copyright electronic services. Since April 2007, clients can electronically attach grant of interest documentation to the request to register the grant.

Industrial designs

An industrial design is the visual features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation of a manufactured article. CIDB is responsible for registering industrial designs and does so by examining each application to ascertain whether the design meets the requirements of the Industrial Design Act and Industrial Design Regulations.

Highlights

During the year there were 5174 applications for industrial designs, which was up about 6 percent from the 4883 applications received in 2006–07. Registrations totalled 5947, an increase of nearly 55 percent from the 3841 registrations in the previous year. Despite the increase in workload, CIDB exceeded published service standards and finished the year with an average TAT from filing to examiner's first action of 10 months.

In order to maintain client service quality considering the increase in industrial design applications for registration, CIDB created an Industrial Design Expert position responsible for quality assurance, quality control and efficiency relating to examination. The position has been a success and now includes a training program for new examiners.

In November 2007, work was completed on the Canadian Industrial Designs Database, which now includes the entire collection of 110 000 industrial designs registered since December 1861. In 2005, the initial phase of the database project was completed, making 10 000 designs available that were registered after June 15, 2002. Since then all remaining designs that were registered prior to 2002 have been electronically captured. All 110 000 registered designs can now be accessed online, and users can search this database before filing to see if a particular design already exists.

Integrated circuit topographies

Integrated circuit topographies (ICTs) are three-dimensional configurations of semi-conductors, metals, insulators and other materials that make up the microchips found in products such as medical and aerospace equipment, consumer electronics and household appliances.

ICTs are their own form of IP and are considered vital to the operation of information, communications and entertainment technologies.

CIDB is responsible for processing and registering applications for ICTs on behalf of the Registrar of topographies, a title held by the Director of CIDB.

In 2007–08, no applications were received or registered for ICTs.

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Annual Report 2007-08
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