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Hello everyone,
Recently I became aware that Korea has its own national classification system for design patents (the codes can be used to search from the advanced Design search page of the KIPRIS search engine). Does anyone have more information about these codes or know a location of the code schedule translated into English?
Many thanks,
Kristin
9 Comments
Hide/Show CommentsJul 20, 2011
Kristine H. Atkinson
Hi Kristin,
According to EPO, KIPO signed into the Locarno Agreement for industrial designs and it went into effect in Korea April 17, 2011. Here is Locarno (32 classes): http://www.wipo.int/classifications/nivilo/locarno/index.htm?lang=EN#
http://www.wipo.int/classifications/nivilo/locarno/index.htm?lang=EN
Question is, is there overlap of their old system (and database!) with the new? You want the Korean Classification of Goods and Services-- I was blocked from?? www.docstoc.com/docs/48661853/The-Korean-Standard-Industrial-Classification{??}
At KIPO there's a page regarding design applications (no longer current?), with this information (and some of the high-level classes): http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.english.html.HtmlApp&c=93001&catmenu=ek04_01_02
This page says:
What is a design?
Design in English can be defined as broad concept including visual communication designs related to product, advertisements, graphics, and multimedia design; and environmental designs related to living space or environment
Design refers to the shape, pattern or color or a combination of these in an article (including goods - except as specified in Article 12 - and font, is same hereinafter) which produces an aesthetic impression in the sense of "sight" as specified in Article 2 (1) of the Industrial Design Act.
Therefore, a design in Industrial Design Act can be defined in relation to the appearance of goods (or movable property) which can be independently transacted.
Design application system
The design application system consists of the Substantive Examination System (SES) and the Non-Substantive Examination System (NSES).
The NSES applies to articles which are sensitive to trends and have a short lifecycle such as food (A1), clothes (B1), bedclothes (C1), paper and printed material (F3), packing containers (F4), fabric paper (M1), sundries (B2), shoes (B5), textbooks (F1), stationery (F2); and SES applies to other articles.
As mentioned above, articles applicable to NSES are principally classified in 10 categories. However, they are continuously reviewed with reference to the adjustment of related articles and designation methods based on other criteria.....etc.
Derwent covers KIPO-- is that a source for the reference?
Good luck, Kris
Jul 21, 2011
Kristin Whitman
Thanks so much for this, Kris. The link you found is getting closer to what I need. It's great to see the top-level classes.
Actually, the source for the reference was KIPRIS itself in this case. I have not noticed whether Derwent includes the national-level codes for these references.
Really appreciate the help. Thanks!
Jul 22, 2011
Edlyn Simmons
When last I heard, Derwent didn't cover design registrations, just utility patents and utility models. The only commercial vendor of Korean design registrations I know about is Questel, where designs from multiple countries are available from orbit.com, as a separate subscription from their patent databases.
Is Kristin right in assuming that Derwent has design data these days?
Jul 22, 2011
Kristin Whitman
Actually Edlyn that's a really good point, there's no evidence that DWPI covers KR designs (or any designs, really) at all. The last coverage information I have from Derwent doesn't even mention designs.
I responded to Kris's original question about Derwent by saying I didn't know if Derwent included these national codes, but I should have been clearer - I haven't checked Derwent at all regarding this question.
It would be interesting if someone from Derwent/Thomson Reuters could weigh in regarding their coverage or planned coverage of designs.
Jul 26, 2011
Bob Stembridge
Hi Kristin et al.,
Coverage of DWPI has been enhanced in recent times to include Utility models for a number of authorities including Korea for which we now cover Unexamined applications (A docs) from 1998 to date, Examined patent applications (B, B1 and B2 docs) from 1986 to date and most recently Utility models (U, Y1 docs) from Jan 2008 onwards.
Coverage of design patents is not included in DWPI although US designs are available through the US dataset in the core collection in Thomson Innovation.
Jul 27, 2011
Pierre Buffet
Dear all,
Firstly, one should remember that, in most countries, industrial designs are a specific industrial property object aside patents (invention or utility) and trademarks. exceptions are for the US and China that have "Design patents". It is thus normal that a "patent database" covers US and CN designs, but not KR designs.
As far as Korea is concerned, yes orbit.com allows to access their designs. The records include both:
- National classification from 1998 plus few more prior to 1998,
- Locarno classification from 2005.
Hope, this helps.
Pierre
Jul 28, 2011
Kristin Whitman
Pierre, that is very helpful. Since Questel offers DesignFinder, I believe the only product to collect "non-patent" designs, you're in a unique position to discuss the challenges inherent in design searching. I'm looking for a bibliography on the subject - there are some publications of interest in WPI from the early 2000s, but if you want to recommend any other resources I'd be interested.
Aug 01, 2011
Pierre Buffet
Dear Kristin,
The pity is that, to my knowledge, there is little on industrial design information. Often I say that they are an orphan compared to patents or trademarks.
The documents you found might be from Paul Klaus of WIPO who has been active on this front.
Most of the information is available on IPO sites. In particular you can look at :
General information:
http://www.wipo.int/designs/en/
WIPO Hague system:
http://www.wipo.int/hague/en/
Hague Agreement members (59):
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/documents/pdf/hague.pdf
What is a Community design (European Union):
http://oami.europa.eu/ows/rw/pages/RCD/communityDesign.en.do
Searching design information:
Again, often possible on each IPO site with more or less possibilities.
The most complex issue is the one of searching images:
- through classifications (you probably know that I am not a fan of classifications for the simple reason that the same tree structure is frequently used for arranging both objects (designs in this case) and codes describing the object). Nevertheless classifications can be used as a raw filter to limit the number of images to be looked at:
- National classifications
- International classification (Locarno):
http://www.wipo.int/classifications/locarno/en/
http://www.wipo.int/classifications/nivilo/locarno/index.htm?lang=EN
- through images
- to my knowledge, no working system on broad scale
- easier when text description exists (at the 2009 WIPO symposium I made the suggestion to ask National IPOs to include this data element for any any applicant filing a design): we know that image searching is much more efficient in this case.
- In all instances, it explains why quick image browsing (e.g. thumbnails) is important in the selection process.
In World Patent Information, I found few reference, which mention Designs:
How drawings could enhance retrieval in mechanical and device patent searching; Jane List; Volume 29, Issue 3, September 2007, Pages 210-218; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0172219007000075
Survey of the 1997, 1998 and 1999 Annual Technical Reports on industrial design information activities; Paul Claus; Volume 23, Issue 1, March 2001, Pages 51-62; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0172219000001125
Survey of the annual technical reports on the industrial design information activities of industrial property offices in the year 2000; Paul Claus; Volume 24, Issue 2, June 2002, Pages 119-127; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S017221900200011X
About Questel, you can see the existing coverage at: http://www.questel.com/customersupport/Coverage_and_Updates_designs.htm
Pierre
Aug 03, 2011
Sophie Blanc
Dear All,
The designs classifications national/international are often a headache to the searcher...
The OHIM created its own EuroLocarno classification: it looks like Locarno, but there are differences when you check details: http://oami.europa.eu/search/eurolocarno/la/en_EL_Search.cfm
To find information and links to national databases, the British Library specific page is useful and quite up-to-date http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/tradedes/
Sophie