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International (Locarno) classification for industrial designs

International (Locarno) classification for industrial designs

Author: Danielle Carvey

The Locarno Classification, or the International Classification for Industrial Designs, is a system used to determine classes of goods in relation to the registration of industrial designs. The Classification was established by the Locarno Agreement, a multilateral treaty which was initially adopted in 1968, and is administered by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO).

The Locarno Classification can be accessed online via the official WIPO IP Portal, which is published in both the English and French language. The Classification itself is revised continuously by a Committee of Experts, and new editions enter into force on a bi-annual basis on January 1.

The Locarno Classification comprises a list of 32 individual classes relating to the goods being registered as industrial designs, as well as corresponding subclasses. Both classes and subclasses provide for a generalised reference as to which type of goods should belong to each one.

The classification also features a list of goods in relation to industrial designs, in alphabetical order, indicating both the classes and subclasses to which they relate. The list of goods contains over 5000 entries in the English language and provides a more in depth insight into the classification of a design, alongside the explanatory notes.

All competent national offices of the Contracting Parties to the Locarno Agreement are obliged to use the Locarno Classification by way of including the numbers corresponding to classes and subclasses of the designs in its official documents and publications. However, the classification is also utilised by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), as well as the International Bureau of WIPO in the context of the Hague System. To date, there are 60 Contracting States which are a party to the Locarno Agreement.

The Locarno Classification is a multifaceted system which assists users with classifying goods relating to industrial design applications using a single, uniform system. This, in turn, removes the need to reclassify the goods when filing for design protection in multiple jurisdictions according to each individual national classification system and also assists in the conduct of industrial design searches.

If you are interested in applying for industrial design protection, or are keen to know more about the Locarno Classification, feel free to contact us.

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The European Patent Office (EPO) is a regional intellectual property office which contributes to a unified patent system across member states, streamlining the process for the protection of patents across the region. It is headquartered in Munich, Germany, with several other branch offices present in cities across Europe.

The EPO is the executive arm of the European Patent Organisation, an intergovernmental structure established on October 7, 1977, on the basis of the European Patent Convention (EPC) signed in 1973. The organization has grown to include all 27 member states of the European Union, alongside other non-EU states, bringing the total number of EPO member states to 39 inclusive of 44 respective countries.

The EPO operates alongside the EPC, a treaty which provides a legal framework for the granting of European patents by way of a single, harmonized procedure before the EPO. This mechanism allows the EPO to function as a centralized patent office for European member states, allowing applicants to file for protection of their inventions via a more simplified route when compared with filing for patent protection separately in each respective country. As such, the EPO plays a pivotal role in the intellectual property field of the region.

The EPO operates in three official languages, namely English, French and German, and patent applications may be filed in any of the three official languages.

One of the core functions of the EPO is to provide for the examination and granting of patents for inventions, with examiners from the Office assessing applications as per the necessary criteria such as a patent possessing novelty, industrial applicability and an inventive step.

Further establishing its role in the international IP landscape, the EPO is also actively involved in multiple international patent co-operations, with the office notably constituting one of the members of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The PCT streamlines the process for the filing of international patent applications and facilitates the exchange of information and prior art. Moreover, the EPO has forged further collaborations with approximately 75 IP offices and regional IP organizations across the globe.

The Office has also formed cooperative validation agreements with five non-member states, namely Cambodia, Georgia, Moldova, Morocco and Tunisia. These agreements allow applicants to file for patent protection via the harmonized procedure before the EPO as they would when seeking patent protection in member states (either directly or via the Euro-PCT route), however applicants may request patent validation in the 5 aforementioned states despite them being non EPC members. The validation of a European patent in such states will have the same effect as a national patent would in each state respectively, and is available upon paying the corresponding fee.

Applications for patents in validation states are subject to the national laws of each respective state, however the state itself will not conduct examination, with the examination results conducted by the EPO being utilized instead.

The EPO plays an important role in the IP sphere on both an European regional level, and on an international level. Beyond its patent granting function, the EPO supports innovation by providing access to extensive patent databases and resources. As well as applicants and inventors, others such as researchers and policymakers can utilize data produced by the EPO to analyze and monitor patterns and trends in the field of technology to make informed decisions with respect to their patent portfolio, prospective applications, and future innovation.

Further, the work produced by the EPO and the quality of examination of patents has a direct impact on economic development and innovation in Europe. The EPO therefore aids in facilitating the encouragement of investment in research and development, fostering economic growth and technological advancement in the European region.

If you are interested in filing for patent protection by way of the EPO or Euro-PCT, or simply would like to learn more, contact us via our website or social media platforms.

 

A patent application should detail in-depth information pertaining to the invention claimed and corresponding subject-matter. Each country/region has its specificities as to the application form (request to grant a patent). Navigating the specifics of what information should be detailed in a patent application can be difficult, but this handy guide will delve into the key components.

All patent applications should contain general details, including the applicant name(s), address, and information pertaining to the agent acting on behalf of the applicant(s), as well as more technical information regarding the invention. This technical information comprises the patent specification of an application. The specification for a patent application should include:

Patent Title

The patent title detailed in the application will be the name assigned to your protected invention, and should be both short and factual. Due to the fact that the title will enter the public domain upon submission of your application, it is important to avoid disclosing confidential data or detailing novel methods relating to your invention in the title. Disclosing such information could risk your ideas being copied by other individuals or entities, who may use your unprotected, novel idea to produce analogous concepts or similar ideas of their own.

Field of the invention

The type of invention, or area of technology, to which to patent subject matter relates, otherwise known as the ‘field of invention’, should be depicted briefly in the patent specification. Such description should include a definition of both the class and subclass of the invention, for example "the invention pertains to technology for heating, specifically, for heating and cooling systems."

Background to the invention

The background to your invention is an important element in a patent application. It should detail any prior art that the applicant is aware of, although there is no obligation on the applicant for this information to be entirely comprehensive or accurate. The purpose of the background to the invention in an application is to provide a general overview of what the novel invention brings to the market that other, similar or prior art may not. It may also assist with the assessment of claim validity of the patent.

Statements of the invention

A patent specification should also detail the statements of the invention, which provide formal definitions as to what the invention is, and the intended scope of protection. Such statements should generally comprise broad definitions of the subject matter to which the patent application relates, and will be similar in nature to the claims section of the application.

Drawings

A patent application can typically include as many drawings as needed to accurately describe the invention. Any drawings contained within an application do not need to be highly technical, however they must be clear and adequately depict the patent.

A list of all drawings should also be included alongside corresponding descriptions of what each drawing depicts and shows. The drawings themselves should have precise labeling, with the numbers on the drawings establishing a connection between the illustration and the description.

Abstract

The abstract should comprise an understandable and clear description or overview of the main features of the invention(s) contained within a patent application and specification, which offers a useful overview of the patent's essence. The abstract is primarily used as an aid in patent searches, allowing others to find your patent application when searching for related inventions. The abstract must align with the rest of the patent specification and maintain accuracy, excluding any information which is not contained within the rest of the application. For this reason, it is typically composed after the completion of the patent application to ensure that the abstract accurately encapsulates the patent's content.

Description

The description should encompass an explanation of the innovation and its operational principles, depicting how the invention may be put into use, otherwise known as "specific embodiments” of an invention. It must encompass all the essential information for someone with expertise in the relevant field to replicate the invention. For instance, if the patent pertains to heating and cooling technology, fundamental details about assembling and running such technology, which a proficient heating engineer would reasonably be aware of, would not be required for them to replicate.

It is important to incorporate every aspect that makes the invention unique and explains its operational basis, as omission of the same may lead to the rejection of the application, or issues upon grant later down the line.

Patent claims

The patent claims are the most crucial sections within a patent application as the patentability of an invention will largely be determined by assessment of the claims. The claims should detail the scope of the application, defining exactly what will be protected by the patent if granted. The invention defined within the claims will typically be examined against, and compared with, existing inventions in order to assess patentability, therefore meticulous drafting of the patent claims is crucial. The claims should also outline the intended exclusive rights of the patent holder once granted, and the extent to which third parties will be able to utilize the invention. It is important to ensure that the claims encompass all possible versions of the invention that could possibly be created, as failure to do so may result in third parties creating similar versions of your invention if the claims do not limit them from doing so.

Each patent claim should consist of one sentence. Patent claims are separated into two categories, namely independent claims and dependent claims. Independent claims set forth the protection which is sought for the invention, outlining the necessary features for achieving the intended effect of the invention. The dependent claims, on the other hand, assist in limiting the scope of independent claims, providing additional details and context with reference to previous claims. The first claim detailed should typically be the most fundamental for the essence of the patent, and each subsequent one adding additional features. Each claim should be complete in and of itself.

The drafting of a patent application and specification is a complex and vital part of obtaining IP protection for an invention. It is therefore recommended that applicants seek legal advice or instruct a patent attorney to assist with the patent application process, particularly with the intricate drafting of claims. If you would like further details on applying for patent protection, or to file an application through the IP-Coster platform, contact us via social media, email, or our website contact page!

The time limit for entering the PCT national or regional phase in most jurisdictions is typically 30 or 31 months from the earliest filing date, or priority date, of your PCT application, depending on the individual country(s) or region(s) in which you are seeking patent protection. After this deadline, your patent application will be considered by the respective IPO's of each individual designated country and/or region. 
 
In addition to varying national phase deadline time periods of 30/31 months, many jurisdictions possess nuances such as the possibility of deadline extensions, corresponding fees etc. See below for details on the PCT national phase time limits pertaining to each jurisdiction:
Designated/Elected Office Chapter I
(under PCT Article 22)
Chapter II
(under PCT Article 39(1))
AE United Arab Emirates 30 30
AG Antigua and Barbuda 30 30
AL Albania1 31 31
AM Armenia2 31 31
AO Angola 30 30
AP African Regional Intellectual Property Organization4 31 31
AT Austria1 30 30
AU Australia 31 31
AZ Azerbaijan2 30 31
BA Bosnia and Herzegovina 34 34
BB Barbados 30 30
BG Bulgaria1 31 31
BH Bahrain 30 30
BN Brunei Darussalam 30 30
BR Brazil 30 30
BW Botswana6 31 31
BY Belarus2 31 31
BZ Belize  30   307
CA Canada  3015 3015
CH Switzerland1, 9 30 30
CL Chile   30   30 
CN China           30 (32)8          30 (32)8
CO Colombia  31 31
CR Costa Rica  31 31
CU Cuba  30 30
CZ Czech Republic1 31 31
DE Germany1 31 31
DJ Djibouti 30 30
DK Denmark1  31  31
DM Dominica3 30 30
DO Dominican Republic  30 30
DZ Algeria  31 31
EA Eurasian Patent Organization  31 31
EC Ecuador  31 31
EE Estonia1 31 31
EG Egypt  30 30
EP European Patent Organisation10 31 31
ES Spain1 30 30
FI Finland1 31 31
GB United Kingdom1 31 31
GD Grenada3 30 30
GE Georgia  31 31
GH Ghana6 30 30
GM Gambia6 30 31
GT Guatemala  30 30
HN Honduras 30 30
HR Croatia1   31 31
HU Hungary1 31 31
ID Indonesia     315    315
IL Israel  30 30
IN India  31 31
IQ Iraq3 30 30
IR Iran (Islamic Republic of) 30 30
IS Iceland1 31 31
IT Italy1 3016 3016
JM Jamaica 30 30
JO Jordan 30 30
JP Japan  30 30
KE Kenya6 30 30
KG Kyrgyzstan2 31 31
KH Cambodia 30 30
KN Saint Kitts and Nevis 30 30
KP Democratic People’s Republic of Korea  30 30
KR Republic of Korea  31 31
KW Kuwait 30 30
KZ Kazakhstan2 31 31
LA Lao People’s Democratic Republic 31 31
LC Saint Lucia3 30 30
LK Sri Lanka 30 30
LR Liberia6 30 31
LS Lesotho6 30 31
LU Luxembourg1     2011 30
LY Libya3 30 30
MA Morocco  31 31
MD Republic of Moldova 31 31
ME Montenegro3 30 30
MG Madagascar  30 30
MK North Macedonia1 31 31
MN Mongolia  31 31
MW Malawi6 30 30
MX Mexico  30 30
MY Malaysia  30 30
MZ Mozambique6 31 31
NA Namibia6 31 31
NG Nigeria  30 30
NI Nicaragua  30 30
NO Norway1 31 31
NZ New Zealand  31 31
OA African Intellectual Property Organization12 30 30
OM Oman  30 30
PA Panama 30 30
PE Peru   30  30 
PG Papua New Guinea  31 31
PH Philippines            30 (318)           30 (318)
PL Poland1 30 30
PT Portugal1 30 30
QA Qatar 30 30
RO Romania1 30 30
RS Serbia1     3013 3013
RU Russian Federation2 31 31
RW Rwanda3, 6 30 30
SA Saudi Arabia 30 30
SC Seychelles  31 31
SD Sudan6 30 30
SE Sweden1 31 31
SG Singapore  3014 3014
SK Slovakia1 31 31
SL Sierra Leone6 31 31
ST Sao Tome and Principe3, 6 30 30
SV El Salvador  30 30
SY Syrian Arab Republic  31 31
TH Thailand  30 30
TJ Tajikistan2 30 31
TM Turkmenistan2 30 31
TN Tunisia  30 30
TR Türkiye1          30 (338)          30 (338)
TT Trinidad and Tobago   30 31
TZ United Republic of Tanzania6     2111 31
UA Ukraine  31 31
UG Uganda6 30 31
US United States of America  30 30
UZ Uzbekistan  31 31
VC Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 31 31
VN Viet Nam    31 31
WS Samoa 31 31
ZA South Africa  31 31
ZM Zambia6 30 30
ZW Zimbabwe6 30 31

 

  1. 1. If designated for a European patent, see EP as designated Office for the applicable time limits.
  2. 2. If designated for a Eurasian patent, see EA as designated Office for the applicable time limits.
  3. 3. In the absence of information from the Office concerned, the time limits shown are those which would normally apply under PCT Articles 22(1) and 39(1)(a).  If the Office decides to apply longer time limits, that information will be published in the PCT Newsletter.
  4. 4. ARIPO acts as designated office for the following State which does not act in the capacity of designated office:  SZ.
  5. 5. This time limit may be extended provided that the applicant pays an additional fee for late entry into the national phase.
  6. 6. If designated for an ARIPO patent, see AP as designated office for the applicable time limits.
  7. 7. May be extended upon written request of the applicant.
  8. 8. Time limit applicable if applicant pays an additional fee for late entry into the national phase.
  9. 9. Swiss Office acts as designated one for the following State which does not act in the capacity of designated office:  LI.
  10. 10. EPO acts as designated office for the following States which do not act in the capacity of designated office :  BE, CY, FR, GR, IE, LT, LV, MC, MT, NL, SI, SM.
  11. 11. This Office has notified the International Bureau of the non-applicability of the 30-month time limit under PCT Article 22(1), as modified with effect from 1 April 2002 – it does not yet apply the 30-month time limit for entering the national phase.
  12. 12. OAPI acts as designated office for the following States which do not act in the capacity of designated office :  BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG.
  13. 13. The time limit may be extended by 30 days if the applicant pays an additional fee for late entry into the national phase.
  14. 14. The time limit may be extended by up to 18 months provided the applicant pays the prescribed fee.
  15. 15. Up to 12 months after the 30-month deadline (30 months from the priority date) the applicant can request reinstatement of rights provided that he/she pays the fee for reinstatement of rights and meets the other requirements outlined in subsection 154(3) of the Canadian Patent Rules for the reinstatement of rights.
  16. 16. For international applications filed on or after July 1, 2020.

Filing for patent protection can be a complex and time-consuming process, but knowing where to start can alleviate some of the pressure for new applicants.

Initial Stages

One of the most crucial elements in the early stages of filing is grasping an understanding of the patent system itself, particularly in each country or region that you wish to obtain protection in.

As both individual countries and states, as well as regional patent systems, possess varying filing requirements and regulations, one of the most important first steps to consider are the jurisdictions in which protection would be sought for your invention. In order to do so, it may be necessary to consider the invention itself and the potential market(s) in which it could be placed.

In order to effectively evaluate and consider the IP legislation and regulations of any jurisdiction of interest, it is advisable to consult with a patent attorney or agent who is well-versed in the patent laws of that particular state. The greater understanding of the requirements of each country or region that you wish to obtain protection in, the better, as a more comprehensive and thought out application may prevent potentially time consuming and costly office actions later on.

Searches

A vital part of the initial stages of the patent protection process is the conducting of patentability and prior art searches. Such comprehensive searches should be undertaken prior to the drafting of a patent application to ensure that your invention is unique (novel) and does not infringe on existing patents. Moreover, you will be unsuccessful in obtaining a patent if your invention has already been publicly disclosed, however most jurisdictions have a grace period during which disclosure is disregarded. This period will vary from country to country.

The requirement of novelty is one of the most crucial criteria of patentability for a patent, thus a comprehensive search and comparison of inventions similar to yours can provide a more solid basis for a patent application and in turn, provide for a higher chance of successful outcome.

Such searches can be conducted through the IPO in which protection is sought, or via patent databases, publications, and other relevant resources. Moreover, the undertaking of a search can be a pivotal moment in the decisions an applicant takes in terms of filing and defining the scope of protection, as the results can indicate whether an applicant should be filing for a patent for an invention or utility model, for example.

Patent Application Drafting

Once you have considered the initial elements of your invention and have some understanding as to what may be required in the potential jurisdictions you wish to file for patent protection, the next vital step is the drafting of a patent application itself.

In order to have the best chances of success, patent applications should be detailed and well-written, and a solid understanding of what is required from each jurisdiction in which you wish to file is helpful. A patent application should typically include an abstract, a written description of the invention, drawings or diagrams (if applicable), and a list of the claims that define the scope of protection further given to your invention.

Depending on the invention itself, applicants should also consider the type of patent protection or patent application offered in varying jurisdictions. For example, some countries offer the option of filing for either a utility model or patent, whilst others offer the opportunity for applicants to file a provisional application or a non-provisional one.

Consulting with a patent attorney can greatly simplify the process and potentially increase the chances of a successful patent application by assisting with the drafting of an application as well as reviewing for any discrepancies.

Filing

The filing of the patent application itself will involve the completion of all necessary forms, which are commonly found on the official Intellectual Property Office website or the relevant jurisdiction, as well as payment of the corresponding official fees and the submission of any obligatory accompanying documents, such as a Power of Attorney, for example. These requirements, as well as being complex, can require a patent attorney's expertise to achieve, for example the payment of certain fees, filing of documents, and in some countries, the mandatory requirement of foreign applicants to have a local patent attorney representative in the jurisdiction.

It is also helpful to consider the subsequent results of filing a patent application, even in the early steps of assessing how to file an application.

How do I start?

The IP-Coster platform can facilitate the beginning of your patent protection journey once you have drafted an application and are ready to begin the filing process, allowing you to obtain fee quotations for patent filing worldwide and providing professional advice from our wide range of international patent professionals. If you would like further assistance on the aforementioned crucial first steps, please contact us here.