Collaboration between WIPO & the Vancouver Group

1. Collaboration between WIPO & the Vancouver Group Technical infrastructure for improved international collaboration on search and examination

2. The Vancouver Group Established in April 2008 between the IP offices of the UK, Canada and Australia Aim • Share information and experiences • Contribute to a more effective multilateral approach to work sharing Priority • Eliminate unnecessary rework and duplication in prosecuting patent applications in the three offices. 2 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

3. Vancouver Group Mutual Exploitation Principles • Where possible, rely on any patent granted or work done by another Vancouver Group Office. • Applied transparently • Office driven process • Online access to work - Enabling platform using WIPO infrastructure - Online access to consolidated search & examination documents - Quickly determine relevance of specific information 3 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

4. Quality standards Vancouver Group Examiner Exchange 2010 4 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

5. Quality standards Vancouver Group Examiner Exchange 2010 • Good quality standards are key • Examiner exchanges: • shown there are more similarities than differences • confirmed work sharing is feasible and viable • reinforced importance of collaborative work sharing • Focus on comparing quality • Develop common quality criteria Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

6. Infrastructure Interim IT solution • Share documents via a secure online document repository • Progressing well - 117 cases considered • Built in feedback mechanism Centralised Access to Search and Examination • CASE = digital library of search and examination reports • Accessed via WIPO infrastructure • Planned for December 2010 • Once proven – extend to other Offices on an opt-in basis 6 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

7. CASE is a flexible model, designed to facilitate use by Offices with varying levels of IT infrastructure 7 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

8. Expected Benefits Practical model for facilitating work sharing • Improves transparency & quality of work • Office driven Increased efficiencies • Centralised access to search & examination reports - multiple jurisdictions • Uses common WIPO standards -minimises duplication of work Scalable & extendable • Opt-in basis • National digital libraries (e-dossiers) not obligatory • Reduced duplication of data 8 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

9. Importance of Work Sharing Vancouver Group Offices = medium-sized • Majority of all patent applications are made by non-residents • Majority of patent applications are filed through the PCT • Extract value from other offices’ work CASE will further facilitate reuse of work 9 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

10. Minimises duplication of work Meets the needs of applicants and Offices Rapid resolution of the national phase CASE supports the PCT Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

11. Tangible Results Pilot Resultsare encouraging • 66% found new search and citation of prior art • 14% of the examination reports were found to be less useful - differences in practices, claims or disagreement with reports Benefits • Avoid unnecessary duplication of work • Easily obtain high quality examination work & granted patents • Confidence in each other’s work 11 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

12. Go forward together… Vancouver Group Mutual Exploitation initiative complements other approaches to work sharing: South American Cooperation ARIPO Cooperation IP5 – One Portal Dossier Patent Prosecution Highway 12 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

13. In closing … • VGME initiative progressing well under interim IT • solution • Expect increase in cases and efficiency • CASE developed – December 2010 • Once proven - Intention to extend to other Offices • on an opt-in basis 13 Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010

14. Merci! Thank You! Vancouver Group Mutual Exploitation initiative contacts: AustraliaCanadaUnited Kingdom Ms Gillian Jenkins Mr David Campbell Mr Andrew Bartlett gillian.jenkins@ipaustralia.gov.audavid.campbell@ic.gc.caandrew.bartlett@ipo.gov.uk Second Global Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities, 16 September 2010