July Update on New Madrid IT System

Since the last update on implementation of the Madrid International Registrations Information System (MIRIS), a number of actions have been taken to ensure the Madrid Registry returns to full operational performance as soon as possible, while continuing to safeguard user and national or regional intellectual property office interests.

These actions have been guided by a three-pronged strategy to solve outstanding MIRIS deployment issues. The first aims to fix those parts of the system that are not functioning as designed and the second to improve performance and usability. The third part of the strategy will involve external assessment of the current MIRIS system design to determine the long-term viability of the platform.

Updates on the important issues affecting the system are provided below.

Examination pendency

The examination output of the Madrid Registry has not yet returned to pre-MIRIS levels. However there is a plan in place to return to standard production levels in the third quarter of 2016. By that time, backlogs will have accumulated in all transaction categories, i.e. international applications, renewals, subsequent designations, decisions, modifications and corrections. As a result, pendency rates will have increased. This will be reflected in the 6-month rolling average rates published on the website (please note that the current published rates do not yet fully reflect the impact of the MIRIS deployment issues). Our aim is to return pendency rates to pre-MIRIS levels over the coming 12 months, as the backlog is gradually eliminated.

Remember that the status of any pending request can be monitored through Madrid Real-Time Status.

Irregularity letters and notifications of provisional refusals

With the exception of a small number of cases, irregularity letters and notifications of provisional refusals are now being sent out normally. In some instances, due to a technical error, holders may have received the same notification more than once. Should this be the case, the first notification is the one to be taken into account.

For some holders, delays in receiving provisional refusals have compromised their ability to submit a timely response. In these cases, WIPO has been liaising with the concerned offices of the designated Contracting Parties to find a solution. On the whole, the offices have shown a great deal of understanding and flexibility and have found solutions to assist holders, where they have been able to do so.

Holders continue to be invited to contact WIPO if there are any concerns about meeting deadlines for responses to designated Contracting Parties.

Corrections

The corrections process in MIRIS is still not functioning as it should and we are in the process of fixing the problem. In parallel with this work, WIPO intends to establish and implement an entirely new corrections process after the summer, which will allow us to deal more quickly with correction requests. In the meantime, if you need evidence of a request for correction, please contact our Client Records Unit, to request an attestation to this effect.

E-Services

The E-Services are progressively returning to a stable state. The data consistency issue, which occurred in the period June 27 through June 30 2016, has been resolved.

Customer support

Waiting times for responses by phone or mail are currently longer than usual. This is the result of a 10% increase in customer queries since January 2016 and a 35% increase in calls in June 2016, which can be linked to the introduction of MIRIS. To address this increase in inquiries, the Madrid Registry is increasing resource levels devoted to customer support services.

Further questions?

Madrid Customer Service is on hand to answer questions during this period.