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Standing Committee on Information TechnologiesHolds 4th Session

Geneva, December 14, 1999
Press Updates UPD/1999/78

The WIPO Standing Committee on Information Technologies (SCIT) met from December 6 to 10, 1999, to review the progress of a range of current and future information technology-based projects designed to improve the availability and flow of information between intellectual property offices of WIPO member states.

Delegates from 67 member states, five regional Organizations, and several observers applauded the development of a range of information technology-based initiatives in the areas of international protection systems for the registration of patents and trademarks, the WIPONET project, the introduction of the WIPO Worldwide Academy's on-line distance learning facility, the CLEA (Electronic Collection of Laws) database and the WIPO electronic bookshop.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The SCIT also noted the contents of the IT Strategic Implementation Plan and discussed its implementation. SCIT members welcomed the plan and recognized the importance of reducing the technology gap between developed and developing countries. The Plan was described as a "watershed in WIPO's IT effort" as it served as a framework for the establishment of a stable global infrastructure that would form a critical foundation for IT implementation in the intellectual property offices of member states. This comprehensive, flexible and dynamic management tool is a cornerstone of WIPO's future business strategy. Increasingly information technologies are the driving force of communications and business operations. The advent of digital technologies and the boom in electronic commerce have created enormous opportunities to streamline and automate work processes and to generate efficiency gains. The WIPO IT Strategic Implementation Plan is a response to these challenges as it establishes new strategic directions that will enable the Organization to take advantage of new technologies to enhance and further improve its operations.

WIPONET

WIPONET is a state-of-the art project designed to create a global information network infrastructure that will, upon completion, link the operations of the world's intellectual property offices. This flagship project will promote international cooperation by providing low-cost communications. It will facilitate access to intellectual property data, and will serve as a platform to establish new services and to further streamline and automate the basic business functions of intellectual property offices worldwide.

The SCIT agreed to adopt a gradual "roll out" approach to the implementation of this project which would enable the Organization to take advantage of the rapidly moving frontier of information technology and declining costs of telecommunications. Under this modified approach, initial deployment would target those offices with no Internet connectivity, followed by the provision to all intellectual property offices of uniform connectivity to the maximum extent possible. Members also agreed to commission an on-going business needs analysis of the future requirements of intellectual property offices beyond the initial connectivity phase. This would ensure that any enhancements of WIPONET facilities and services would match the future requirements of intellectual property offices of WIPO member states.

GLOBALPAT CD-ROM SERIES

In the context of the WIPONET, the SCIT discussed the needs of intellectual property offices in the changeover period. The SCIT members expressed their support for the continued availability of the GlobalPat CD-ROM series (technological and other information available in patent documents) which served as an invaluable electronic retrieval and archiving system. Availability of the GlobalPat CD-ROM series was particularly important as it would compensate insufficient network infrastructure and difficult circumstances of local telecommunications that were currently being experienced in many countries.

WIPO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIGITAL LIBRARY (IPDL) PROJECT

A status report on the WIPO IPDL project was also the subject of the SCIT's attention. The WIPO IPDL node, which became operational in April 1998, currently provides access to a range of database collections, including data relating to international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Madrid System for the Registration of Marks, and the Hague System for the Registration of Industrial Designs. Access to the database collections of Madrid and PCT is available to the general public free-of-charge. Collections are updated on a daily and weekly basis respectively. Steady increases in the use of these systems is testimony to their relevance and value to users which will prove useful input when the plans for the IPDL project are being determined.

STANDARDS AND DOCUMENTATION

In the area of standards and documentation, the SCIT reviewed and revised a range of WIPO standards for the filing, processing and storage of intellectual property information. Such standardization is designed to harmonize, simplify and facilitate the electronic transmission and processing of intellectual property information. To this end, the Committee considered the progress made in the elaboration of a technical standard for electronic filing, processing, storage and records management of international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. It is expected to reach an operational PCT online filing environment in, possibly, the first half of the year 2001. The SCIT also adopted revisions of several WIPO Standards to suit the needs of intellectual property offices and the global user community.

The next Plenary session of the Standing Committee on Information Technologies will take place from July 10-14, 2000.

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