CWS Work Program Overview
March 2024
Introduction
At its most recent session, the Committee on WIPO Standards (CWS) reviewed and approved the Tasks below. To deal with certain Tasks, the CWS established corresponding Task Forces which are listed here.
Each Task Force has its own electronic forum (WIKI) for carrying out assigned Tasks. Further information about the WIKIs is available.
Active CWS Tasks
Task No. 18
| Description |
Identify areas for standardization relevant to the exchange of machine‑readable data on the basis of projects envisaged by such bodies as the Five IP Offices (IP5), the Five Trademark Offices (TM5), the Industrial Design 5 Forum (ID5), ISO, IEC and other well‑known industry standard‑setting bodies. |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
| Task Force |
Not applicable |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The International Bureau to coordinate reporting on developments relating to standardization and/or the presentation of proposals to the CWS as necessary. |
Task No. 24
| Description |
Collect and publish Annual Technical Reports (ATRs) on Patent, Trademark and Industrial Design Information Activities of the CWS Members (ATR/PI, ATR/TM, ATR/ID). |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
| Task Force |
Not applicable |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The International Bureau to collect and publish ATRs for reporting year 2022 using the simplified process approved at CWS/9. |
Task No. 33
| Description |
Ongoing revision of WIPO Standards. |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau: the CWS will further consider the appointment of Task Leaders upon specific requests for the revision of standards. |
| Task Force |
Not applicable |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The revision of standards is considered an ongoing activity. |
Task No. 33/3
| Description |
Ongoing revision of WIPO Standard ST.3. |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
| Task Force |
Not applicable |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The revision of WIPO Standard ST.3 is considered an ongoing activity. |
Task No. 41
| Description |
Ensure the necessary revisions and updates of WIPO Standards ST.36, ST.66, ST.86 and ST.96; and support the implementation of those Standards.
|
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
| Task Force |
XML4IP Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
- The Task is of a continuous nature (see paragraph 191 of document CWS/6/34).
- The International Bureau to organize regular monthly meetings of the XML4IP Task Force, typically the second Tuesday of the month.
- The XML4IP Task Force to review ST.96 components by comparing them with the corresponding XML components of the older XML Standards: ST.36, ST.66 and ST.86, to determine which ST.96 elements should be mandatory.
- The XML4IP Task Force to proceed with a pilot project for an online platform for external developers working with IPOs to provide direct feedback on relevant WIPO Standards.
- The International Bureau to work on creating a centralized repository to host Office-specific implementations of ST.96.
- The XML4IP Task Force Leader to inform the CWS at the twelfth session of any revisions of WIPO ST.96 adopted by the Task Force.
- The XML4IP Task Force to manage any necessary updates to ST.36, ST.66 and ST.86.
|
Task No. 44
| Description |
Support the International Bureau by testing new releases based on available resources and providing user feedback on the WIPO Sequence Suite; and prepare necessary revisions of WIPO Standard ST.26 |
| Task Leader(s) |
European Patent Office (EPO) |
| Task Force |
Sequence Listings Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The SEQL Task Force to support development and testing of the WIPO Sequence Suite, and consider further revisions to ST.26 if needed. |
Task No. 47
| Description |
Ensure the necessary revisions and updates of WIPO Standards ST.27, ST.87, and ST.61; prepare supporting materials to assist the use of those Standards in the IP community; and support the XML4IP Task Force to develop XML components for legal status event data. |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
|
| Task Force |
Legal Status Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
-
The International Bureau to organize joint meetings to be held between the Legal Status Task Force and the XML4IP Task Force to develop design legal status schemas.
-
The Legal Status Task Force is to determine whether any necessary revisions to ST.87 are to be presented at the twelfth session.
|
Task No. 50
| Description |
Ensure the necessary maintenance and update of surveys published in Part 7 of the WIPO Handbook on Intelellectual Property Information and Documentation. |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
| Task Force |
Part 7 Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The Task Force to prepare its new work plan and present it to the twelfth session of the CWS for approval. |
Task No. 52
| Description |
Prepare a proposal for the update of the WIPO Handbook Part 6.1 "Recommended minimum contents for intellectual property offices’ websites". |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
| Task Force |
Public Access to Patent Information (PAPI) Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The PAPI Task Force to prepare a proposal to update Part 6.1 of the WIPO Handbook. |
Task No. 55
| Description |
Prepare a proposal for future actions aimed at achieving the standardization of names in Intellectual Property (IP) documents, with the view to developing a WIPO standard to assist IP offices in providing a better “quality at source” in relation to names. |
| Task Leader(s) |
Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the International Bureau |
| Task Force |
Name Standardization Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The Task Force to prepare a revised proposal for a set of recommendations for the data cleaning of names for consideration at the twelfth session. |
Task No. 56
| Description |
Ensure the necessary revisions and updates of WIPO Standard ST.90; support the International Bureau in developing a unified catalog of APIs that are made available by Offices; and support the International Bureau in promoting and implementing WIPO Standard ST.90. |
| Task Leader(s) |
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the European Union - European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) |
| Task Force |
API Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
- The Task Force Member Offices to put their effort to promote WIPO ST.90 and implement it in their products and services.
- The Task Force Member Offices to review ST.90 rules in comparison with their implementation.
- The Task Force to prepare a proposal to revise ST.90.
-
The API Task Force to support the development of the unified API catalog on the WIPO website and report progress at its twelfth session.
- The Secretariat to issue a circular inviting IP offices to provide feedback on the public APIs provided by Offices and their definition of terms.
|
Task No. 58
| Description |
Prepare a final proposal for a set of recommendations based on the feedback from the CWS Members on the proposed 10 recommendations on ICT and IP administration.
|
| Task Leader(s) |
IP Australia and International Bureau |
| Task Force |
ICT Strategy Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The Task Force to prepare a final set of recommendations for consideration at the twelfth session of the CWS. |
Task No. 59
| Description |
Explore the possibility of using blockchain technology in the processes of providing IP rights protection, processing information about IP objects and their use;
Collect information about IPO developments in use of and experience with blockchain, assess current Industry Standards on blockchain and consider merit and applicability to IPOs;
Develop reference models of using blockchain technology in the IP field, including guiding principles, common practice and use of terminology as a framework supporting collaboration, joint projects and proofs of concept; and
Prepare a proposal for a new WIPO Standard supporting the potential application of blockchain technology within the IP ecosystem.
|
| Task Leader(s) |
Rospatent |
| Task Force |
Blockchain Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The Task Force to prepare a proposal for a new WIPO Standard which recommends potential applications for the use of blockchain technologies within the IP ecosystem |
Task No. 61
| Description |
Ensure the necessary revisions and updates of WIPO Standard ST.91, including methods of search for 3D models and 3D images. |
| Task Leader(s) |
Rospatent |
| Task Force |
3D Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
- The Secretariat to issue a circular inviting Offices to respond to the survey on the implementation of ST.91.
- The Task Force to analyze the survey responses and present the results of the survey to the twelfth session of the CWS.
|
Task No. 62
| Description |
Review WIPO Standards developed for paper or image-based communication in view of electronic filing and publication and exchange of IP documentation and propose revisions of those Standards or new recommendations if needed; and prepare a proposal for the recommendation on a common requirements specification for a DOCX to XML (DOCX2XML) converter. |
| Task Leader(s) |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) |
| Task Force |
Digital Transformation Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The Task Force is to prepare a common set of requirements related to producing a DOCX to XML converter. |
Task No. 63
| Description |
Develop visual representation(s) of XML data, based on WIPO XML Standards, for electronic publication. |
| Task Leader(s) |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) |
| Task Force |
Digital Transformation Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
No actions planned at this stage
|
Task No. 64
| Description |
Ensure the necessary revisions and updates of WIPO Standard ST.97. |
| Task Leader(s) |
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the European Union - European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) |
| Task Force |
API Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The API Task Force to work on the simplified version of WIPO ST.97. |
Task No. 65
| Description |
To prepare a proposal for recommendations on the data package format for the electronic exchange of priority documents and certified copies for patents, marks and industrial designs. |
| Task Leader(s) |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) |
| Task Force |
Digital Transformation Task Force |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
The Task Force to prepare a revised proposal for a new WIPO standard on the data package format for the electronic exchange of priority documents along with a proposed implementation plan of the new standard, for consideration at the twelfth session of the CWS.
|
Task No. 66
| Description |
Encourage IP offices to provide their patent authority file in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.37 by providing any technical support or training necessary, based on available resources. |
| Task Leader(s) |
International Bureau |
| Task Force |
Not applicable |
| Scheduled actions to be carried out |
- At its eleventh session, the CWS created this task. It was assigned to the International Bureau (see 10 of document CWS/11/27).
- The Secretariat to issue a circular inviting feedback on what support may be needed by Offices generating their authority file compliant with ST.37 for the first time.
- The International Bureau to provide technical support upon request by Offices and its available resources.
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