CWS Work Program Overview

December 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

Following is the list of active Tasks after the twelfth session of the CWS.

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 update the simplified process approved at CWS/9 by adding the following new topic: "Activities of the implementation of WIPO Standards related to Patent (Trademark or Industrial Design) Information". The International Bureau to continue collecting and publishing ATRs for reporting year 2024 using the simplified template.

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 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 thirteenth 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. The XML4IP Task Force to continue to collaborate with copyright Offices, creative industry stakeholders and relevant NGOs to improve copyright orphan work metadata components. The International Bureau to reach out to copyright Offices to request nomination of experts to join the XML4IP Task Force.

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. The SEQL Task Force to consider further revisions to WIPO ST.26 if needed. The SEQL Task Force to approve and distribute a survey questionnaire to gather feedback from applicants regarding their position on the EPO proposal to lift the minimum length requirement.

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 Legal Status Task Force to encourage IP offices to provide their mapping table or update their existing mapping table published in Part 7.13 of the WIPO Handbook. The Legal Status Task Force to provide training on legal status Standards, if requests were made by IPOs. The Legal Status Task Force to share implementation experiences or intentions to implement on the Task Force wiki space. The Legal Status Task Force to encourage IP offices to update their mapping tables of Standards ST.27, ST.61 and ST.87. The Legal Status Task Force to prepare proposal(s) for revising WIPO Standards ST.27, ST.61 and ST.87.

Task No. 50

Description	Ensure the necessary maintenance and update of surveys published in Part 7 of the WIPO Handbook on Intellectual 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 conduct a survey to inform updates to WIPO Handbook Part 7.2.6 and Part 7.2.7 in 2025 and to report the survey results at thirteenth session of the CWS. Part 7 Task Force would present a proposal for the way of revising Part 7.3 for consideration at the next session of the CWS.

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 for the update of WIPO Handbook Part 6.1 and present it for consideration at the thirteenth session of the CWS.

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 revisit and improve the draft standard on proposal for a set of recommendations for the data cleaning of names for consideration at the twelfth session. The International Bureau organize a workshop on data cleaning of names where all interested parties may attend. The Task Force Members to support the International Bureau by promoting this workshop.

Task No. 56

Description	Ensure the necessary revisions and updates of WIPO Standard ST.90; support the International Bureau in promoting and implementing WIPO Standard ST.90; and promote the API Catalog for Intellectual Property.
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 continue working on proposals currently listed on the Improvement Register available on the Task Force wiki, including potential improvements to Annexes I and II to the Standard. The API Task Force to support the International Bureau to enhance the API Catalog to deliver better IP services to stakeholders and users in IP community. Task Force Member Offices to share their implementation plans for WIPO Standard ST.90 and their experience in conducting these plans using the dedicated page for the Implementation of WIPO Standard ST.90 and the results of the compatibility matrix assessment. Task Force Members a to test the XML2JSON transformation tool.

Task No. 58

Description	Facilitate the implementation of the ICT related Recommendations by IP offices and the International Bureau; and evaluate and update these Recommendations as needed to maintain their relevance.
Task Leader(s)	International Bureau and IP Australia
Task Force	ICT Strategy Task Force
Scheduled actions to be carried out	The Task Force members to discuss implementation of the set of Recommendations. The Task Force members to decide on review procedures, including how often and through what process they should be updated. The Task Force to prepare a report the set of Recommendations to WIPO General Assembly in 2025. The Task Force to report the outcome of its discussions to the next session of the CWS Committee.

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 research and analyze the use cases of blockchain technologies in IP community, which utilize blockchain technologies, and further improve the draft standard.

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 Task Force to continue the research on the 3D search methods and present the outcomes for further discussion within the Task Force and to share its methods and practices when conducting 3D-to-3D processing. The Task Force to present a revised Standard ST.91 to CWS/13. The Task Force to organize an information session with the interested IPOs on 3D models and 3D images.

Task No. 62

Description	Review paper or image-based WIPO Standards 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	Task Force to continue documentation of the existing practices of various Offices and the development of a comprehensive list of converter requirements. These efforts may require outreach to Offices currently using DOCX2XML converters and updating the spreadsheet with the information provided. The common requirements specification will be helpful to all Offices considering the implementation of a DOCX2XML 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. The API Task Force to gather feedback from the IP Offices who have already implemented WIPO ST.97 with the goal of achieving a simplified version of the Standard that can be easily adopted by both IPOs and the industry. The API Task Force to work on Improvement Register for WIPO ST.97 that has been created , including the improvements proposed in the history of development by the XML4IP Task Force.

Task No. 65

Description	Ensure the necessary revisions and updates of WIPO Standard ST.92 and support IP offices for their implementation of the Standard before July 1, 2027.
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 further improve the new Standard to include recommendations on the exchange of trademark and industrial design priority documents, as well as draft a set of examples to be included as part of the Annexes of the adopted new standard. The Task Force to support Offices to implement WIPO Standard ST.92, when adopted. The Task Force to draft a survey for implementing Offices to determine whether the tentative date for the conclusion of the sunset period is definite or not report the results of the survey for consideration at its thirteenth 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; and undertake any necessary revisions and updates to WIPO Standard ST.37.
Task Leader(s)	United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office
Task Force	Authority File Task Force
Scheduled actions to be carried out	The International Bureau to provide technical support upon request by Offices and its available resources; and to continue coordinating with interested Offices to schedule bilateral, with priority given to those Offices requiring the greatest level of support.3. The International Bureau to issue a circular inviting Member States to invite Offices to nominate experts to join the Authority File Task Force. The Task Force to propose necessary revisions to WIPO Standard ST.37 for consideration and approval at the thirteenth session of the CWS.

Task No. 67

Description	Analyze existing practices and challenges experienced by IP offices in conducting IP data exchange with a view to explore solutions to improve access to global IP data.
Task Leader(s)	International Bureau, Japan Patent Office and Saudi Authority of Intellectual Propery.
Task Force	IP Data Exchange Task Force
Scheduled actions to be carried out	The Task Force to analyze practices and challenges of IP offices in exchanging their IP data. The Task Force to explore technical solutions on IP Data Exchange. The Task Force to prepare recommendations on IP data exchange.