[Ecommerce] WIPO goes open source (for it's own software)

Thu Aug 21 11:05:09 2003

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [Random-bits] WIPO goes open source (for it's own software) From:
   "James Love" <james.love@cptech.org>
Date:    Thu, August 21, 2003 9:20 am
To:      random-bits@lists.essential.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

STANDING COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS WORKING GROUP
Second Session
Geneva, February 3 to 7, 2003
REPORT
Adopted by the Working Group

INTRODUCTION

1.	The Information Technology Projects Working Group (ITPWG) of the
Standing Committee on Information Technologies (SCIT) held its second
session from February 3 to 5, 2003.

2.	The following Member States of WIPO were represented at the session: 
Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary,
Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico,
Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania,
Russian Federation, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
United States of America and Zambia (38).

3.	Representatives of League of Arab States (LAS), the Benelux Trademark
Office (BBM), the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), the European Patent
Office (EPO), the Patent Documentation Group (PDG) and the International
Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) (6) took part
in the session.

4.	The list of participants appears as Annex I to this report.

57.	The Secretariat also reminded delegates that the software will be made
available free to Member States and applicants;  the editor and the Client
will be available free of charge and downloadable via the PCT-SAFE
website;  the receiving server software will be made available to any
Receiving Office under the PCT who requests it;  and a low level
certificate will be obtainable via a WIPO website and it is planned via
WIPONET.  In addition, the Secretariat also expressed interest to
participate in some form of open source, and was already working with the
EPO towards such an arrangement.  With regard to an enterprise version of
PCT-SAFE, contact had been made with patent management software vendors to
see if they were interested in deploying PCT-SAFE software into their own
environments and thereby providing a more multi-user, integrated solution
to the niche of the market where their customers are placed.

60.	The Delegation of the EPO took the floor to comment upon the strength
of cooperation and harmonisation with WIPO.  A Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) was under preparation to cover the server software whereby the EPO
will take over the PCT client or plug-in once it is operational and it
will be maintained by PCT-SAFE.  In respect of open source, the EPO had
decided to go open source for its full epoline software with respect to
electronic-filing.  Finally, the EPO reminded the Secretariat of the need
to include all electronic filing systems in its promotion of the
functionality of online filing under the PCT.

61.	In response to a question from the Delegation of the United Kingd om
about the future developments of the online filing system and their
inclusion within the MOU between WIPO and the EPO, the Secretariat was
pleased to report that the move, by the EPO to open source, would mean
that future cooperation would be assured and would take place in a more
rich development environment.

73.  In introducing document SCIT/ITPWG/2/5, the Secretariat reminded
delegates that although the process of IPC Reform was likely to continue
for some time, the CLAIMS Project was scheduled for completion by the end
of 2003.  The IPC classification system currently comprised some 70,000
entries and under the reformed system would include a small core layer
with 20,000 stable entries coupled with an advanced layer modeled on the
US Classification which is continuously updated.  The goal of the reform
effort was to establish a Master Classification Database searchable by the
advanced layer.  The CLAIMS Project itself comprised four tracks; 
automatic categorization, translation or linguistic support, development
of IPC tutor areas and IPC support conforming to the ad hoc needs of the
IPC reform community.  Problems had been experienced with the translation
systems but these had been expected and some success was recorded.  With
regard to the IPC tutorials track, open source software had been used for
development and had proved cost effective.  The system had been developed
by the end of 2002 and is currently being loaded with data.

-- 
James Love
http://www.cptech.org mailto:james.love@cptech.org
mobile +1.202.361.3040

_______________________________________________
Random-bits mailing list
Random-bits@lists.essential.org
http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/random-bits

-- 
James Love
http://www.cptech.org mailto:james.love@cptech.org
mobile +1.202.361.3040