In 2011 the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO developed an initial system called WIPO CASE, and in 2012 they enhanced the platform for the patent offices of Australia, Canada and the UK.
Since June 1, 2015, any patent office is allowed to join the system but they need to notify the International Bureau. The office of interest has the option to choose if they want to be a proving office or only have access to the system.
What is the WIPO CASE system?
The WIPO CASE system allows intellectual property offices around the world to interact with each other, by sharing information regarding searches and examination reports.
The main objective of this system as the WIPO says is to improve the quality and efficiency of the patent search and examination process done at local and regional patent offices. The offices can carry out further search and examination work if necessary after analysing existing information of any equivalent filing at another participating patent office.
This means that since January 2016, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) from Chile is now a providing office becoming the first Latin American country to join this group, with the aim of achieving more efficient processing of patent applications. In other words, the implementation of this platform is a solution to achieve a greater speed, efficiency and quality in the presentation and granting of industrial property rights.
This will specifically benefit the users, since a significant number of Chileans documents and information will be available at WIPO CASE platform for the local and remaining offices that needs it.
Which countries are part of the WIPO CASE system?
The system is used by the offices of Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, China, United States, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, the European Patent Office (EPO), the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO), Papua New Guinea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
