WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS OF THE NICE UNION – 24TH SESSION
April 28 to May 2, 2014
Project: CE243
Rapporteur: IB
QUESTIONNAIRE ON NICEPUB
Rapporteur Proposal
Date: February 25, 2014
2
QUESTIONNAIRE ON NICEPUB
DENMARK
Reference documents: Report of the 21st session of the Committee of Experts of the Nice
Union, document CLIM/CE/21/3, paragraphs 23, 24 and 25, project CE215, Anx 1, and
publication NicePub.
This questionnaire has been formulated by the International Bureau and is addressed to
national and regional trademark offices that apply the Nice Classification for the purposes of
the registration of marks. The questionnaire is intended to know the opinion of the offices
about the new electronic publication of the Nice Classification (NicePub) and to collect
suggestions that would help to improve it. It comprises ten, mostly closed-ended questions
but you can, if you wish, develop your answers further or make suggestions.
We would be grateful if you could answer to these questions on the e-forum,
http://web2.wipo.int/nef/ project CE243, before March 28, 2014. Based on your answers, the
IB will then prepare a document for discussion at the 24th session of the Nice CE.
1.
In general, do you find that NicePub represents an improvement in respect of the
previous, NIVILO electronic publication?
Yes
2.
In the List of Goods and Services by class order (“Classes” tab), the master
indication and its synonyms have been grouped and appear in a line, preceded by their
basic number. Do you find this presentation useful?
Yes
3.
By choosing the bilingual version, both the English and the French versions of any
part of the Classification are displayed, one language beside the other (instead of having to
jump from one language to the other as in NIVILO). Do you find this feature useful? Do you
have any suggestions to improve the bilingual presentation?
Yes we find the feature useful
4.
The IB has added new search functions to NicePub (search in one or more classes,
search goods and/or services, include the information files in the search, search by exact
terms, Boolean search, search by basic number). Do you consider this to be an
improvement?
Yes
3
5.
Considering the search functions currently available in NicePub, do you still find it
useful to maintain a list of goods and services in alphabetical order (“Alphabetical” tab)?
No
6.
The IB has the intention to add a new tab to NicePub, the “List of Classes” tab, which
will display the consolidated List of Classes with Explanatory Notes. Do you find this would
be an improvement to NicePub?
Maybe it would be useful for some users.
7.
Do you consider it necessary to introduce in NicePub a download function for the list
of goods and services and the list of classes with explanatory notes? Which format would
you prefer (Word, PDF, Excel)?
Maybe it would be useful for some users
8.
One of the new features in NicePub is the “ i ” icons displayed beside the class
headings and beside certain indications in the list of goods or services. Clicking on such
icons gives access to general information about the contents of a class or about a particular
good or service. Do you think it is worthful to continue developing this kind of information, in
particular for new, not obvious indications? Would you be willing to contribute to this work by
developing new information where needed?
Yes and we will be willing to contribute to this work.
9.
The taxonomy, created by OHIM with the collaboration of WIPO, has been
incorporated in NicePub. Do you find that the presentation of the NCL goods and services
arranged according to the taxonomy is a positive contribution to the official publication of the
Nice Classification? Do you have suggestions to further improve this presentation?
Yes.
We find it user-friendly that it is optional whether or not you want to see the taxonomystructure (you can choose flat, taxonomy or full in “view mode”). We also find the disclaimer
shown at the top of the page very useful and important.
10.
The “Modifications” tab shows the changes introduced in the official parts of a new
edition/version of the Nice Classification, i.e. in the Class Headings, the Explanatory Notes,
the List of Goods and Services and the General Remarks, as decided by the CE. Would you
like to be able to also see the modifications introduced in the taxonomy between two NCL
versions?
Yes
[End of questionnaire]