The Similar And Different Regulations
On Industrial Designs
Between China And Canada
He Zijing

Abstract:
With China entering WTO, more and more Chinese industrial designers want to apply internationally to register their designs outside China. This paper shows you the detailed comparison about regulations concerning industrial designs between China and Canada, gives some suggestions about the process to register internationally to protect Chinese applier. Some hints imposed on the difference between the two countries will help to improve our patent law.
KEYWORDS:
Industrial design, China, Canada
1. General introduction on industrial designs
1.1 What is an industrial design?
1.1.1 Of WIPO
An industrial design is the ornamental of aesthetic aspect of an article. The design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color. Industrial designs are applied to a wide variety of products of industry and handicraft. To be protected under most national laws, an industrial design must appeal to the eye. This means that an industrial design is primarily of an aesthetic nature, and does not protect any technical features of the article to which it is applied.
1.1.2 Of CHINA
Design in the Patent Law means any new design of the shape, the pattern or their combination, or the combination of the color with shape or pattern, of a product with creates an aesthetic feeling and it fits for industrial application.
1.1.3 Of CANADA
Design of industrial design means features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament and any combination of those features that, in a finished article, appeal to and are judged solely by the eye.
1.2 Other forms of Intellectual Property
In China, Intellectual property can be generally classified as patent, copyright, trademark. Patents, or in other words, inventions-creations, mean inventions, utility models and designs. So that the designs are one of the subdivisions of patents.
Whereas, in Canada, in addition to industrial designs, there other forms of intellectual property, as patents, copyrights, and integrated circuit topographies. Hereby, patents cover new inventions (process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter), or any new and useful improvement of an existing invention. So that industrial designs have the equal statues to patents, as one of the subdivisions of intellectual property.
1.3 Why protect industrial designs?
Industrial designs are what make an article attractive and appealing; hence, they add to the commercial value of a product and increase its marketability.
When an industrial design is protected, the owner-the person or entity that has registered the design-is assured an exclusive right against unauthorized copying or imitation of the design by third parties. This helps to ensure a fair return on investment. An effective system of protection also benefits consumers and the public at large, by promoting fair competition and honest trade practices, encouraging creativity, and promoting more aesthetically attractive product.
Protecting industrial designs helps economic development, by encouraging creativity in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as in the traditional arts and crafts. They contribute to the expansion of commercial activities and the export of national products.
Industrial designs can be relatively simple and inexpensive to develop and protect. They are reasonably accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as to individual artists and craftsmen, in both industrialized and developing countries.
1.4 How can industrial designs be protected?
In most countries, an industrial design must be registered in order to be protected under Industrial Design Law. As for China, the regulations on design are under the Patent Law of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its implementing regulations; As for Canada, The Industrial Design Act and Industrial Design Regulations details the regulations that govern design rights. As a general rule, to be registerable, the design must be “new” or “original”. Different countries have varying definitions of such terms, as well as variations in the registration process itself. Generally, “new” means that no identical or very similar design is known to have existed before.
Depending on the particular national law and the kind of design, an industrial design may also be protected as a work of art under copyright.
2.The main difference concerning registration
2.1 When to file an application
There is no time limit for filing an application as long as the design had never been published. The term “published” means that the design has been made public (even to your neighbors) or offered for commercial sale or use anywhere in the world. It is best to file an quickly as possible if publication has occurred.
In china, an design application does not lose its novelty where, within six months before the date of filing, one of the following events occurred: [1] where it was first exhibited at an international exhibition sponsored of recognized by the Chinese Government;[2]where it was first made public at a prescribed academic or technological meeting;[3]when it was disclosed by any person without the consent of the applicant.
In Canada, the design shall be refused to be registered if the application is filed more than one year after the publication of the design in Canada of somewhere.
2.2 who can apply?
Only the proprietor of a design may apply for and obtain registration for an industrial design both in China and Canada, while there exists little difference between the two countries on the question that who can be defined as proprietor.[1] usually you are considered the proprietor if you have created the design;[2] if you work together with other person to creat a design, you should file for registration as joint proprietors ( unless you are all working under contract or commission );[3] if you have acquired ownership of a design, then you may apply;[4] if you are employee of a company and develop design as part of your employment, then the employer may be the proprietor. In that case, only the employer may apply in Canada; while in china, the entity and the inventor or creator may enter into a contract in which the right to apply for and own the exclusive right is provided for;[5] if you have been hired under contract to develop design for someone else, then that person is the proprietor and is the only one entitled to apply for registration in Canada; whereas in that case in China, the right to apply for registration belongs, unless otherwise agreed upon, to the entity or individual that made the design.
2.3 What requirements to make designs registerable?
In Canada, the minister shall register the design if the minister finds that it is not identical with or dose not so closely resemble any other design already registered as to be confounded therewith, and shall return to the proprietor thereof the drawing or photograph and description with the certificate required.
In China, any design for which patent fight may be granted must not be identical with and similar to any design which, before the date of falling has been publicly disclosed in publications in the country or abroad or has been publicly used in the country, and must not be in conflict with any prior right of any other person.
2.4 What you cannot register?
In Canada, you cannot register the following under the Industrial Design Act: [1] Designs that are utilitarian only and which are not intended to provide visual appeal; [2] Designs that have no fixed appearance; [3] Designs for components that are not clearly visible; [4] a method of construction; [5] an idea; [6] materials used in the construction of an article; [7] the useful function of the article; or [8] color.
In China, for any of the following, no patent right shall be granted: [1] scientific discoveries;[2] rules and methods for mental activities;[3] methods for diagnoses or for the treatment for the diseases;[4] animal and plant varieties;[5] substances obtained by means of nuclear transformation.
From the above regulations, we can see that the Chinese regulations is more generic for all of the three types of creation-inventions; and the Canadian’s is more special in detail on designs. So we should absorb some of them in our implementing regulations of patent law.
2.5 searching of office record prior to filing an application
Prior to filing an application, you may wish to conduct a search of office records in order to better determine whether your design is truly new and original. This will give you the opportunity to see other registered designs. You should also keep your design confidential.
2.6 How long the process takes?
In Canada, the Office dose not register any design until six months after the date of filing. Normally it takes between eight and twelve months to have your application examined. While in china, there is no such kind of provisions concerning the term of process of designs.
2.7 Duration of protection
Both in the two countries, duration of protection of industrial designs is for ten-year term, while the beginning date is quite different. In Canada, it is the date of registration-usually six months after the date of filing; in china, it is the date of filing. Once the ten-year term has expired, anyone is free to make, import, rent or sell etc., the designs.
2.8 Extension of protection
In Canada, your application must include a description which identifies the features that constitute the design since the court may use your description to help determine the limits of protection for your design, you should word your description with care and precision. If your description is too broad, you may over-extend the scope of the design, and it may be impossible to enforce. If it is too narrow, you may limit the scope of the design or leave out features that you intended to protect.
国家教育委员会


国家教委办公厅关于印发《成人高等学校评估的基本内容和准则》的通知
1993年12月30日，国家教委


按照我委《关于各类成人高等学校评估工作的意见》（教成〔1993〕18号）的精神和要求，我委拟定了《成人高等学校评估的基本内容和准则》。现发给你们，请遵照执行。


第一部分 办学条件（30分）
总要求：学校应达到国家教委颁发的《成人高等学校设置的暂行规定》和《成人高等学校设置补充规定》的各项标准。
一、领导班子
1．学校应设正、副校（院）长、党委（总支、支部）书记。
2．校（院）长与主管教学的副校（院）长应具有大学本科以上学历（或高级职称），其他成员应具有专科以上学历（或中级职称）。
3．年龄结构合理。
4．热爱成人教育事业，有较丰富的成人教育工作经验，参加过成人教育理论培训。
5．办学思想端正，贯彻执行党的教育方针和国家有关政策。
6．发扬民主，团结协作，勇于开拓创新，能深入实际调查研究，充分调动广大教职工的积极性。
二、师资队伍
1．成人高等学校的师资队伍应由具有良好政治、业务素质的专任教师和兼任教师组成，专兼职教师比例适当。
2．各门课程所需教师人数及职称结构应达到各类成人高校设置规定的标准。
3．专职教师应具有大学本科毕业以上或同等学力。
4．兼任教师应是具有较丰富实践经验和一定技术专长的技术人员和教师，队伍相对稳定。
三、办学经费
1．教育事业经费来源稳定，并随事业发展而不断增加。
2．有与办学规模相适应的基本建设经费等各项专款。
四、教学设施
1．建有与学校规模和办学形式相适应的专用校舍和活动场地。
2．图书馆及其藏书量应能满足教学、科研和学习需要。
3．学校应设置满足教学需要的实验室，及必要的电教设备。
4．建有完成教学计划所需要的实践性教学基地。
五、专业设置与学校规模
1．专业设置应在三个以上，能适应地区及企业经济发展对人才的要求。
2．具有岗位培训、继续教育、学历教育等多层次、多规格办学功能。
3．在校生人数达到国家规定规模。

第二部分 学校管理（25分）
总要求：贯彻教育为社会主义建设服务、与生产劳动相结合、德智体全面发展的方针，建立健全各项规章制度。
一、办学指导思想和思想政治工作
1．严格遵守国家教委有关规定，坚持标准，从严要求，注重质量，办出成人高等教育的特色。
2．学校要建立必要的思想政治工作制度，在校党组织领导下，建立一支精干的思想政治工作队伍，健全管理思想政治工作的职能部门，党团组织健全。
3．坚持对学生进行社会主义和爱国主义、职业道德和思想品德教育，引导组织学生参加社会实践活动。
二、教学管理
1．教学管理机构健全，教务处长应具有本科以上学历，其他管理人员能胜任本职工作。
2．学历教育与非学历教育均有严格的教学管理制度。
3．各专业均有经省级教育主管部门审批的教学计划，并贯彻执行；各课程均有教学大纲；教材选用合理。
4．严格执行学生成绩考核制度。
5．学校定期进行教学质量检查与质量分析，尤其是对教育行政（主管）部门统考成绩认真分析，及时总结。
三、师资管理
1．建立教师全面的业务档案。
2．制定师资培训计划。有切实可行的教师培训和考核办法，职责分明，工作落实。
3．有计划的组织教师进行科研活动。
4．制定严格的兼职教师管理办法。
5．建立教师奖励制度。
四、学生管理
1．制定学生守则和学生考勤、奖惩制度。
2．执行学籍管理制度，学生档案齐全。
3．建立学生会、班委会等学生组织。
4．有良好的校风校纪，开展各种精神文明评比活动。
五、行政与后勤管理
1．设有专门从事行政、后勤工作的机构，人员配备适应工作需要。
2．行政管理的规章制度健全。
3．后勤工作主动为教学服务。

第三部分 教学质量（30分）
总要求：学校有一支素质较高的专兼职教师队伍，能培养出德才兼备的合格人才。
一、教学计划、大纲及教材
1．根据国家教委下发的《成人高等专科教育制订教学计划的原则意见》和本地本行业教育行政（主管）部门制订的指导性教学计划，制订有学校各专业实施性的教学计划。
2．按照专业教学计划的要求，制订有各专业的课程教学大纲。
3．按照课程教学大纲和成人教育特点编写或选用各专业课程教材。
二、教师
1．热爱成人教育事业，教书育人。
2．具备较高的学术水平和教学业务能力。
3．严格按照教学计划、教学大纲的要求组织教学，圆满完成各个教学环节的教学任务。
4．专任教师具有生产、社会及科研实践经验。
5．能参加教学研究和科学研究或技术咨询服务。
三、学生
1．具有坚定正确的政治方向，遵纪守法，专业思想稳定，有良好的道德风尚。
2．全面掌握本专业教学计划规定课程的内容。
3．有较强的自学能力和动手能力。
4．毕业设计、论文能结合社会、生产实践解决实际问题。
5．积极参加文体活动及社会公益活动，培养自己社会活动能力。
6．毕业生回到岗位后能发挥业务骨干作用，受到用人单位好评。

第四部分 办学效益（15分）
总要求：发挥学校多功能办学的作用，主动为经济建设服务。
一、充分利用学校的办学条件，在保证质量的基础上，不断扩大学校的办学规模和服务范围。在校生规模（含非学历教育）与办学能力相一致。
二、办学形式灵活多样，积极开展企事业单位和社会需要的各种类型的培训、进修以及继续教育等非学历教育。
三、学校积极参与社会主义建设，主动与企业和社会联合办学，促进企业素质和效益的提高，在开发新技术和新产品方面成绩显著。