WIPO has published Information Notice 1/2020 stating that both the WIPO International Bureau and the Japan Patent Office are joining the WIPO Digital Access Service (DAS) for industrial design applications.

The DAS is an electronic system allowing priority documents to be securely exchanged between participating IP offices.

The JPO has become both a depositing Office and an accessing Office in respect of industrial design applications with effect from 1 January 2020. This means Hague applicants have an alternative to filing the original priority document through a local representative.

The International Bureau will be a depositing Office from 15 January 2020. Where an applicant or holder requests a certified copy of a priority document, the IB will also provide a DAS access code which can be relied on to claim priority in further filings.

Other offices that have previously made announcements regarding DAS and design documents include IP Australia, the USPTO and KIPO.

For more information see the DAS page on the WIPO website.