The Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office (CIIPO) has made improvements to CORIS – the system that houses its online intellectual property (IP) register.
The search capacity improvement means that IP agents who are licensed to use it can now retrieve additional information from the register, such as proprietor names and addresses.
In addition, the information can be searched by the type of IP – an agent can search for of trademarks, patents or design rights, and also by image or by word.
Previously, agents could view full details only on the IP that they themselves had registered and were also only able to access limited IP details from other agents.
Even with the enhancement, agents can still ask CIIPO staff to search the register manually, with a fee of CI$50 per search.
Premier Andre Ebanks, who also serves as financial services minister, said the enhancements will increase efficiency for both CIIPO staff and the IP agents.
“They are part of ongoing work undertaken by CIIPO and the ministry that will make it simpler for persons to enjoy IP benefits and protections,” he added.
He explained in a government press release on 16 July that upcoming changes include amendments to the Trade Marks Act, 2016 and the Trade Marks Regulations, 2017.
“Cabinet has approved drafting instructions for these amendments. The aim is to benefit Caymanian entrepreneurs and creatives,” the premier noted.
These proposed changes will seek to modernise the current legislation and make it simpler and more affordable for individuals and smaller businesses to protect their IP rights.
The focus on increasing access to intellectual property registration services is closely aligned with international best practices for the registration and protection of IP rights.
To support this process, the ministry and CIIPO are working to allow the public to conduct basic searches on the IP registry database.
A public consultation on proposed changes to the Cayman Islands’ trademarks legislation is scheduled for this summer.
