The IPI used to have a cleverly devised manual system for finding similar trade marks. Every trade mark that contained an image or logo was recorded on an edge-punched card. This card contained a picture code, for example ‘1.1.1.4’ for a ‘man standing’. There were also holes indicating the applicable goods and services classes. This made it possible to file the cards in groups.
Special devices were used to sort the cards. If you wanted to check a new trade mark, you pulled out the cards with the same codes. In the end, you were left with the trade marks whose images might be similar. These cards were individually reviewed, compared and evaluated by staff members.
The system was reliable but also very time-consuming. Each new entry or change involved altering, re-punching or replacing cards. The trade mark files needed constant attention.
