CWS.ATR.PI.2009.AM

Annual Technical Report 2009 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Armenia (CWS/ATR/PI/2009/AM)

Where URLs are requested below, it is preferred that either URLs which are likely to remain stable over time (three years or more) are provided, or home (main) page URLs are provided with a short explanation of how to access the corresponding information.

The term "patent" covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Industrial Design Information Activities.

I. Evolution of patent activities

Changes in terms of application filing and decision making as compared with previous year

The average duration of the examination of applications on invention from filing date of applications to the conclusion date in 2009 was 6,8 months (in 2008 –7,3 months).
The average duration of the examination of utility models from filing date of applications to the conclusion in 2009 was 4,3 months (in 2008 was 2.6 months).

Areas or fields where rapid changes took place as compared with the previous year

There is an increase in the number of applications for utility models in 4.5 times in 2009, as well as decrease in the number of applications for inventions, which makes approximately 44.8 per cent compared with 2008.
The breakdown of filed applications received in 2009 on inventions and utility models (applications received in 2008 are brought in brackets for comparison) are distributed by Sections of the International Patent Classification (IPC) as follows:

Section A. 56 (48)
Section B. 23 (28)
Section C. 26 (76)
Section D. 2 (0)
Section E. 12 (17)
Section F. 15 (26)
Section G. 22 (27)
Section H. 12 (17)


- The statistical data on filed applications and granted patents on inventions are given on the following site http://www.aipa.am of the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Armenia.

II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, distribution and use of primary and secondary sources of patent information

In 2009 12 issues of the Official Bulletin “Industrial Property” were published in the form of CD-ROM: 1(57) - 12(68). Bulletins were published in 2 languages in Armenian and in Russian, which included official information on patents on 156 inventions, 30 utility models, certificates on 23 industrial designs, 1250 registered trademarks and service marks and trademark registration renewals, trademarks that have been recognized as well-known, registered trade names as well as information on registration of licenses and assignment agreements of patents and trademarks.
Schemes of 156 inventions and 30 utility models have been inputted, full descriptions of homepages and claims of electronic forms as well as description of 23 industrial designs have been prepared and published and distributed to the patent owners and libraries, put in the intranet of the Agency for inner use, as well as on the website of the Agency and on optical disc “CISPATENT” for public use.
The annual reports of 2008 were prepared and published in Armenian, Russian and English. The electronic versions were worked out and inserted on the Internet site.
Technical and Statistic reports on inventions for the year of 2008 have been made to be presented to the World Intellectual Property Organization.

III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents

- The Agency issues monthly Official Bulletin “Industrial Property” in which abstracts on inventions and utility models in Armenian and Russian are published.
- Classification and reclassification of applications on inventions or utility models filed with the Agency was realized with International Patent application of IPC (2009) (Core Level).
- Coordinate indexing is carried out under the standards of WIPO. ST.9 (Annex 1. INID codes), ST.3 (two-letter codes for indication of country). ST.12/A (instructions for preparation of patent documents abstracts) ST.16 (standard codes for identification of various types of patent documents) etc.
- The Agency experts use hybrid system indexing during carrying out examination on certain subject matters.
- The Agency uses electronic database on inventions and utility models, which contains bibliographic data, abstracts and sketches with reporting opportunity in three languages: Armenian, Russian, English, as well as with transmission opportunity of bibliographic data for publishing in Official Bulletins, issued by the Agency, and transmission of information for optical CD-ROMs production under series CISPATENT (CISPATENT CD-ROM series), which contain full description of patent documents, including bibliography and abstracts in national language, Russian and English in well-known “MIMOSA” environment.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

The Agency continued works on update of the funds of Armenian Scientific and Technical Information Centre. Information received from foreign patent agencies was handled to the Centre.

V. Activities in the field of computerized and other mechanized search systems

In the reporting period a system for filing the applications on inventions and utility models electronically on the website of the Agency has been created.
Based on the new Law on Trade Names, which entered into force since January 1, 2009 an opportunity for filing the applications on trade names with the Agency electronically was granted to the Central Bank.
Data in Armenian stored in the database server of the Agency have been converted from ASCI into Unicod.
In the reporting period automation and technical re-equipment of the Agency has been continued. The Agency has been re-equipped with 4 computers of type Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 DUO and computer supplementary devices and equipments as well as UPSs. Shortcomings and omissions in the information system of the Agency revealed in the course of its exploitation have been eliminated.
With the aim of introduction of tasks occurred in the result of development changes and updates have been made in the information system of the Agency.
Windows XP”, “Windows Vista” system and Microsoft Office have been installed, service of operation system, installation of software, diagnostics of infected computers and programs have been carried out, and operation failures have been removed.

VI. Administration of the industrial property office library, and information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, for assisting clients on searching procedures, for obtaining official publications and registry extracts)

Official Bulletins “Industrial Property” and annual reports of the Intellectual Property Agency for 2008 are inserted on the following Internet site http://www.aipa.am for public awareness.
Official Bulletins are sent free of charge to the Armenian Scientific-Technical Information Centre, Main Library of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Libraries of Yerevan State University, State Engineering University of RA, Armenian Agricultural Academy and National House of Books of Armenia and National Library of RA. They are as well sent to Marzes of Armenia free of charge.

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of patent documentation and information

According to the preliminary arrangement within the framework of exchange of patent information, 21 copies of the Official Bulletin of Intellectual Property Agency were sent to the Patent Offices of foreign countries as well as to WIPO, EPO and EAPO.
For realization of the international agreement “On joint publication of the regional patent – informational product on optical discs CD – ROM”, members of which are 9 CIS countries, 12 compact discs “CISPATENT” are produced 4 issues of which contain bibliographical data in Armenian, Russian and English on 156 inventions and 30 utility models granted patent in the Republic of Armenia.
The Intellectual Property Agency receives patent information from European Patent Office as well as USA, Austrian, French and Canadian patent offices within the framework of information exchange by “CISPATENT” compact discs.
In 2009 the IPA continued experiments of information search system, created in cooperation with the EAPO.
The Agency continues to receive the inventions search system “ESPACE World” from WIPO as well as inventions search system “BREF” and “COSMOS” from France.

VIII. Other relevant matters concerning education and training in, and promotion of, the use of patent information, including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)

1. "Sub-Regional Seminar on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)", Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, June 8-9, 2009 (1 participant).
2. UNDP, OSI (Open Society Institute),"Access to Essential Medicines and Intellectual Property Rights" Ukraine, Kiev, September 21-22, 2009 (1 participant).
3. EAPO, Raising the level of IP skill, October 2009, Russian Federation, Moscow (2 participants).

IX. Other general information related to the Office that is available on the Internet -- URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that:

X. Other relevant matters