Annual Technical Report 2012 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by Republic of Moldova (CWS/ATR/TM/2012/MD)

 

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I. Evolution of registration activities

Trademarks

During the year 2012, AGEPI received 5449 trademark registration applications, with 345 (6%) less than in the previous year. Of the total number of applications, by national way entered 2094 (38%) and by international way −3355 (62%). On 31 December 2012, the total number of trademark registration applications received throughout the AGEPI activity amounted to 97,791, including 34,860 applications (36%) filed by national way and 62,931 (64%) − by international way; 78 percent of the total of applications proceeded from foreign applicants and 22 percent - from national ones.
Both the number of applications filed by national applicants (by 7%) and the number of those filed by foreign applicants (by 6%) decreased, as compared with the previous year. At the same time, to national applicants belong 26% and to foreign ones − 74% of the total of applications filed in 2012. The proportions are reversed in the case of applications filed under the national procedure: 1403 applications (67%) come from applicants from the Republic of Moldova, and 691 (33%) − from foreign ones.
Most applications filed by the national applicants − 1168 (83%) − proceed from natural or legal persons having their domicile or headquarters in Chisinau, 28 (2%) − in Hincesti, 27 (2%) − in Straseni, 1% of applications belong to applicants from Balti, Ialoveni, Gagauzia TAU, Anenii Noi, Floresti, Orhei, and the rest of circa 6% of applications − to applicants from other territorial-administrative units of the country.
Under the national procedure were filed applications from 48 countries, an increased interest in the Republic of Moldova being shown by applicants from the United States of America, who filed 9% of applications, Switzerland (3%), Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Japan, Ukraine (2% each), India, Panama, China, Germany, Bulgaria, Turkey, Holland (1% each), the applicants from other countries accumulating in sum 6% of applications.
Under the Madrid System procedure applications proceeded from 52 countries, most of them − from Russian Federation (15%), Germany (9%), Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) (8%), Switzerland, Italy (7% each), Hungary (5%), etc.
Altogether, trademark registration applications filed with AGEPI in 2012 proceed from applicants from 70 countries (in 2011 - from 72 countries), the largest share belonging to those from the Republic of Moldova.
In the applications filed by national way, the most requested classes of the International Classification of Goods and Services (ICGS) remain to be: class 35 (advertising, business man-agement services, etc.) − in 708 applications (being, however, on the decrease by 6 percentage points compared with 2011); without significant changes from the previous year is class 05 (drugs, pharmaceuticals, etc.) − in 379 applications; slightly increased (by 2 percentage points) the interest in class 33 (alcoholic beverages) - in 258 applications; 30 (sugar, flour, preparations made from cereals, etc.) − in 249 applications; slightly decreased (by 2 percentage points) the interest in class 41 (education; entertainment; sporting activities) - in 210 applications; slightly increased (by 1 percentage point) the interest in classes 32 (non-alcoholic beverages, beer) - in 189 applications; 29 (meat, fish, poultry and game, eggs, milk and milk products; oils, etc.) − in 184 applications; 43 (services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation) - in 170 applications.
Under the international procedure, on top of preferences remains class 05, required in 919 applications, followed by classes 35 − in 584 applications and 09 (various apparatus and instruments, calculating machines, etc.) - in 518 applications, 03 (cosmetics, bleaching prepara-tions and other substances for laundry use) - in 424 applications, 25 (clothing, footwear, etc.) - in 370 applications, 30 (coffee, pastry and confectionery) - in 352 applications.
During the year under review, the same number of trademark registration applications was examined as in the previous year −5408, including 1910 filed under the national procedure and 3498 - under the international one. Substantive examination results differ from 2011: the share of trademark registration applications, accepted totally or partially under the national procedure, increased by 3 percentage points, representing 80% (compared to 77 % in 2011). Consequently, the share of applications for which were issued provisional refusals for all products and/or services required for registration under the national procedure decreased in the same proportion − up to 20% (compared to 23% in 2011). Consequently, the share of applications for which in were issued provisional refusals for all products and/or services required for registration under the international procedure increased in the same proportion − up to 18% (compared to 15% in 2011).
Monitoring of the grounds for refusal attests that 653% of those relating to applications filed under the national procedure and 83% of those relating to applications filed under the Ma-drid System is based on relative grounds (conflict with identical or similar trademarks protected on behalf of other persons for identical or similar goods/services, conflict with other intellectual property rights); 21% and, respectively, 9% of refusals were issued on the ground that the requested signs were deceitful or liable to mislead; 12% and, respectively, 6% of refusals − on the ground of lack of distinctiveness of signs required for registration.
In the year under review, 2149 applications were examined on compliance with the conditions for filing, of these 1997 applications (93%) were entered in the National Register of Trademark Registration Applications, and 152 applications (7%) did not meet the conditions for filing set by the Law.
In the period under review, AGEPI, as the office of the country of origin, checked and sent to WIPO 74 applications for international registration of trademarks, filed under the Madrid Sys-tem − with 25 (51%) more than the previous year.
Among countries most frequently designated for protection in the applications for international registration, filed by national applicants, are Ukraine (in 52/70% of applications), Russian Federation (48/65%), Belarus (37/50%), Kazakhstan (31/42%), Romania (27/369%), followed by China (21/28%), Poland (20/27%), Bulgaria (19/26%). It should be noted that in 2012 national applicants sought protection under the Madrid System in 62 countries, among them are also counted countries like Bahrain, Botswana, Maroc, Mongolia, Oman, Sudan, Singapore, etc.
Concomitantly with the new applications were also filed trademark registration renewal applications: in 2012 was supposed to expire the term of validity of 4650 trademarks (3434 - international and 1216 - national). As a result, it was sought the renewal of 2109 trademarks (with 422 applications - 16.7% - less than in 2011). Most renewals − 1961 (93%) − were requested by foreign owners, including 1743 −for international registrations and 2180 − for national trademarks. National owners filed 148 (7%) trademark renewal applications. At the same time, it should be noted that there is a gap between the date of expiration and that of filing of the renewal application − so-called grace period of six months, during which the owner may request renewal of trademark, subject to payment of an additional fee.
In the year under review, 1371 trademark registration certificates were issued (with 120 - 8% - less than in 2011), national owners obtaining 765 certificates (55%) and foreign ones - 606 (45%).
As in the case of trademark registration applications, most certificates issued to national owners belong to persons with their domicile or headquarter in Chisinau − 79%. At a very big distance from them are the owners from Gagauzia TAU (3%), mun. Balti, Floresti (2% each), Anenii Noi, Causeni, Soroca, Rezina, Drochia, Dubasari, Ialoveni, Orhei (1% each), the remaining six percent belonging to owners from other territorial-administrative units.
In the year under review, 426 trademark registration renewal certificates were issued, of which 272 (64%) − to national owners and 154 (36%) − to foreign ones. Compared with the previous year, the number of issued renewal certificates increased by 75 (21%). At the same time, it should be mentioned that it is attested an increase by 112 (70%) in the number of certificates issued to national owners and a decrease by 37 (19%) in the number of certificates issued to foreign ones.
From the start of its activity and until 31 December 2012, AGEPI issued 23,633 trademark registration certificates. The significant difference between the number of applications for registration and the number of issued certificates is explained by the fact that AGEPI does not issue certificates of registration for international trademarks. At the end of the year were valid 19,165 (81.1%) issued certificates, including 5868 renewed, these latter constituting 30.6% of the number of valid certificates.

Geographical indications

For the national system of protection of geographical indications (GIs) (geographical indications refers also to appellations of origin), in the process of consolidation, year under review was marked by the signing, on 26.06.2012, of the Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union on the Protection of Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs, which was ratified by the European Union on 26.10.2012 and by the Republic of Moldova − on 27.12.2012.
In accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Parties undertake to provide each other a high level of protection of geographical indications for foodstuffs, wines and spirits, communicated in the Annexes to the Agreement. Accordingly, Republic of Moldova is supposed to ensure the protection of those more than 3100 geographical indications, communicated by the European Union, and the EU will ensure the protection of the two appellations of origin ("Ciumai" and "Romanesti"), communicated by the Republic of Moldova.
In the reference year, AGEPI received four applications for registration of GIs after the entry into force of Law no. 66-XVI of 27.03.2008 on the Protection of Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed.
Thus, under the national procedure were filed four applications for registration of local GIs ("Codru", "Stefan Voda", "Valul lui Traian" and "Divin").
Also, during 2012 was completed the examination procedure of two appellations of origin (AO), filed by foreign applicants by national way in 2011.
Concomitantly, as the competent authority of the Republic of Moldova in the Special Union of the Member States of the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration (hereinafter - the Lisbon Agreement), in 2012 AGEPI received from the International Bureau of WIPO seven notifications concerning the international registration of several new appellations of origin for granting protection in the Republic of Moldova. As a result of substantive examination, six AO registered in the International Register, including previously notified, obtained the claimed protection.
At the end of 2012, the number of international registrations of AO, notified by the International Bureau of WIPO, reached the figure of 839. Of these, 830 obtained protection in the Republic of Moldova, six did not meet the conditions for grant of protection, and the other three will be examined within the terms provided by the Lisbon Agreement.
On the whole, 802 AO were protected in the Republic of Moldova by 31 December 2012, including 7 - submitted under the national procedure, 2 of which are local AO "Ciumai" and "Romanesti" (Table 1.10.).
The geographical area of origin of protected AO includes 20 member countries of the Lisbon Agreement, the other 7 member countries having no internationally protected AO.
AO protected in the Republic of Moldova refer to 21 classes of products of the International Classification of Goods and Services (ICGS). On top come out AO for goods of class 33 (circa 70%), followed at a great distance by the goods of cl. 29, 32, 34, 31, 30, etc

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to trademarks

http://agepi.gov.md/en/trademarks/statistics.php

http://agepi.gov.md/en/gi-ao-tsg/statistics/

II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of secondary sources of trademark information, i.e., trademark gazettes

The main types of announcements of the Office in the field of trademark and geographical indications information are:
- The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property Protection (BOPI);
- The Trademark Register;
- National Register of Applications for the Registration of Trademarks
- The Protected Geographical Indications Register
- The Protected Appellations of Origin Register
- National Register of Applications for the Registration of Geographical Indications
- National Register of Applications for the Registration of Appellations of Origin

BOPI including Sections III and IV with information on trademarks and appellations of origin, from January 2000 onwards is available online via our AGEPI web site at www.agepi.gov.md in portable document format (PDF).
Section III of BOPI contains:
- Applications for registration;
- Examined applications for trademark registration;
- List of registered trademarks;
- List of renewed trademarks.

Section IV contains:
- Applications for registration of appellations of origin of goods submitted under the Lisbon Agreement;
- Applications for registration of appellations of origin of goods or of geographical indications submitted by national procedure;
- List of registered international appellations of origin.
- List of registered national appellations of origin and/or geographical indications.

Section VI contains various types of notices referring to all amendments occurred to the legal status of the protected industrial property objects (List of amendments, List of assignment agreements, Errata, etc), the half-yearly subject indexes of registered trademarks.
The AGEPI maintains a complete history of its national and international trademarks files in paper form.

In 2003 began the creation of the electronic archive, until now all paper files relating to registered national trademarks have been already scanned.

In 2012 began the creation of the electronic archive on international trademark applications that have been refused.

III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of trademark information

Classification and reclassification activities; Classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification (please indicate whether goods and services for the registration of marks and whether the figurative elements of marks are classified by your Office and, if so, which classification(s) is (are) used)

During 2012 the AGEPI applied:
International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification), the tenth edition; (as from 01.01.2012)
International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), the sixth edition (as from 01.01.2008).

Use of electronic classification systems to check the classification symbols furnished by an applicant and which are contained in the lists of goods and/or services

To check the conformity of goods and services to the Nice Classification and of the figurative elements to the Vienna Classification, the AGEPI uses the electronic classification system offered by WIPO and electronic version of Nice classification translated into Romanian (presented by Romanian patent office (OSIM)).

Obligation for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification applied

It's not obligatory for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification applied but is highly recommended.

Bibliographic data and processing for search purposes

Data included in the WIPO Standard ST.60.

IV. Trademark manual search file establishment and upkeep

The examiner’s search files are the following:

The examiners use different browsers for search in Internet, dictionaries, atlases and electronic encyclopedias.

Moreover, the manual paper search files consist of encyclopedias, dictionaries, special books, periodicals, and a number of other lists and sources.

Both the examiner’s search files and documentation at the library are updated on a regular basis.

V. Activities in the field of computerized trademark search systems

In the period under review the AGEPI developed and improved the following information products:
• Program for transmission in electronic format of the partial or total provisional refusals, as well as final decisions concerning international registrations of trademarks having Republic of Moldova as designated country;
• Program for documents generation for the applications for registration of appellations of origin filed according to the international procedure under the Lisbon Agreement.
• Databases on geographical indications which are protected under a bilateral or regional agreement in respect of the protection of geographical indications as well as geographical indications applied by national procedure.

VI. Administration of trademark information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, registering trademarks, assisting clients with search procedures, obtaining official publications and registry extracts)

Within the Moldovan Office, there is a subdivision, namely AGEPI library structure which provides information-library services in the field of intellectual property to beneficiaries, including on various aspects related to registration and proetction of trademarks.

The AGEPI Library is the depositary of the National Patent Collection of the Republic of Moldova. The Library has a reading room with the equipment necessary to use the information on various media and from various sources, including the Internet. Beneficiaries of services provided by the library are experts and other collaborators of AGEPI, and all interested persons outside the institution: counselors in intellectual property, researchers, inventors and rationalizers, teachers, students, etc.
At the Library visitors can also:
- consult, subscribe to or purchase the official publications of AGEPI in the field of intellectual property which cover information on practical aspects related to trademarks and geographical indications, traditional specialties guaranteed, etc:
- BOPI, "Intellectus", "AGEPI INFO", etc., collections of laws and methodical literature in the field of intellectual property, CDs edited by AGEPI;
- obtain copies of the descriptions of inventions from patents for invention;
- methodological assistance in searching for information in electronic DB;
- library-bibliographic servicing in "request-offer", "information-express" regime, by complying with the bibliographic, thematic and factual references;
- opportunity of participating in IP information promotion activities at local and republican level.

Program for beneficiaries: From 9.00 to 16.00 Monday - Friday. Day without a program - Saturday and Sunday.


AGEPI Library experts provide to interested persons free of charge access to the national trademarks database as well as to the geographical indications/appellations of origin databases.

In the period under review, AGEPI developed and implemented the information system for the "Electronic File" , including its status, the procedure for administration of a large number of documents by compressing the received images and saving the storage resources (Online submission of applications, online payment of fees, formation of files in FE, archiving and management thereof).

In the light of the above, the following information products have been developed and implemented in respect to trademarks:
- Public search programs " Registered Works", Control Marks;, "Geographical Indications" and "appellations of Origin";
- Database "Control Marks" utilization statistics;
- Search program for database "Trademarks by "Applicants/IPO holders"

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide information on business procedures such as: filing, publication, examination and registration procedures related to trademarks; opposition and appeal procedures related to trademarks; etc.

http://agepi.gov.md/en/trademarks/presentation.php

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide a description of information products and services offered by the Office (e.g., trademark search service(s) and trademark databases), as well as information on how to access and utilize them

http://agepi.gov.md/en/trademarks/

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of trademark documentation and information

International or regional cooperation in the exchange of trademark information, e.g., in the form of official gazettes

In the year under review, AGEPI continued publishing and distributing on paper carrier, on the basis of mutual agreements with foreign national IP offices and International and European Organizations, and during the main promotion actions organized by AGEPI, periodical provided by its statute, namely:
- Annual Report AGEPI-2011 in 2 languages (Romanian and English)
- The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI), on a monthly basis (ISSN 1810-7095);
- Collection of communications “AGEPI readings-2011”;
- Collection “Intellectual Property in Digits. Statistical Indicators of the activity on filling of applications, including trademarks, and grant of legal protection of intellectual property objects in the Republic of Moldova during 1993-2001”.

In 2012, with the assistance of EU experts in the Twinning Project were developed on paper carrier and distributed to local economic agents during local, regional and international events, the following guides:
- the Introductory Guide on the Protection of GI and AO;
- the Guide for SMEs “Investment and Profit with Intellectual Property”.

Also, AGEPI updated the existing publication: IP magazine “INTELLECTUS” (ISSN 1810-7079 – on paper)

In the collection Library of Intellectual Property was printed a number of completed and updated publications, including:
 brochures
- “How to register GIs, AO and TSG in the Republic of Moldova”;
- “WIPO Gold Medal Winners”;
 Booklets
- “Contest for the creation of National Symbols Associated with GIs, AO, TSG”
- “Protection of IP Objects”

Exchange of machine-readable information

All the AGEPI publications in respect to trademarks can be accessed on the official website of the AGEPI: http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/publishing/index.php

Also, on the basis of mutual agreements with foreign national IP offices and International and European Organizations, AGEPI distributes on CD-ROM the following periodicals:
- Annual Report AGEPI-2011 in 2 languages (Romanian and English)
- The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI), on a monthly basis (ISSN 1857-050X);

AGEPI updated the existing publications on CD:
- IP magazine “INTELLECTUS” (ISSN 1857-0496);
- CD “Intellectual Property Protection Legislation”

During the year were improved and sent:
- Information from database “International Trademarks” for WIPO;
- Information from database ‘trademarks” for the Company Thomson Reuters.

VIII. Matters concerning education and training, including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)

Promotional activities (seminars, exhibitions, visits, advertising, etc.)

1. In 2012, AGEPI organized and participated in 84 information promotion and dissemination activities in the reference field, the most important being:
 Roundtable “Intellectual property and its role in promoting the economic development of the Republic of Moldova” aimed to familiarize the professors and students with the provisions of the national legislation on the protection and enforcement of IP rights, including trademarks, role of trademarks in the economic development of the Republic of Moldova;
 Seminar “Information Sources on the protection of trademarks”, organized within the premises of AGEPI library for students of Technical University of Moldova.

2. Public awareness on the importance of trademarks, the need for protection, enforcement and respect for trademark rights have been conducted through national and international exhibitions, organized at the IEC “Moldexpo” JSC:
- National Exhibition “Made in Moldova”, (January 31 – February 4, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 20th edition of the International Specialized Exhibition of foodstuff and raw materials for their production “FOOD&DRINKS. Food TECHNOLOGY”, (May 16-17, 2012, Chisinau);
- The 16th edition of the International Specialized Exhibition of cosmetics, perfumery and equipment for beauty parlours “BEAUTY”, (March 1-4, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 17th International Specialized Exhibition of architecture, technologies, equipment, tools, installations and materials for construction „MOLDCONSTRUCT” (March 14-17, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 17th International Specialized Exhibition of power-saving technologies, gas-supply, heating and air conditioning systems „MOLDENERGY”, (March 14-17, 2012, in Chisinau);

3. Traditionally, in the reporting period AGEPI participated at a formal ceremony where were awarded the winners of the Contest “Trademark of the Year 2011”:
- 41 trademarks in various sectors of the national economy were mentioned with Grand Prix ‘Golden Mercury”;
- 90 trademarks competed for the title “trademark of the Year 2011”.

4. In 2012, AGEPI jointly with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Moldova organized the Competition for the Creation of National Symbols Associated with Protected Geographical Indications, Protected Appellations of Origin and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed, aimed to:
- select the most successful projects,
- winner of all 3 categories of symbols being designated the company “AMBROS” LTD.
5. During the 2012, AGEPI continued the information and education of civil society via organization of different seminars:
- the 14th edition of the Annual Scientific and Practical Symposium “AGEPI Readings-2012”, (April 10 to 11, 2012, AGEPI Conference hall, Chisinau);
- two Seminars “Geographical indications and their benefits” organized under the Twinning Project, with the assistance of AGEPI, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Edinet, ATU Gagauzia, Chisinau subsidiaries (January 30 – February 1, 2012 and March 19 – 21, 2012);
- Seminar “International registration of trademarks as a tool of the product’s export strategy for RM”, organized within the National Exhibition “Made in Moldova”, (January 31 – February 4, 2012, in Chisinau);
- Seminar “The role of International systems of registration of trademarks, industrial designs in developing effective strategies for export”, organized within International Exhibition “Food&Drinks. Food Technology”, (May 17, 2012, Chisinau);
- Roundtable “Intellectual Property –support for increasing the competitiveness of enterprises”, organized jointly with the Falesti district Council;
- National seminar “Intellectual Property for SMEs” organized by AGEPI and WIPO in Chisinau, from November 14-15, 2012);

6. In order to familiarize managers of enterprises with the benefits offered by the national IP system: were conducted thematic roundtables, both at enterprises and AGEPI, including:
- Thematic roundtable “Management of intellectual property at the enterprise” organized at AGEPI with participation of representatives of the companies “Buchet Moldavii”, JSC Dubasari, “Kvint” JSC, Tiraspol, JE “LION GRI” Ltd, “NEFIS” JSC.

Besides the above mentioned activities, with the view to inform the public on the evolution of the national IP system, of the special legislation nationally and internationally, events and actions, including in respect to patent protection aspects, during the year under review were organized 3 press conferences on occasion of the following events:
- Festive meeting dedicated to the World Intellectual Property Day-2012 “Promoting Visionary Innovators”;
- Launch of the Public Campaign “Stop Piracy and Counterfeiting” ;
- 20th anniversary from the foundation of AGEPI.

For the same purposes, AGEPI developed and distributed 15 press releases dispatched to the addresses of more than 45 information media.

Mass media representatives were invited to about 20 events organized by AGEPI or with the participation of the Agency, they being made available to various information and publications in the field of IP and provided consultations.

With the AGEPI specialist efforts were developed/published/broadcasted about 90 materials (articles, i8nterviews, communications) on:
-Radio Moldova
- TV
-“Journal TV”
- “Publika TV”

About 54 materials were disseminated by the replica press agencies, these being taken from the AGEPI website or realized with the contest of AGEPI specialists.

To increase the degree of public information, popularization of knowledge in the field of IP, in 2012 were used new thematic information dissemination tools: Internet, Facebook, etc. Also, AGEPI launced the new version of the web page www.agepi.gov.md.

Training courses for national and foreign participants

1. In 2012 were organized 19 general training seminars, with topics focused on the national IP protection system, including in respect to trademarks, in which 842 persons were trained, including at the following institutions:
- Pregraduate: theoretical Lyceum “M.Eminescu” from Cimislia, College “MondostudArt”, TUM College, Lyceum “Spiru Haret”;
- Undegraduate: SUMP “N.Testemitanu”, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, State University of Moldova.

2. Training Course “Protection of Intellectual Property” organized by AGEPI during the year under review, which brought together 14 students, who obtained the qualification “Counsellor in Intellectual Property”.

Assistance to developing countries (sending consultants and experts, receiving trainees from developing countries, etc.)

In the reporting year, with the support of WIPO in Moldova were organized 2 WIPO experts missions aimed at promoting international systems of protection trademarks under the Madrid System:
- Workshop “International Registration of Marks: advanced issued in filling under the Madrid System”, intended for AGEPI specialists and patent attorneys of Moldova (May 16-17, 2012, AGEPI Conference hall);
- Seminar on the role of international registration systems for trademarks in building efficient export strategies in the Republic of Moldova”, intended for economic agents participants in the National Exhibition “Food&Drinks. Food Technology”, (May 17, 2012, Chisinau);

Supporting AGEPI efforts in promoting the role of IP, including trademarks, as a driving force for economic development of enterprises, in particular SMEs sector, WIPO has offered in organizing:
- The National Seminar “Intellectual Property for SMEs” organized from November 14-15, 2012.
The seminar was attended by over 60 representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer, business incubators of Soroca, Stefan Voda and Singerei, enterprises and associations of producers in the country.


With the support of the EU experts (from France, Poland and Great Britain) provided under the Twinning project “Support to implementation and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Republic of Moldova “, were organized thematic seminars for producers from the Southern, Northern and Central regions on the protection of geographical indications (January 30 – February 1, 2012 and March 19 – 21, 2012);

Also, with the support of EU experts were improved the communication strategies of AGEPI with partners and users IP system, were developed 2 Guidelines-recommendations for producers:
- “Investments and Profit with Intellectual Property for SMEs”;
- “Registration of geographical indications, appellations of origin and traditional specialties guaranteed”.

With the view to increase professional skills and knowledge in the field of registration and protection of trademarks, AGEPI experts have participated in the following international events:
- Annual National Seminar - National trademark at the 5th year from the accession to the European Union, organized by Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM), from August 29 - 30, 2012, in Constanta, Romania;
- The 5th session of the WIPO Working Group on the development of the Lisbon system (Appellations of origin) (June 11 to 15, 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland);
- Practical training course on Industrial Property jointly organized by the WIPO Academy and the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic (June 25 - July 6, 2012, in Prague, Czech Republic);
- Regional symposium on Traditional Knowledge and Digitalization of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Countries in Transition, organized by WIPO and Hungarian IP Office, from September 17 - 20, 2012, in Budapest, Hungary;
- The 27 session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Models and Designs (September 17 to 21, 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland);
- Session of the Contestation Commission for trademarks, organized by the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (October 16 to 19, 2012, in Bucharest, Romania);
- Study visit at the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic to get acquainted with the international registration of industrial designs, trademarks and appellations of origin (October 31 -November 1, 2012, in Prague, Czech Republic);
- Documentation visit at the General headquarter of the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks and at the High Court of Cassation and Justice (June 5 - 8, 2012, in Bucharest, Romania);
- International Conference on the Protection of Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin, organized by SAKPATENTI in cooperation with WIPO, from November 12 to 14, 2012, in Tbilisi, Georgia);
- The 28th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (December 10-14, 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland);
- The 22nd Session of the WIPO General Assemblies (December 17 to 18, 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland);

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

provide information on legislation related to trademarks

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/trademarks/legislations.php
http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/gi-ao-tsg/legislations.php

contain the Annual Report of the Office

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/about/report.php

if necessary, provide further information related to the topics referred to in the current ATR

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/trademarks/
http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/gi-ao-tsg/

contain trademark-related news regarding the Office

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/news/archive.php

X. Other relevant matters