Annual Technical Report 2013 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by Republic of Moldova (CWS/ATR/TM/2013/MD)
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.
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
During the year 2013, AGEPI received 5870 trademark registration applications, with 421 (8%) more than the previous year. Of the total number of applications, by national way entered 2164 (37%) and by international way − 3706 (63%). On 31 December 2013, the total number of trademark registration applications received throughout the AGEPI activity amounted to 103,661, including 37,024 applications (36%) filed by national way and 66,637 (64%) − by international way. On the whole, 78 percent of the total of applications proceeded from foreign applicants and 22 percent – from national ones.
The number of applications filed by national applicants (by 10%) and foreign applicants (by 7%) increased, as compared with the previous year. At the same time, the national applicants registered a percentage of 26 and the foreign ones a percentage of 74 of the total number of applications filed in 2013 due to the fact that under the Madrid System procedure filed applications only by the foreign applicants. The ratio is reversed in the case of applications filed under the national procedure, where most of applications – 1547 applications (71%) came from applicants from the Republic of Moldova, and 617 (29%) − from foreign ones.
Most applications filed by the national applicants − 1270 (82.1%) − proceed from natural or legal person with the domicile or headquarters in Chisinau, 29 (1.9%) − from ATU Gagauzia, 28 (1.8%) − from Balti, 22 (1.4%) – from Floresti, 0.9% of applications belong to applicants from Orhei, Taraclia, and the remainder of circa 11% of applications − to applicants from other units administrative-territorial of the country.
Under the national procedure were filed applications from 48 countries. An increased interest to Republic of Moldova showed the applicants from the United States of America, who filed 11% of applications, Russian Federation, Ukraine (2% each), Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Japan, Republic of Korea, Germany, Cyprus, India, China, Holland (1% each), the applicants from other countries accumulating in sum 5% of applications.
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
During the year 2013, AGEPI received 5870 trademark registration applications, with 421 (8%) more than the previous year. Of the total number of applications, by nation¬al way entered 2164 (37%) and by international way − 3706 (63%). On 31 December 2013, the total number of trademark registration applica¬tions received throughout the AGEPI activity amounted to 103,661, including 37,024 applica¬tions (36%) filed by national way and 66,637 (64%) − by international way. On the whole, 78 percent of the total of applications proceeded from foreign applicants and 22 percent – from national ones.
The number of applications filed by national applicants (by 10%) and foreign applicants (by 7%) increased, as compared with the previous year. At the same time, the national applicants registered a percentage of 26 and the foreign ones a percentage of 74 of the total number of applications filed in 2013 due to the fact that under the Madrid System procedure filed applications only by the foreign applicants. The ratio is reversed in the case of applications filed under the national procedure, where most of applications – 1547 applications (71%) came from applicants from the Republic of Moldova, and 617 (29%) − from foreign ones.
Most applications filed by the national applicants − 1270 (82.1%) − proceed from natural or legal person with the domicile or headquarters in Chisinau, 29 (1.9%) − from ATU Gagauzia, 28 (1.8%) − from Balti, 22 (1.4%) – from Floresti, 0.9% of applications belong to applicants from Orhei, Taraclia, and the remainder of circa 11% of applications − to applicants from other units administrative-territorial of the country.
Under the national procedure were filed applications from 48 countries. An increased interest to Republic of Moldova showed the applicants from the United States of America, who filed 11% of applications, Russian Federation, Ukraine (2% each), Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Japan, Republic of Korea, Germany, Cyprus, India, China, Holland (1% each), the applicants from other countries accumulating in sum 5% of applications.
Under the Madrid System procedure applications proceeded from 57 countries, most of them proceeding from Russian Federation (12%), Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) (9%), Germany (8%), Switzerland, Turkey (7% each), Italy, Ukraine (6% each), Hungary, China (5%), etc.
Altogether, trademark registration applications filed with AGEPI in 2013 proceed from applicants from 80 countries (with 10 more than in 2012), 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 management services, etc.) − in 723 (33%) applications, class 33 (alcoholic beverages) – in 367 applications (on the increase by 5 percentage points compared with 2012), class 05 (drugs, pharmaceuticals, etc.) − in 273 applications (on the decrease by 5 percentage points compared with 2012), followed by classes 30 (sugar, flour, preparations made from cereals, etc.) − in 243 applications, 41 (education, entertainment, sporting activities) – in 233 applications, 03 (bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use) – in 166 applications, 29 (meat, fish, poultry and game, eggs, milk and milk products, etc.) − in 152 applications, 43 (services for providing food and drink, temporary accommodation) – in 148 applications.
Under the international procedure, on top of preferences remains class 05, requested in 1037 applications, followed by classes 35 − in 638 applications and 09 (various apparatus and instruments, calculating machines, etc.) – in 576 applications, 03 (cosmetics, bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use) – in 517 applications, 30 (coffee, pastry and confectionery) – in 420 applications, 25 (clothing, footwear, etc.) – in 390 applications. It should be mentioned that both classes are on the top and the frequency of their request did not undergone great changes compared to the previous year.
During the year under review, it registered almost the same number of trademark registration applications was examined as in the previous year − 5494, including 1960 filed under the national procedure and 3534 – under the international one. The substantive examination on the national way do not differ from 2012: the share of trademark registration applications, accepted totally or partially, constituted 80%, the share of applications for which were issued provisional refusals for all products and/or services requested under the national procedure being of 20%. As regard the international procedure, the share of trademark registration applications, accepted totally or partially, increased by 6 percentages, constituting 88% (compared with 82% in 2012). Consequently, the share of applications in respect of which were issued provisional refusals for all products and/or services requested for registration under the international procedure decreased in the same proportion − up to 12% (compared to 18% in 2012).
Monitoring of the grounds for refusal attests that 65% of those relating to applications filed under the national procedure and 87% of those relating to applications filed under the Madrid Sys-tem are 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), 20% and, respectively, 8% of refusals were issued on the ground that the requested signs were deceitful or liable to mislead, 12% and, respectively, 3% of refusals − on the ground of lack of distinctiveness of signs requested for registration.
In the year under review, 2031 applications were examined on compliance with the conditions for filing, of these 1899 applications (94%) were entered in the National Register of Trademark Registration Applications, and 132 applications (6%) did not meet the conditions for filing set by the Law.
In 2013, AGEPI, as the office of the country of origin, checked and sent to WIPO 61 applications for international registration of trademarks, filed under the Madrid System (with 13 less than the previous year), including 50 new applications and 11 − for territorial extension.
Among countries most frequently designated for protection in the applications for international registration filed by national applicants are Russian Federation (in 37/61% of the applications), Ukraine (35/57%), Romania and Kazakhstan (27/44%), and Belarus (25/41%). It should be noted that, in the reporting period, national applicants sought protection under the Madrid System in 44 countries, among them are also counted countries like India, Kenya, Mexico, Oman, Vietnam, etc.
Simultaneous with the new applications, there were also filed trademark registration renewal applications: in 2013 was supposed to expire the term of validity of 4433 trademarks (2783 - international and 1650 - registered under the national procedure). As a result, it was sought the renewal of 2952 trademarks (by 748/34% more than the previous year). Most renewals 2595 (88%) − were requested by foreign owners, including 2117 − under the international procedure and 478 − under the national one. National owners requested renewal of 357 trademarks. The share of trademarks for which renewal was requested, in relation to the number of registrations for which the term of validity was supposed to expire, was 51% for national registrations and 76% for inter-national ones. It should also be noted that these data are relative, since there is a gap between the validity expiry date and the renewal application filing date. It should also be taken into consideration the existence of the grace period of six months for trademark renewal request.
In the year under review, 1355 trademark registration certificates were issued (with a decrease by 1% than in 2012), national owners obtaining 783 certificates (58%) and foreign ones – 572 (42%).
As in the case of trademark registration applications, most certificates issued to national owners belong to persons having their domicile or headquarter in Chisinau − 82%. At a very big distance from them are owners from Balti, Hincesti, Ialoveni (2% each), Tiraspol, ATU Gagauzia, Anenii Noi (1% each), the remainder nine percent belonging to owners from other administrative-territorial units.
In 2013, 654 trademark registration renewal certificates were issued, of which 333 (51%) − to national owners and 321 (49%) − to foreign ones. Compared with the previous year, the number of issued renewal certificates increased by 228 (54%). At the same time, it should be mentioned that compared with 2012 is attested an increase by 22% in the number of certificates issued to national owners and a double increase in the number of certificates issued to foreign ones.
From the start of its activity and until 31 December 2013, AGEPI issued 24,988 trademark registration certificates, valid being 19,657 (79%) certificates, including 6,378 – renewed, the latter constituting 25% of the number of valid 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.
Geographical indications
In terms of geographical indications*, on April 1st, 2013 entered into force the Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union on the Protection of Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs. Under this Agreement, in the Republic of Moldova are protected 3136 geographical indications (GIs) and appellations of origin (AO) of the European Union (EU), stipulated in the Agreement’s attachments. In the EU are protected only two AO of the Republic of Moldova – CIUMAI and ROMANESTI. The Agreement, including its attachments, was distributed on the AGEPI website: http://agepi.gov.md/pdf/law/international/acord_rm_ue_ig.pdf.
In order to ensure protection for GIs of the European Union, on April 1st, 2013 was launched the module EU GIs in the Database Geographical Indications. This database can be accessed online on the AGEPI website (http://www.db.agepi.md/GeogrIndications/SearchGI.aspx) and is available to all users, including institutions responsible for the enforcement of IP rights. The module in question is also used in the procedure of examination of applications for registration of trademarks, geographical indications and appellations of origin, industrial designs to avoid the unauthorized registration of IPO that would include GI and AO of the European Union protected under mentioned Agreement.
During the reporting period, under the national procedure were registered two AO from Russian Federation and have been issued two certificates on the right of use thereof. There also were examined the first four GI registration applications filed by domestic applicants –STEFAN VODA, CODRU, VALUL LUI TRAIAN, for wines, and DIVIN, for aged wine brandy. All said GIs were registered and, according to law, AGEPI issued certificates on the right of use of protected geographical indications.
As a competent authority of the Republic of Moldova in the Special Union of the Member Countries of the Lisbon Agreement from 31 October 1958 concerning the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration (hereinafter - the Lisbon Agreement), in 2013 AGEPI received from the International Bureau of WIPO, 14 notifications regarding the international registration of new appellations of origin for the grant of protection on the Republic of Moldova territory. As a result of substantive examination, five AO, including three ones − previously notified, obtained the protection claimed and another 12 should be examined within the terms established by the Lisbon Agreement.
At the end of the year under review, the number of international registrations of AO, notified by the International Bureau of WIPO, reached 853, of which 835 obtained protection in the Republic of Moldova, six did not meet the conditions for grant of protection, and another 12 are in the examination procedure. Following the invalidation in the countries of origin and erasure from the International Register, since 2012, 35 of AO ceased to be protected in the member countries of the Agreement, including the Republic of Moldova. Consequently, in early 2013 under the Lisbon Agreement were protected 795, and at the end of the year a number of 800 of AO.
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
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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/
provide open source codes related to trademark information systems
contain trademark-related news regarding the Office
- http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/news/archive.php
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
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During 2013, the AGEPI applied:
The 10th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification, as from 01.01.2013,
The 7th edition of the International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (ViennaClassification, as from 01.01.2013),
The electronic classification systems to check the classification symbols furnished by applicant and which are contained in the lists of goods and/or services,
The electronic classification system offered by WIPO and electronic version of the Nice Classification translated into Romanian (offered by Romanian Patent Office (OSIM) with the purpose to check the conformity of goods and services to the Nice Classification and of the figurative elements to the Vienna Classification,
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.
III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
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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.
The BOPI, including Sections III and IV with information on trademarks and appellations of origin, from January 2000 onwards, is available on the AGEPI website 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.
Started with 2003, AGEPI established an electronic archive and until now all paper files, relating to registered national trademarks, have been already scanned.
In 2012, AGEPI established an electronic archive on international trademark applications which have been refused.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
During the period under review, the following information products were developed and implemented with the AGEPI:
• Applications for public management and documentation of EU geographical indications,
• DataBase Register of AGEPI Documents and management program thereof,
• Fee introduction program for IG and AO and website viewing fees paid,
• Web Services for data exchange with the system for online submission of application.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
In the year under review, AGEPI continued to publish and to distribute on paper carrier, on the basis of mutual agreements with foreign national IP offices and international and European organizations, and also during the main promotion actions organized by AGEPI, a list of periodicals provided by its statute, namely:
- Annual Report AGEPI-2012 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-2012",
- 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 2013, with the assistance of EU experts which have actively participated in the Twinning Project, were developed on paper carrier and distributed to local economic agents during their participation to 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).
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
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During the period under review, the following information products were developed and implemented with the AGEPI:
• Applications for public management and doc¬umentation of EU geographical indications,
• DB “Register of AGEPI Documents” and management program thereof,
• Fee introduction program for IG and AO and website viewing fees paid,
• Web Services for data exchange with the system for online submission of application.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
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. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
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Within the Moldavian Office, there is a subdivision named AGEPI library structure which provides information-library services in the field of intellectual property to beneficiaries, including on various aspects related to registration and protection 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 individuals from other institutions: counselors in intellectual property, researchers, inventors and rationalizers, teachers, students, etc.
At the Library visitors may obtain the following services:
- to consult, subscribe to or to 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
- to review the BOPI, Intellectus, AGEPI INFO, etc., and the collections of laws and methodical literature in the field of intellectual property, CDs edited by AGEPI,
- to get copies of the descriptions of inventions from patents for invention,
- to obtain methodological assistance in searching the information from the electronic DB,
- the library-bibliographic services in request-offer, information-express regime, by complying with the bibliographic, thematic and factual references,
- the opportunity to participate in the local and republican activities on promotion of IP information.
The program for beneficiaries is from 9.00 to 16.00 on Monday to Friday. Days 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.
Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
In the Library collection 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".
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
A few important seminars and round tables have been organized by AGEPI during the year under review:
- Seminar „IP - support in enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises"organized at the request of the Comrat State University of Republic of Moldova (May 31, 2013, Comrat),
- The informational seminar entitled “Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed – New Opportunities for Economic Development of the Republic of Moldova” organized for the producers of “BACIFERA” Association (February 22, 2013 AGEPI Conference hall, Chisinau),
- 15 information seminars entitled “Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed – New Opportunities for Economic Development of the Republic of Moldova” organized in collaboration with Chamber of Commerce and Industry subsidiaries in the territory, including Edinet, Drochia, Donduseni, Balti, Riscani, Floresti, Falesti, Soroca, Orhei, Ungheni, Hincesti, Cimislia, Cahul, etc.
In order to familiarize managers of enterprises with the benefits offered by the national IP system, AGEPI conducted thematic roundtables, at enterprises and AGEPI’s headquarter, including:
- thematic roundtable “Management of intellectual property at the enterprise” organized at AGEPI with participation of representatives of the companies Bojo-Vin” Ltd, „Depofarm” Ltd.
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
In 2013, AGEPI organized and actively participated in 65 activities to promote and to disseminate, to inform the public with the recent developments in the field. The target audience was constituted by specialists in IP, businessmen, patent attorneys, IPO evaluators judges, representatives of public authorities responsible for the enforcement of IP rights, mediators, researchers, students, pupils, etc.
Public awareness on the importance of trademarks, the necessity of their protection, enforcement and respect of trademark rights, have been conducted through national and international exhibitions, organized at the IEC “Moldexpo” JSC:
- National Exhibition “Made in Moldova”, (January 29 – February 2, 2013, in Chisinau),
- The 21th edition of the International Specialized Exhibition of foodstuff and raw materials for their production “FOOD&DRINKS. Food TECHNOLOGY”, (May 23-25, 2013, Chisinau)
As usually, during the exhibitions, a few informal seminars were organized and AGEPI presented reports on the followings “Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin – New Opportunities for autochthons producers”, “The Role of Trademarks in Promoting the Commercial Success. The national and international protection of trademark”, “Tradition Transformed Into Business – Traditional Specialties Guaranteed”.
Traditionally, in the reporting period, AGEPI participated in the award ceremony of the Contest “Trademark of the Year 2012”, where the winners got the trophy:
- 47 trademarks in various sectors of the national economy were mentioned with Grand Prix ‘Golden Mercury”,
- 104 trademarks competed for the title “trademark of the Year 2012”.
During the 2013, AGEPI continued the information and education of civil society by organizing seminars:
- The 15th edition of the Annual Scientific and Practical Symposium “AGEPI Readings-2013”, (April 24 to 25, 2013, AGEPI Conference hall, Chisinau),
- Seminar „IP - support in enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises"organized at the request of the Comrat State University of Republic of Moldova (May 31, 2013, Comrat),
- The informational seminar entitled “Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed – New Opportunities for Economic Development of the Republic of Moldova” organized for the producers of “BACIFERA” Association (February 22, 2013 AGEPI Conference hall, Chisinau)
- 15 information seminars entitled “Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed – New Opportunities for Economic Development of the Republic of Moldova” organized in collaboration with Chamber of Commerce and Industry subsidiaries in the territory, including Edinet, Drochia, Donduseni, Balti, Riscani, Floresti, Falesti, Soroca, Orhei, Ungheni, Hincesti, Cimislia, Cahul, etc.
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
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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-2012 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.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information
With the view to increase professional skills and knowledge in the field of registration and protection of trademarks, AGEPI examiners have participated in the following international events:
- Working visit to OHIM and the participation to the Celebration of 10 years of Community Design Conference (April 8 – 10, 2013, Alicante, Spain),
- The 7 session of the Working Group on the Development of the Lisbon System (Appellations of Origin) (April 29 – May 3, 2013, Geneva, Switzerland),
- Experience exchange regarding the protection of design and trademarks organized in accordance with the Program Cooperation of Activities between AGEPI and Romanian Patent Office (May 20 to 24, 2013 Bucharest, Romania),
- The 29 session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT)( May 27 to 31, 2013, Geneva, Switzerland),
- The IP Summer School organized by Organization for Harmonization of Internal Market (July 1 to 5, 2013, Alicante, Spain),
- National Seminar on trademarks protection organized by the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (August 29 to 31, 2013, Mangalia, Romania),
- The 21st Conference on Actual Problematic Issues of Intellectual Property, organized by State Intellectual Property Service of Ukraine in cooperation with World Intellectual Property Organization (September 16 to 18,2013, Yalta, Ukraine),
- International Conference “Protection of Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin”, organized by the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (SAKPATENTI) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (October 3 to 4, 2013, Tbilisi, Georgia),
- The 11th session of the Working Group on the Legal Development of the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (October 30 to November 1st, 2013, Geneva, Switzerland),
- The 30th session of the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (November 4 to 8, 2013, Geneva, Switzerland).
VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS