Annual Technical Report 2011 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Ireland (CWS/ATR/PI/2011/IE)
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
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Download a pdf version of the Journal: http://www.patentsoffice.ie/en/publications_download.aspx
A search/browse facility is also available: http://www.patentsoffice.ie/webjournal/default.aspx
III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents
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The Office has successfully progressed one of its strategic objectives of using technology in order to facilitate e-business activities and the dissemination of intellectual property information via its website.
The website facilitates the perusal of Irish patent, trade mark and design registers on-line and free of charge. In addition, a computerised search facility facilitates the inspection of details of Irish published patent applications and granted patents and pending and registered trademarks. The Office's website also permits free access to the esp@cenet database and search engine which hosts the largest volume of patent documentation available on the Internet. On-line access to the Office's Official Journal is also provided free of charge, is searchable and allows for flexible viewing of trade marks in colour.
The Office's website also provides an online payment system which facilitates the payment of patent, trade mark and design renewal fees, patent grant fees and trade mark registration fees by credit and debit cards and continues to be used by more and more of our customers. 89% of the Office’s statutory fees are now paid electronically compared to 64% in 2010.
Since 2010, the Office has pursued an e-communications programme which has the aim of improving service delivery and more efficient processing. The project initially facilitated the issuing of thousands of renewal reminders and overdue reminders electronically by Email instead of by post and was further expanded to include other correspondence in 2010 and 2011. Some 12,000 items of correspondence are now issued by Email each month. The objective is to combine electronic filing, electronic file processing and electronic communications in a way that will facilitate the introduction of paperless processing in the Office in the next few years.
In 2011 the Office introduced an electronic drop box which facilitates the submission of encrypted patent, trade mark and design applications and associated documents electronically and securely via the Internet. The drop box facility is not for single or one off applications but rather is for use by persons or firms which make or intend to make a number of applications for intellectual property rights in the course of a year. At the end of 2011, 10 firms were availing of the electronic drop box facility.
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| 1. | Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application.
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| 2. | Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner). Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office.
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| 3. | Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC). The new symbols are available on patent databases.
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