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Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
File building and updating
Search is done in the POLite system and other online services like Espacenet. There is no single search file that is created for the purpose of search only. In the POLite system, data is updated regularly through normal system updates and also when new files are captured.
Foreign data included in the search system
- Publication data: China (2010-), Germany (1988-), Japan (1965-), OHIM (2003-),
US (1997- ), WIPO (1999- )
- Others: computer generated graphic designs (2003-), typeface (1999-), catalogues (1999-), two-dimensional designs (2013-)
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
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Patent library: equipment, collection management, network of patent libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign patent libraries
The Anderson Ray Zikonda Library is available and stocks patent and non-patent literature by the Office and from cooperating partners like the WIPO, EPO, EAPO, UK-IPO, JPO, KIPO, ROSPATENT, SIPO
-ARIPO also purchased some non-patent titles for research work.
-Currently, officers can access the library online public access catalogue (OPAC) via the Office intranet
-The library management software is the Liberty3 software by Softlink Europe
Publications related to different business procedures and patent information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
ARIPO continued with the publication of brochures on Patents, Utility Models, Common IP Infringements, Patent Application and Filing Procedures, General Information on ARIPO and FAQs
-Publication of the Harare Protocol and its implementing regulations
-Virtual library allows access to research literature from subscribed online databases like PUBMED Central, Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information (PERii), HINARI, ARDI, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Accredited Open Access Journals _South Africa (AOAJSA), National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR)
Office's initiatives on providing foreign patent information in the local language(s) (e.g., machine translation tools, translation of abstracts)
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Cooperation with universities, research centers, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
The ARIPO Academy provided 10 scholarships to selected students from the member states, which pursue the Master of Intellectual Property (MIP) degree program at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. A total of 33 students have been offered scholarships by ARIPO since the inception of the Program in 2008.
Students from various Universities and R&D centres, in member states continue to seek and use the services and facilities of the ARIPO Office Library for information in their research work free of charge. These can be walk in users or those who wish to be assisted through the virtual library.
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
Other activities
The ARIPO office continues to pursue good relationships with its strategic partners. A number of MoUs were signed or renewed in the course of the year, specifically with Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM), IP Australia, the Industrial Property Tribunal of the Republic of Kenya, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI Mexico), State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) of the Republic of China; and Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE).
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION
International exchange and sharing of patent information in machine-readable form, e.g., priority documents, bibliographic data, abstracts, search reports, full text information
ARIPO continued exchanging of patent documents with the WIPO, European Patent Office, Japan Patent Office, Korean Patent Office and all the National Patent Offices of the Member States of the Organization in electronic formats (CDs & DVDs.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to patent information
Article VI of the Lusaka Agreement which was adopted on December 9, 1976 on the creation of ARIPO mandates the Organization to “co-operate with Governments of States not members of the Organization and with organizations, institutions and bodies (…) which are desirous of assisting the Organization or its members in achieving the objectives of the Organization”. To that end the following activities were undertaken with strategic partners:
- Visit to the African Union and the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office from February 24 to 25, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Bilateral Meetings between ARIPO and The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM)
- Visit of the Vice Minister of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) of the Peoples’ Republic of China to ARIPO, September 8
- MoUs signed with strategic partners
In furtherance of Article VI of the Lusaka Agreement the following were executed in the year 2014:
- The Addendum to the MoU between the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) and ARIPO;
- The MoU between ARIPO and IP Australia Concerning IP Australia’s Regional Patent Examination Training Program;
- The MoU between ARIPO and the Industrial Property Tribunal of the Republic of Kenya;
- The letter of intent to renew the MoU between ARIPO and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI Mexico);
- Renewal of the MoU between ARIPO and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) of the Republic of China; and
MoU between ARIPO and the Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE).
Assistance to developing countries
In 2014 ARIPO sponsored capacity building and training activities in the member states
Other activities
VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
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