Annual Technical Report 2004 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Georgia (SCIT/ATR/PI/2004/GE)
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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
573 applications were filed in 2004 in total.
- 457 applications were for inventions; and
- 116 applications were for utility models.
As compared with the previous years, the number of the applications for inventions filed by domestic applicants slightly increased, which equals 248.
The number of applications filed by foreign applicants is substantially the same, which equals 209, of which:
- 199 applications were filed under the PCT
- 8 applications were filed under the Paris Convention
- 2 applications were filed for obtaining the imported patent.
- Among the applications filed by domestic applicants, dominating fields pertain to the IPC classes: A, B, C and F.
The majority of the applications filed under the PCT still are related to the IPC classes A and C.
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, distribution and use of primary and secondary sources of patent information
All patent documents are published in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property which is issued monthly. Documents are initially prepared on personal workstations of examiners, whereafter they are forwarded via Local Area Network to the Publication division for final processing and printing. Official Bulletins are printed and copied using Rhysograph and powerful Xerox copiers.
The Bulletins are published also on CD disks and on the Office Website.
Patent documents are prepared with MS Office software products and the Office Patent Database management system. All workstations are equipped with Pentium III or Pentium IV PC computers, personal scanners and printers.
III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents
Documents are classified using IPC classification. Other classifications are not in use.
It is possible to conduct searches in patent bibliographic data with the Office patent database.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
All documents are maintained in the Office library on paper. They are kept as numerical and classified collections which are regularly updated.
Various Official Bulletins from other International Property Offices of the world are also kept in the library.
The library is also equipped with two workstations having access to the Office patent database and the Internet.
V. Activities in the field of computerized and other mechanized search systems
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The Office is well equipped with audiovisual means for conducting seminars and training courses. Power Point presentations were mainly used as visual means for training purposes.
Several members of the examination staff members attended seminars abroad.
The Office continues to publish journal "Intellectual Property" containing papers on all spheres of intellectual property. It is published on paper and on the Website in PDF format (full texts). The authors of the papers are mainly the Office staff members. The new journal provides great aid to the public, among which are patent professionals, in obtaining useful educational materials.
Apart from publishing, the Office permanently provides consultations to applicants as concerns applications drafting, novelty searches, etc. To those willing to submit PCT applications in electronic format technical means are available free of charge in the Receiving Office.
IX. Other relevant matters
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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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