Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2021 submitted by Poland

I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PATENT INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of patent information activities and expected time frames for their realization

In 2021, the PPO continued to maintain the new electronic services platform (PUEUP). The whole system includes the following modules that were fully implemented from the design phase to production and delivered with the infrastructure:

• e-Baza-Wiedzy(e-Knowledge Base),
• e-Profil(e-Profile),
• e-Rejestry(e-Registers),
• e-Wyszukiwarka(e-Search),
• e-Powiadomienia(e-Notifications),
• e-Płatności(e-Payments).

In 2021, the PPO continued to send archival citations to the EPO and the citations are prepared as a set of test files with citation data in XML format.

The following forms were available in the e-Profile module:

• Application for a protection right for a trademark,
• Application for granting the right in registration for an industrial design,
• Application for granting a patent for an invention,
• Application for a protection right for a utility model,
• Application for a protection right for a trademark – fast track (new in 2021),
• Application for granting the right in registration for an industrial design – fast track (new in 2021),
• European patent validation,
• Opposition to a trademark application,
• Application for the publication of information on the invention / utility model at an earlier date,
• Application for a priority document,
• Response to the provision on the listing of goods and services,
• Application for entry in the register (change of the authorized entity),
• Indication of the goods for which the right of protection for a trademark is renewed,
• Application for entry in the register (entry of information about the granted license),
• Application for entry of a civil / registered pledge,
• Application for an extract from the register,
• Contact details form for notifications about the date of payment for the extension of the protection of exclusive rights,
• General Correspondence form.

Customers of the PPO can submit applications on the forms available in the PUEUP e-Profile module, which is integrated with the Electronic Document Management System EZD.

In 2021, the PPO continued to maintain the Intranet system based on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Enterprise software.

In 2021, in cooperation with WIPO, a project was implemented to use the system called IPCRMS to adopt the centralized translation of International Patent Classification (IPC) into Polish. In 2021, a new version of the classification was added.

The PPO continued to maintain Patent Attorneys and Applicants List searchable. Only small adjustments in the data structure were introduced and the system was adopted to existing legislation.

The PPO continued to provide public data concerning the protection of industrial property, publications as well as information on patent attorneys, etc. The address of the website on which we publish the data is https://dane.gov.pl/pl.

The PPO still maintained separate official publications of Bulletin of the Patent Office (BUP) for trademarks, patents and utility models. In 2021, the PPO continued to send to the EPO up-to-date file descriptions of patents and utility models in xml format. The data is currently published on ESPACENET.

In 2020, preparations for the production launch of API eSearch endpoints for PPO clients     began. In 2021, a new endpoint was created in the e-Search API for EPO, WIPO and the Chinese Patent Office, which is planned to replace the manual preparation and sending of bibliographic data from internal domain databases (inventions, utility models and translations of European patents).

From 2022 the PPO will use the aforementioned channel to provide bibliographic data in XML files contained in the Bulletin of the Patent Office (BUP) and Communications of the Patent Office (WUP).

Archival bibliographic data of inventions and utility models were updated in the internal domain database (full range from 1982). Authority File was supplemented by the archival data and sent to WIPO in the new version 2.2. This task will continue in 2022.

 Since July 2020, the preparation and publication of archival descriptions of utility models for e-Search based on scanned documents prepared by Jouve at the request of the EPO are still ongoing. In 2022 these descriptions are to be transformed into XML files and sent to the EPO in order to complete the Espacenet search.

New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks

In 2021, the project of a new ERP class system was launched. Thanks to the optimized processes implemented in the system, the settlement of fees and the extension of property rights would be improved.

System of automatic classification of invention and utility model applications - Autopatent was introduced in April 2021. System with the use of artificial intelligence supports the process of examining applications for inventions and utility models by performing a preliminary analysis and classification of applications to IPC classes and submitting them for substantive assessment by competent experts. The expert may view application document together with information about which parts of the examined document were the most important from the point of view of the classification carried out by the system. Due to the decision on the classification given by the system, the Expert may approve the selection or correct the classification.

In 2021, 7 electronic services were used as part of the new Electronic Services Platform (PUEUP):

• e-Registry - viewing the entries entered in the registry and obtaining an excerpt from registry;
• EP Validation - obtaining protection on the territory of Poland;
• Expiration Date Notification - informing about the expiration date of protection;
• Information Subscription - searching for information in defined sources maintained by UPRP (including automatic notifications based on user criteria);
• e-Filing - applying for trademarks, patents, industrial designs registration to obtain an IP protection;
• e-Submission - handling electronic correspondence during the whole IP lifecycle of trademarks, patents and industrial designs;
• Changes in registry - management of records changes in registry (e.g. in case of extension of the protection, updating the owners, resignation from protection, changes in rights, pledges, licenses, etc.).

In 2021, as part of organizing the publishing of the Bulletin of the PPO (BUP) and Communications of the PPO (WUP) and related documents (patent descriptions, descriptions of utility models, descriptions of industrial designs, descriptions of translations of European patents), a page of the PPO Bulletin and Communications was prepared on the PUEUP platform (under the Act on industrial property). The data was divided into years, months and publication numbers of BUP and WUP. For the WUP publication under the publication number, links to the descriptions lists in the e-Search were implemented.

Link to the website: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/biuletyn-i-wiadomosci-uprp

Main areas of patent information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year

Autopatent, which aims to fully replace the experts in the IPC classification for new patent and utility models applications, achieved 92% of accuracy in 2021.

The PPO is continuously developing the functionalities of the above-mentioned PUEUP modules in accordance with the needs and expectations of customers and users of  the platform.

For the purpose of the e-Search, the PPO provided the users with the functionality of configuring and saving their own set of attributes, thanks to which the search will be carried out, visible by default after logging in.

Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes

https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/o-urzedzie/statystyki/modul-statystyczny/wynalazki-i-wzory-uzytkowe

In 2021, the PPO received 3430 patent applications under the national procedure, of which 3375 by national and 55 by foreign entities. A decrease of almost 16% was recorded in comparison with 2020, when 4098 patent applications were filed, out of which 4010 by national and 88 by foreign entities.

In 2021, the PPO received 769 utility model applications, of which 723 by national and by 46 foreign entities. This marks a decrease of almost 11% in comparison with 2020 when 870 utility models applications were filed, out of which 793 by national and 77 by foreign entities.

Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

Statistics are accessed at the following URLs: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/o-urzedzie/statystyki

This page consists of:

• Statistical module (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/o-urzedzie/statystyki/modul-statystyczny),
• The PPO annual report (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/raport-roczny-uprp),
• Methodology and glossary of concepts (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/o-urzedzie/statystyki/metodologia-i-slownik-pojec),
• Infographics (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/o-urzedzie/statystyki/infografiki)
• Rules for sharing statistical data (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/o-urzedzie/statystyki/zasady-udostepniania-danych-statystycznych)
• API for statistics (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/o-urzedzie/statystyki/api-do-statystyk)

News page: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs

The  PPO information and support options in 2021 included:

1) Via website: https://uprp.gov.pl (all information about patents, trademarks, designs, etc. and instructions e.g. "How to patent an invention or protect a utility model?");

2) Via telephone: (+48 22 579 05 55);

3) Via e-mail: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/centrum-informacji

4) Via virtual information service window (Webex platform): https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/wirtualne-okno-obslugi-informacyjnej

5) Directly in the Front Office of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland at the Cambridge Innovation Centre - Warsaw: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci/informacje/front-office-urzedu-patentowego-rp-w-kampusie-innowacji##googtrans(pl|en)

Management of the contacts in 2021 (phone + mail) was performed through software:

1)      Personal contacts (CRM system):

- 473 meetings in PPO Front Office

- 29 meetings via virtual window

- 35 meetings in PPO Front Office in Cambridge Innovation Centre (2 hours a week)

(Patents and utility models: 149, Trademarks: 313, Industrial designs: 25)

2)      Within Register IP Info Center customer contacts (OSCC, CRM systems);

- 6 755 emails were received

- 23 488 calls were answered and performed (including the call back - 426) 

(Patents and utility models: 3 984, Trademarks: 15 917, Industrial designs: 802)

- 89 meetings took place with examiners and at the Center of information 

- 506 meetings via live-chat (only for logged PUEUP clients)

3)    Identification  and differentiation of customers (OSCC, CRM systems);

4)    Carrying out customer satisfaction surveys (CRM system) - level of satisfaction 95%;

5)    Analyses of  the contacts (analyses, statistics - CRM, OSCC systems);

6)    Keeping records and transferring customer requests (satisfaction, complaints, suggestions for improvement) (TRX system);

7)    Sending e-notifications about the expiry of the protection period of industrial property rights (PUEUP system):  14 403

The CRM system is shared between 14 departments in contact with the public. A change of version was introduced for:

- independent work with the contact, regardless of the fact who established the contact and possibility to change/edit the contact data;

- interfacing with other applications (Computer Telephony Integration, callback, meetings time and visits, virtual information service window and live-chat) to facilitate the customer relation management. Tool for measuring the customers’ satisfaction. IP Info Center has a non-verbal communication system to improve information service for deaf and hard hearing customers.

Availability of the application dossier in electronic form

Customers using the PUEUP have access to application files which are sent electronically to the PPO. Customers may also use the forms available in the e-Profile module in order to submit applications in electronic form.

Classification¹, preclassification² (if applicable), reclassification³ activities; classification systems used (e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC)); matters concerning indexing of patent information

In January 2021, a new electronic version (2021.01 ) of the International Patent Classification   (IPC) was uploaded.

Abstracting, reviewing, and translation of the information contained in patent documents

The Digitisation Department prepares and makes available the translations of European patents in an electronic version which are entered into the PPO databases and e-search engine. In 2021, the Department prepared 13 280  translations of European patents into Polish.

III. SOURCES OF PATENT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Main types of publications of the Office (patent applications, full text, first pages, abstracts, bibliographic data, granted patents, etc.), medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)

Information on patents is available on the website of the Office:

• The PPO’s website at (http://www.uprp.gov.pl)
• Bulletin and Communications of the PPO at (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/biuletyn-i-wiadomosci-uprp)
• e-Search at (https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/simple-search)

In 2021, the following publications were issued:

- “Biuletyn Urzędu Patentowego. Wynalazki i Wzory użytkowe” (Bulletin of the Patent Office – Inventions and Utility Models) – biweekly, and from July 2021 weekly (in electronic form on the Office’s website), 39 numbers (https://uprp.gov.pl/plpublikacje/biuletyn-i-wiadomosci-uprp ); it contains information on patent applications and utility model applications;

- “Wiadomości Urzędu Patentowego” (Communications of the Patent Office) – biweekly, and from July 2021 weekly (in electronic form on the Office’s website), 39 numbers (https://uprp.gov.pl/plpublikacje/biuletyn-i-wiadomosci-uprp ); it contains information on granted patents and granted protection rights for utility models;

- 2020 Annual Report of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland – in electronic form on the Office’s website (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/raport-roczny-uprp ) and 362 copies on paper;

- Patent Specifications (type B1 documents) – 3373 titles – 16703 copies;

- Protection Specifications of Utility Models – 576 titles – 2105 copies.

Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.

Announcements on patents and utility models are published in the official gazettes available online: "Biuletyn Urzędu Patentowego. Wynalazki i wzory użytkowe" - Bulletin of the Patent Office. Inventions and Utility Models (biweekly, and from July 2021 weekly, information on patent and utility model applications) and in "Wiadomości Urzędu Patentowego" - Communications of the Patent Office (biweekly, and from July 2021 weekly, information on granted patents and granted protection rights for utility models). They are available free of charge in PDF format at: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/biuletyn-i-wiadomosci-uprp.

In 2021, 3629 announcements on filed patent applications and 817 announcements on utility model applications were published in Bulletin of the Patent Office.  Inventions and Utility Models, and 3373 announcements on granted patents and 576 announcements on granted protection rights for utility models were published in Communications of the Patent Office.

Announcements containing ordinances of the President of the Polish Patent Office, official announcements and communications are published in the Official Journal of the Patent Office (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/dziennik-urzedowy-uprp ). Announcements regarding non-procedural matters, but connected to the Office's activity like: general information on the PPO's tasks, references, organizational structure, HR matters are published on the Internet version of "Biuletyn Informacji Publicznej" (Public Information Bulletin: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/bip ) on the official PPO's website.  Many non-regular, important announcements are immediately published on the website.

Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external collections and databases

In 2021, the following information products were available to examiners:

• e-Search which provides simple (full-text) search, advanced(deterministic) search and searching in collections of documents (PDF). The e-Search module contains bibliographic data and a list of collections:
  • Trademarks,
  • Inventions,
  • European Patents,
  • Supplementary Protection Certificate,
  • Utility Models,
  • Industrial Designs,
  • Topographies of Integrated Circuits.

The data is published free of charge on the website: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/simple-search (user interface in Polish, English and French).

• Separate Internet applications enabling the presentation of International Patent Classification in Polish and are available at: https://grab.uprp.pl/Klasyfikacje/Strony%20witryny/Klasyfikacje.aspx.

• Data on patents stored in specialized internal databases of the PPO called Soprano in which bibliographic details are stored.
• Espacenet – Worldwide database of patents and utility models containing collections of PL (bibliographic data in English): Polish interface available at https://pl.espacenet.com;
• EPOQUENet Suite.

Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to external users, conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)

Online sources of patent information and collections include:

• e-Search provides simple (full-text) search, advanced(deterministic) search and searching in collections of documents (PDF). https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/simple-search,
• Espacenet – Worldwide database of patents and utility models containing collections of PL (bibliographic data in English): Polish interface available at https://pl.espacenet.com/

Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)

In order to make entries on the legal status of exclusive rights protected on the territory of Poland, the following registers are held: patent register, utility model register.  Registers include information necessary to establish the subject and scope of protection (e.g. date of filing, title), entity (or entities) entitled to rights concerning a given subject of protection (e.g. holders, licensees, securities, seizure) and other useful information (e.g. applications for revocation).  Everyone who submits a relevant application and pays a fee to the account of the Office can obtain excerpts from the register.

Information on the legal status is available in e-Search at: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/simple-search

IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements

EPOQUE Net is a professional patent information retrieval tool which supports the processes of searching and granting patents. The tool consists of a bundle of searching applications and tools and is accessible for Patent Offices via the Patent secure network. EPOQUE Net is continuously improved by the European Patent Office and distributed to National Offices.

In 2021, a new version of Espacenet was further developed. Currently, training in the functionality of the new version is carried out.

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

The PPO uses workstations and notebooks with Microsoft Windows 10/11 Pro; multimedia tablets with Apple iOS and Android system; physical servers with Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Standard and virtual servers using Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Datacenter with Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 installed, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10/11/12, CentOS Linux 5/6/7/8, Oracle Linux 5/6/7, Debian GNU/Linux 6/7/8 and Ubuntu Server LTS, RedHat Enterprise Linux 7.x/8.x; hypervisor servers with VMware vSphere.

All of workstations, notebooks and servers are secured by Symantec antivirus.

All network connections are based on Cisco, FortiNet and Extreme Networks equipment with up to 700 Mb/s redundant access to the Internet (two separate Internet connections). The availability of services published on the Internet is supported by the FortiNet WAF cluster. Security is also provided by Forcepoint IPS and Fidelis Cybersecurity and Forcepoint antispam systems.

The server infrastructure is supported by local UPSs and secured by the main power supply unit for the PPO. The main IT infrastructure units are located in a secure server room equipped with a fire alarm, CCTV system, redundant air-conditioning and a technical floor.

Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources

Patent data is stored in specialized, regularly updated internal databases in which image information and bibliographic details are stored, for example:

• Soprano – a system supporting the process of granting rights of protection for patents and utility models (national procedure, the SPC and the European patent validation procedure);
• Databases supporting the process of publishing patents and utility models.

Most production databases are hosted by Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Enterprise, Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Enterprise and MySQL Server 4/5, PostgreSQL 9.

Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file

EP data is stored and accessed via Soprano system.

Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)

The main electronic administrative system Soprano (work-flow) supports the process of granting protection rights to patents and utility models (national procedure, SPC and the European patent validation procedure). The system is adopted to work together with ePhoenix which stores electronic files and Electronic Document Management System (EZD), which facilitates the processing of incoming and outgoing correspondence. External users have access to registry information and legal status via e-Search module. The Settlement Module (MR) is used as a supplementary system for managing fees and payments.

Other matters

The PPO maintained a professional call centre service based on Unify OpenScape Contact Centre Enterprise software and a new system of customer relationship management based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 365 software.

The public information request lists are stored in the EZD system.

The leading office software used for word processing and spreadsheet was: Microsoft Office 2016 Standard & Professional Plus and Apache OpenOffice 4.

In 2021, the PPO maintained the Data Protection System in order to protect and control patent data to avoid uncontrolled outflow or unwanted access.

V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF PATENT INFORMATION

Patent library: equipment, collection management, network of patent libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign patent libraries

The Polish Patent Office cooperates with 26 PATLIB information centres, most of them located within libraries of schools of higher education.  The centres provide patent information and consultancy and employ patent attorneys.  They also conduct free of charge seminars and trainings for those interested in patent information. The Patent Office supplies the centres with patent literature and informational materials for further dissemination and organises trainings and informational meetings for centres’ staff.

Publications related to different business procedures and patent information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.

As part of promotion of knowledge on industrial property, the Patent Office issues various publications such as guides, information and promotion brochures addressed to wide audience, among others to entrepreneurs, students, school youth.  Those publications are available free of charge in an electronic version and PDF format at: https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/pozostale-publikacje-uprp . Their printed versions are available at the premises of the Office and distributed during various events organised by the PPO or in which the PPO participates.

The publications include the following titles: Get Familiar with Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property for an Entrepreneur, Protection of Inventions in Poland, Intellectual Property – Entrepreneur’s Booklet, Your World of Intellectual Property, What Is Intellectual Property, Inventions in SMEs Activity, Industrial Property Protection in a Nutshell, Inventions in Your House, Patents (comic book).

Cooperation with universities, research centers, technology and innovation support centers, etc.

The Patent Office collaborates with various institutions in promoting knowledge on intellectual property (organisation of conferences, workshops, trainings, patronage of the PPO President over numerous initiatives etc.).

In 2021, the Office collaborated with the following entities, to name a few:

- collaboration with universities (Jagiellonian University in Kraków, University of Warsaw, Warsaw School of Economics, University of Łódź, Łódź University of Technology, Kielce University of Technology, Kraków University of Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, Wrocław University of Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, etc.);

- collaboration with science and business-related institutions, including The National Centre for Research and Development, Łukasiewicz Research Network, Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalisers, Polish Chamber of Patent Attorneys; Polish Investment and Trade Agency; National Information Processing Institute, Polish Development Fund, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, Polish Craft Association, Institute of Industrial Design, Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan, Agency for Industrial Development S.A., etc.;

- collaboration with governmental administration institutions, including Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Ministry of Finance, as well as local government authorities.

Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.

In 2021, the PPO organised and co-organised, among others, the following events:

• IPforYou seminar in cooperation with the EUIPO (17 February)
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Disputes (23 February)
• Ideas Powered for Business seminar in cooperation with the EUIPO (18 February)
• Conference on the occasion of the World IP Day “Protection of innovation in the enterprise – commercialisation in times of a pandemic” (26 April);
• Webinar “We support Polish innovators (28 April);
• Webinar “Tax solutions for research, development and innovation – IP Box preference” in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance (18 May)
• Webinars „IP Protection at your fingertips” organised in cooperation with the Rural Housewives’ Association (27 May and 21 October);
• 14th International Conference in the series of “Innovation and Creativity in Economy” dedicated to the topic “Business Reinforced by Design – in the COVID and post-COVID Era” (23 June);
• Workshop “Implementation of adopted common practices: designation of inventor and examination of unity of invention” in cooperation with the European Patent Organisation (21 September);
• Online training course organised in cooperation with the National Chamber of Patent Attorneys “Legal counsel as a representative before the PPO” (26-27 October);
• Webinar „Protect and use – industrial property as part of the company's development” in cooperation with the Polish Craft Association (8 November);
• Consultation and information online meeting “Global disputes on conditions of access to standard essential patents” (9 November);
• Exhibition „Creative by nature” in the Poland Pavilion as EXPO 2020 Dubai (18 November – 1 December);
• 19th edition of the annual competition for the best artistic poster as well postdoctoral, doctoral, master’s and student’s theses on the subject of industrial property protection and the 9th edition of a short movie and press release competition.

In 2021, the PPO maintained information in the e-Knowledge Base module on a specially prepared Educational Platform (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/platforma-edukacyjna) which is a compendium of knowledge about intellectual property issues. The target group includes enterprises (especially SMEs) and businesses related to public institutions (including schools of higher education) and other entities.

• The Knowledge Zone includes information, publications and other materials addressed both to entities with advanced knowledge on IP issues as well as those ones looking for basic information on IP protection, procedures and management.
• The training zone consists of 2 parts: beginner user and advanced user. For these users, training in intellectual property protection is available, which ends with a test verifying the acquired knowledge.

The Patent Information Centre Forum was prepared, a platform for the exchange of experience, knowledge, comments and opinions between the Patent Information Centres and the Office.

Other activities

In 2021, the PPO maintained a special Seventica service for non-verbal communication (using the service, the sounds of human language are immediately translated into sign language on a computer or a tablet). The aim of the project was to remove communication barriers among people with hearing deficiency.

VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION

Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to patent information

In 2021, the PPO continued cooperation in areas such as training, patent-related services and IT tools, patent information services and awareness and strengthening of the European Patent Network (EPN).

We continued cooperation with the Visegrad Patent Institute (WIP), expanded the website and developed the necessary functionalities of the application to handle the Institute's affairs.

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.

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.

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.