Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2023 submitted by the Polish Patent Office

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 2023, the PPO continued to maintain the 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).

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,
  • Application for granting the right in registration for an industrial design – fast track,
  • 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.

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

In 2023, the PPO continued to prepare and send archival reports on the state of the art (citations) to the EPO and the WIPO.

In 2023, the PPO continued to maintain the Intranet system based on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Enterprise software.

In 2023, a new version of translation into Polish of International Patent Classification (IPC) was added.

The PPO continued to maintain the searchable Patent Attorneys and Applicants List.

The PPO continued to provide public data concerning the protection of industrial property, publications as well as information on patent attorneys, etc. In 2023 the PPO has used webservice available on https://api.uprp.gov.pl/ and only the link to this webservice is published  on https://dane.gov.pl/pl where previously the PPO published public data separately.

The PPO still maintained separate official publications of Bulletin of the Patent Office (BUP) for trademarks, patents and utility models available on https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/biuletyn-i-wiadomosci-uprp.

In 2023, the PPO kept on sending up-to-date files with descriptions of patents and utility models in xml format to the EPO. The data are currently published on ESPACENET. In the end of 2023 the EPO switched to retrieve the data using the provided API.

As it was reported in 2022, the new API endpoint serving bibliographic data for given numbers and dates of BUP (Bulletin of the Patent Office) and WUP (Communications of the Patent Office) publications was launched in the production environment, which was to replace the manual preparation of data in accordance with BUP and WUP official publications from the PPO’s systems for  the needs of the EPO and the Chinese Patent Office. In 2023 the PPO prepared a separate webservice similar to the existing one but with communication secured by allowing traffic to the api2.uprp.gov.pl only from exact IP addresses so that no longer API token is needed. In 2023 the WIPO joined the users of API.

At the turn of 2022 and 2023, the new dedicated endpoint was extended to include new categories of B5 and B6 documents. Work on the implementation of these codes continued throughout 2022. At the beginning of 2023, the task was launched on the production environment in Soprano and e-Search for inventions.

At the turn of 2022 and 2023, the new dedicated endpoint was extended to include new categories of Y5 and Y6 documents. Work on the implementation of these codes continued throughout 2022. At the beginning of 2023, the task was launched in the production environment in Soprano and e-Search for utility models.

Archival bibliographic data of inventions and utility models were updated in the internal domain database (year 1987). Authority Files were supplemented by the archival data and sent to WIPO in the new version 2.2. This task will continue in 2024.

 

For inventions, utility models and translations of European patents, the Authority Files for 2023 were prepared and sent to the WIPO in version 2.2. In 2024, this task is still continued.

Since July 2020 the PPO has been still working towards 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. In 2023 these descriptions were 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

The new Polish Industrial Property Law is expected to be published, so the PPO will have to prepare BackOffice and other systems for the new law. The purpose of the PPO is to adapt BackOffice to changes in procedures regarding trademarks and industrial models and to include inventions, utility models, EP and SPC which will have to be migrated to BackOffice from the Soprano system.

In 2023, the PPO maintained the new ERP class system that was implemented in 2022 and it has been used in production environment since then. Thanks to the optimized processes implemented in the system, the settlement of fees and the extension of ownership rights have been improved and administrative burdens have been reduced.

Autopatent - the system of automatic classification of patent and utility model applications was still maintained. The System, with the use of artificial intelligence, supports the process of examining applications for patents 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 the 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 2023, 7 electronic services were used as part of the 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 2023 the PPO took part in the ANSERA based SEARCH (AbS) tests, which is the system that will replace Epoquenet. The opinions of experts from the Polish Patent Office regarding AbS are very positive and the tool itself in its production version is very much needed. From the point of view of its administration, the PPO noticed a significant level of ease in its maintenance.

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 the accuracy of 92% in 2023.

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

For the purpose of the e-Search, A1 application documents for inventions were prepared - the tests consisted in preparing a sample document with areas containing an abbreviation of the description, drawings, application description, claims and state of the art report. In 2023 the process was launched in production.

In 2023 the PPO carried out preparations for the publication of lists of amino acid or nucleotide sequences for European patents (ST.26).

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

 In 2023, the PPO received 4022 patent applications under the national procedure (of which 3942 by national and 80 by foreign entities). An increase of 22.43% was recorded in comparison with 2022 when 3285 patent applications were filed, out of which 3234 by national and 51 by foreign entities.

In 2023, the PPO received 727 utility model applications under the national procedure (of which 668 by national and 59 by foreign entities). This marks an increase of 9.16% in comparison with 2022 when 666 utility model applications were filed, of which 616 by national and 50 by foreign entities. 

Exclusive rights granted / entered into the register

2022

2023

Change (%) 2022-2023

Patents (national procedure)

2 290

2 261

-1.27

European patents protected in Poland

10 327

8 108

-21.49

Utility models

556

398

-28.42


Rights in force as of 31 December

2022

2023

Change (%)  2022-2023

Patents (national procedure)

16 243

14 022

-13.67

European patents protected in Poland

94 156

94 120

-0.04

Utility models

3 529

2 714

-23.09


  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:


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 2023 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


Management of the contacts in 2023 (phone + mail) was performed through software:

1)      Personal contacts (CRM system):

- 735 meetings in the PPO Front Office

- 75 meetings via the virtual window

(Patents and utility models: 246)

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

- 6 573 emails were received

- 19 736 calls were answered and performed (including the call back - 478) 

(Patents and utility models: 3326)

- 78 meetings took place with examiners and at the Center of Information 

- 473 meetings via live-chat (only for logged in 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);

7)    Sending e-notifications about the expiry of the protection period of industrial property rights (PUEUP system):  17 371

The CRM system is interfacing with other applications (Computer Telephony Integration, call-backs, meetings time and visits, virtual information service window and live-chat) to facilitate the customer relation management. There is a tool for measuring the customers’ satisfaction. IP Info Center has a non-verbal communication system to improve information service for deaf or hearing-impaired customers.


Availability of the application dossier in electronic form

All necessary information provided by the PPO to applicants is published on the PPO site. Customers using 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 an 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 2023, a new electronic version (2023.01 ) of the International Patent Classification (IPC) was uploaded to Soprano.

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 the e-Search engine. In 2023, the Department prepared 8 444 translations of European patents into Polish.

From January 2023, the Digitisation Department has been preparing and making available the application descriptions of inventions as of the date of filing, in an electronic version, which are then entered into the PPO databases and thee-Search engine. In 2023 the Department prepared 2984 application descriptions of inventions as of the date of filing.

Other activities

 In 2022, the CPC classification was implemented for both XML files and e-Search API endpoints and it was made possible to enter this data in Soprano. As a result, the EPO receives bibliographic data of inventions enriched with the CPC classification.


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:

 

In 2023, the following publications were issued in the electronic form:

- “Biuletyn Urzędu Patentowego. Wynalazki i Wzory użytkowe” (Bulletin of the Patent Office – Inventions and Utility Models), 52 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) – 52 numbers (https://uprp.gov.pl/plpublikacje/biuletyn-i-wiadomosci-uprp ); it contains information on granted patents and granted protection rights for utility models;

- 2022 Annual Report of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland – on the Office’s website (https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/publikacje/raport-roczny-uprp );

- Patent Specifications (type B1 documents) – 2320 titles;

- Application specifications of inventions (as on the date of filing; A-type documents) – 2984 titles;

- Protection Specifications of Utility Models – 403 titles.

 

 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 (weekly, information on patent and utility model applications) and in "Wiadomości Urzędu Patentowego" - Communications of the Patent Office (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.

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 2023, the following information products were available to examiners:

  • e-Search 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 are published and accessible 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 enable the presentation of International Patent Classification in Polish and are available at:

https://grab.uprp.pl/Klasyfikacje/Strony%20witryny/Klasyfikacje.aspx.

  • Patent data are stored in specialized internal databases of the PPO called Soprano in which bibliographic data 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 the following:


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 patent register and the utility model register are kept.  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.

If the number of the granted right is known, the registers may be searched directly at: https://eprofil.pue.uprp.gov.pl/public/registry/search?lng=en

The number of the granted exclusive right may be identified using the e-Search engine at: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/simple-search?lng=en

Information on the legal status is available in the 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

EPOQUENet 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 2023, a new version of Espacenet was further developed. The training on the functionalities of the new version was 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 iPadOS 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 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 are 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);
  • Phoenix – a system for storage of images of documents.

Most of the 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 are stored and accessed via the 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 adapted to work together with ePhoenix which stores electronic files and with the 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 the 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 2023, 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 25 PATLIB information centres, most of them located within libraries of schools of higher education.  The centres provide patent information and consultancy, and some of them employ patent attorneys.  They also conduct free of charge seminars and trainings for those interested in patent information. The PPO supplies the centres with patent literature and informational materials for further dissemination and organises trainings and informational meetings for the 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 . The printed versions of some of them 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: Protect Your Intellectual Property with the Polish Patent Office, Get Familiar with Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs, Inventor’s Guide: Application Procedures in the National, European and International System, Industrial Property Protection in a Nutshell, Visegrad Patent Institute, Patents (comic book).


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

 The Polish 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 2023, the Office collaborated with the following entities, to name a few:

- collaboration with universities (including Jagiellonian University in Kraków, AGH University of Krakow, etc.);

- collaboration with science and business-related institutions, including the National Centre for Research and Development, Office of the Ombudsman for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, The High Tech Foundation; Information Processing Institute – National Research Institute, Coalition for Polish Innovation, Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Polish Craft Association, Polish Development Fund, Puławy Science and Technology Park, Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalisers, Pomeranian Science and Technology Park, Wrocław Technology Park etc.;

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

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

In 2023, the PPO organised and co-organised, among others, the following events:

  • Numerous trainings on industrial property protection and its importance for enterprise development (for among others the Łukasiewicz Research Network, the High Tech Foundation, Podkarpackie Innovation Centre, Pomeranian Science and Technology Park, Poland-East Science and Technology Park in Suwałki, Puławy Science and Technology Park, Polish Investment and Trade Agency, IT Cluster Poland);
  • IP Day conference entitled “Intellectual property in the security system”;
  • 16th edition of International Conference on Innovation and Creativity in the Economy organised by the PPO and entitled “Designing sustainable transport”;
  • Meetings with representatives of the Patent Information Centres;
  • Patent by Night as part of the Night of Museums;
  • Lectures on IP protection for students of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, the Silesian University of Technology and the Warsaw University of Technology;
  • Online seminars “Ideas powered for Business” and IP4You, co-organised with the EUIPO;
  • Information and consultation meetings: “Intellectual property in the videogames sector”, “Enforcement of intellectual property rights from the perspective of the National Treasury Administration”; online trainings for journalists on IP basics and importance of IP protection for the economy;
  • “IP in Education” meeting organised in cooperation with the EUIPO. The meeting was attended by the representatives of IP offices and ministry of education from the EU countries, and was preceded by a training on IP for the teachers from Polish secondary schools;
  • 21st edition of the annual competition for the best postdoctoral, doctoral, master’s and student’s theses on the subject of industrial property protection and the 11th edition of a press release competition.

 

In 2023, the PPO maintained information in the e-Knowledge Base module on a specially prepared Educational Platform (Educational Platform, current address https://uprp.gov.pl/pl/platforma-edukacyjna) which was 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 2023, 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 2023, 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).

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