Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2017 submitted by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine

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

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

The main document that determined the directions for the development of industrial design information activities in 2017 was the Work Plan of the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Intellectual Property Institute" (Ukrpatent) which contained strategic directions "Patent information support in the sphere of intellectual property and provision of wide public with access to the information related to intellectual property rights acquisition" and "Implementation of modern information technology" which in particular include:

- comprehensive development of the main directions of information support in the sphere of intellectual property;

- implementation of series of actions aimed at ensuring a continued free-of-charge acquisition of patent information resources of Ukraine with the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" on CD-ROM;

- participation in the activities on unification and harmonization of the patent documentation of Ukraine, with due account of the global practice and in accordance with the international standards of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the current legislation of Ukraine.

The main actions in 2017 were aimed at:

- development of the technological automated system of record keeping for applications and titles of protection for IPRs

- automation of the document workflow and provision of a comprehensive electronic information processing;

- development and implementation of freely accessible information resources for a wide range of public;

- development of IT infrastructure.

- creation of a new automated workplace for the preparation and implementation of new versions and editions of the International Classification for Industrial Designs (AWP ICID).

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

In 2017 works continued aimed at ensuring electronic exchange of documents and for providing the possibility of electronic application filing by alternative channels (e-mail, ftp-server, web-site) in the framework of creating a system of electronic interaction of the examination body with the respective parties in the processes of acquisition and keeping in force of intellectual property rights (further – SEI EBS).

The SEI EBS software and hardware suit is a transport environment with additional functionality which includes: entering the electronic documents into the system, their registration, allocation and distribution, editing, random access storage, search and browsing, reproduction, execution control, access control etc.

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

The main types of industrial design information activities include support of examination of industrial design applications, creation of a database for internal use in the examination body, publication of information about registered industrial designs in the official bulletin, creation of the interactive databases and information and reference systems for information support of a wide range of users via the Internet. Information on industrial designs is also published on optical carriers.

Workflow management for industrial design applications is carried out by means of the Industrial Designs Automated System (further – IDAS) which has full functionality of the text processing and record keeping at all stages, from application filing to completing the examination and maintenance of the State Register of Patents of Ukraine for Industrial Designs.

An automated workplace of the Editorial Department is used to form the information arrays which are included to the publications of the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property".

In 2017 the planned changeover to the HIPPO server (10.11.11.35, operating system MS Windows Server 2012R2) was implemented, which increased the output and security of the server of industrial design databases, enhanced the compatibility with Ukrpatent’s other SQL servers and enabled a direct data actualization on the server of Internet databases.

On the workplaces of the examination body specialists measures were taken to update the computer hardware and telecommunication equipment, as well as software; besides, steps were made to update security hardware and software; obsolete equipment was put out of service.

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

Applications filed:

in 2016 – 2,302, in 2017 – 2,480, i.e. 7,7 % more than in the previous year.

Patents granted:

in 2016 – 2,469, in 2017 – 2,390, i.e. 3,2 % decrease with respect to the previous year.

From 01.01.2017 to 31.12.2017 within the framework of pilot testing of the electronic application filing system 214 applications for industrial designs were filed.

In comparison with the previous year, in 2017 the following areas experienced rapid changes: "Packaging" (increase in the number of applications by 61,8 %); "Transport" (60,3 %); "Agricultural products and food preparation" (47,2 %); "Furniture and household goods" (32,8 %); "Electricity and lightning" (30,8 %).

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

Annual Reports, statistical information:

http://www.uipv.org/en/about.html

News of the Office on the issues related to the industrial designs:

http://www.me.gov.ua/ (Intellectual Property section)

http://uipv.org/en/index.html

Information on the legislation related to the industrial designs

http://www.me.gov.ua/ (Intellectual Property section)

http://uipv.org/en/legistation.html

In 2017, an integrated patent information resource under the Open Data project for searching in the data sets of the State registers of IPRs and the State Register of Intellectual Property Representatives (Patent Attorneys) was implemented. This resource is accessible at http://opendata.uipv.org.

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN 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

Information for users on different procedures and sources of information on industrial designs, in particular, information on the legislation in the sphere of industrial designs, services and Office activities related to the information on industrial designs, statistical information, etc. is published on the web-sites of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine (http://www.me.gov.ua/) and Ukrpatent (http://uipv.org/en/index.html).

The list of patent information services, including paid services provided by Ukrpatent, in particular, by its Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion, is published on the web-sites of Ukrpatent and the Department (http://iii.ua/uk).

Information for applicants on filing applications is available on the web-sites of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine (http://www.me.gov.ua/) and Ukrpatent (http://uipv.org/en/index.html).

The system of electronic filing of applications for industrial designs contains software and reference materials and manuals on the use of the system, guidelines for drawing up applications and filing both primary and secondary application materials 24/7.

The system of electronic filing of applications for industrial designs is accessible at http://efiling.uipv.org/.

Access to online publications containing information on industrial designs is provided through the web-sites of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine (http://www.me.gov.ua/) and of Ukrpatent (http://uipv.org/en/bases.html).

In 2017 external users had an opportunity to take advantage of the software product "Applicant’s Off-line Module" which facilitates applicants’ work through automation of the secondary documents creation process.

The module can be downloaded free of charge from the web-site of Ukrpatent at http://base.uipv.org/off-line/.

Availability of the application dossier in electronic form

All application materials for industrial designs irrespective of the way of their filing, namely in electronic form, on paper carriers, by e-mail, fax and other telecommunication networks, are entered automatically or after scanning and stored in the electronic document archive and used by technological systems in the processing of applications. In future all the procedures within the pendency of an application are performed with electronic copies of documents.

Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification

The International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), Eleventh Edition, translated into Ukrainian, was used for classifying industrial designs.

In 2017, works continued under the project of creating an automated workplace of preparation and implementation of the new versions and editions of the International Classification for Industrial Designs (AWP ICID). As of the end of the year, the works were fully completed. The AWP ICID was put into pilot testing.

A software system operates within the IDAS for checking classification symbols. It includes classification guides and specialized software for checking the allotted classification symbols and reclassification.

For information support of a wide range of users the IRS "International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification)" for the Eleventh Edition of Locarno Classification was made accessible free of charge on the web-site of Ukrpatent.

Other activities

III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Main types of publications in the field of industrial design information, outline of the content (industrial design applications, design patents, registrations, etc.) and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)

Information of the Office on industrial designs is provided in the following publications (official editions, patent information products on optical carriers, free electronic databases (DB) and information and reference systems (IRS)):

-       the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" – a printed periodical edition;

-       the electronic edition of the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" (on CD-ROM equipped with a search system) – the analogue of the printed edition;

-       CD-ROM "Industrial Designs Registered in Ukraine" (on a paid basis);

-       the cumulative optical DVD "Industrial Designs Registered in Ukraine" (on a paid basis);

-       DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Industrial Property";

-       Interactive DB "Industrial Designs Registered in Ukraine";

-       IRS "Industrial Design Applications Proceeding State";

-       IRS "Information about Patents of Ukraine for Industrial Designs Deemed to be Invalid or Expired" 

-       IRS "International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification)" for the Eleventh Edition of Locarno Classification (entered into force on January 1, 2017 (http://base.uipv.org/locarno11/).

Information concerning industrial designs is published in Book 2 of the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" in the following sections: "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Industrial Designs" (contains bibliographic data and images (set of images) of industrial designs (variants) in black-and-white), in the Indexes to this section and in the Notices section. Colour images of industrial designs (if any) are published in the appropriate section.

The Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" was issued twice a month – 24 issues of the Bulletin were issued during 2017. The Annual Index to the Official Bulletin for the previous 2016 year was also published.

Publications in the electronic information resources:

- DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" contains information on industrial designs in the same scope as the printed edition. Moreover, information on the legal status of patents (as an extra operational element) is provided in the section "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Industrial Designs";

- the interactive DB "Industrial Designs Registered in Ukraine" includes bibliographic data and images (set of images) of the industrial designs (variants).

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

In the Notices section of the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" (printed and electronic publication), with the periodicity of its release, announcements are published in respect of industrial designs (to the extent provided by the respective applicable Law of Ukraine) which include information on changes in the data entered into the State Register of Patents of Ukraine for Industrial Designs, information on issue of duplicates of patents of Ukraine for industrial designs, information on modifications due to the correction of errors and other information relating to the registration of patents of Ukraine for industrial designs.

The said information is available at http://www.me.gov.ua/ and http://www.uipv.org/en/of_bulletin.html.

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

The list of information resources available to examiners is given in Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file.

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

For information support of a wide range of public, free access to the information concerning industrial designs is provided through the Ukpratent web-site: the list of DBs and IRSs is provided in the section "Main types of publications in the field of industrial design information, their content (industrial design applications, titles of protection, registrations, etc.) and medium (on paper, on CDs, online – URLs)".

Information about registered industrial designs is available as open data at http://opendata.uipv.org.

The Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" on CD-ROM was distributed for free in the framework of updating patent collections of the specified organizations of Ukraine according to the Registries of free-of-charge distribution approved by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.

External users can also purchase the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" on CD-ROM equipped with a search system, the CD-ROM "Industrial Designs Registered in Ukraine" (current data) and the Cumulative Optical DVD "Industrial Designs Registered in Ukraine" containing information on all registered industrial designs in Ukraine from January 1993 to the date of the latest publication in the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property".

The access for external users to the Eleventh Edition of the International Classification of Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification) translated into Ukrainian was provided through the web-site of Ukrpatent where the IRS "International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification)" for the Eleventh Edition of Locarno Classification is accessible free of charge.

The Annual Reports of the Office (in Ukrainian and English), the quarterly statistical review "Industrial Property in Figures. Performance indicators of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and the State Enterprise ‘Ukrainian Intellectual Property Institute’" (further – "Industrial Property in Figures") are also accessible for free on the Ukrpatent web-site.

Information on services available to external users is provided in the first part of section 5 Promotion activities aimed to support users in access and efficient use of industrial designs information.

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

Information concerning the legal status of the registered patents of Ukraine for industrial designs to the extent prescribed by the applicable Law of Ukraine is published in the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" in Notices section both on paper and in electronic form (the CD-ROM "Official Bulletin ‘Industrial Property’" and the DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin ‘Industrial Property’").

In addition, such information is provided in the IRS "Information on Patents of Ukraine for Industrial Designs Deemed to be Invalid or Expired" and (as an extra operational component) in the relevant section of the DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Industrial Property".

Other sources

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

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

In 2017, software for the automated workplace for preparation and implementation of new versions and editions of the International Classification for Industrial Designs (AWP ICID) was developed and implemented. It is designed for the automation of works on translation, publication and implementation of new Ukrainian-language versions/editions of the Locarno Classification into the technological processes of application examination, carried out in IDAS. This software allows to create periodic versions/editions of the Locarno Classification translated into Ukrainian, translate the amendments and additions provided by WIPO into Ukrainian, carry out scientific and terminological as well as scientific and technical editing, improve the Ukrainian text of the Locarno Classification and process additional information materials (information windows and taxonomy) necessary for enhancing the functional capabilities of the automated systems for the Locarno Classification, in particular, text and illustrations.

Additional functions and program modules in IDAS and general Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) for applying electronic digital signature to electronic documents, their storage and dispatch to applicants were developed. Necessary changes in the databases of respective systems were made.

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

The general network infrastructure consists of the security system Check Point 5600NGTP device which contains the VPN and Firewall modules for connection with the Internet and the internal router (based on the Unix server) to support the internal network, as well as Barracuda Spam & Virus FireWall to protect mail servers. The availability of two firewalls enhances the overall security.

Cisco and HP equipment is used as network switches.

The internal network is divided into fifteen virtual networks (Vlan).

The network utilizes the following technical means:

- HP (DL380Gen8, DL380G7, DL380G5, DL360 Gen8, DL360 G5, DL320 Gen8) servers;

- HP (3Par StoreServ 7200, MSA2040, P2000, MSA2324fc, MSA1000), Infortrend (EonStor S12F-R1420, EonStor S16F-R1430) information storages;

- equipment for the SAN network (HP SN3000B, HP SAN Switch 8/24, Qlogic SANbox 5600);

- equipment for the HP local area network (ProCurve Switch 2910aI-24G, ProCurve Switch 2510-48, 2530-48 Switch).

Operating systems and software:

- Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008R2, Windows Server 2008, CentOS 7 operating systems are applied on servers;

- servers virtualization is built on Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012R2  and VMware ESXi;

- MS SQL 2016, MS SQL 2014, MS SQL 2008R2, MS SQL 2005 are used as database management systems.

A domain structure of the Active Directory (AD) was designed which allows for central management of all the information resources, including users, computers, files, peripherals, access to the services, network resources, web-sites, databases, etc.

Multiple domain controllers are used for the domain structure fault tolerance organization.

The WSUS server provides updating of the server and client computers operating systems.

The anti-virus server "Eset Endpoint Antivirus" provides centralized control of all anti-virus programs on the users computers, anti-virus databases updates, report generation on database updates and existing threats.

The Microsoft software product – System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) – which provides continuous data protection for reliable recovery of Windows servers is used for data backup. The plan of upgrading all servers and services after a failure was adjusted.

Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources

For examination of industrial design applications the following in-house and external information sources are used:

- the database of international registrations of industrial designs. The information is downloaded to this database from the WIPO web-site ftp://ftpird.wipo.int/wipo/hague/.

- the CEDA database providing for storage of documents and their attributes in electronic form.

The in-house databases are updated in the course of processing applications and within maintenance of the respective State Register.

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

Information concerning international registrations of industrial designs is downloaded in batches once a day from the WIPO web-site (ftp://ftpird.wipo.int/wipo/hague/) and stored in the database of international registrations of industrial designs.

The IDAS database is replenished and updated in the course of examination, managing the workflow on agreements on rights transfer and license issue and maintaining the State Register by the IDAS users.

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

To fulfil the functions of administrative management, an integrated automated system Indicators AS was created. The output data for calculation and forming integral indicators of statistical reports are automatically passed from the technological systems for all IPRs. The system ensures automatic and automated creation of multi-aspect statistical reports for each indicator. Also, the capability of automated analysis of the calculated data is realized in the system.

Other matters

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

Office's library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries

In order to satisfy public needs for patent information in Ukraine necessary for studying and analysis in the process of creating, legal protection and use of IPRs, the Public Patent Documentation Collection (PPDC) functions within the structure of the Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion of Ukrpatent. The PPDC is the most comprehensive patent library in Ukraine available to the public (Intellectual Property Office Library).

International exchange, in particular, with foreign patent offices has long remained the main source of foreign industrial property documentation of the PPDC, including information on industrial designs. Such international cooperation allowed to accumulate a considerable amount of current and retrospective foreign patent documentation, in particular, Official Bulletins of 45 countries and organizations, primarily on optical carriers, with information on industrial designs. The PPDC also contains methodological, information and reference and periodical editions.

During 2017 the PPDC was updated by national and foreign patent documentation on optical discs. As of December 31, 2017 the PPDC numbered about 21, 1 thousand copies of official bulletins and has a sufficiently deep retrospective. The PPDC visitors enjoy free access to its materials in the reading room. The customers’ work with the foreign document arrays available in the PPDC on optical carriers is assisted by the consultants of the Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion of Ukrpatent.

In 2017 the PPDC was attended by 254 users, 10 % of which were legal entities and 90 % – individuals.

Information on the contents of the PPDC and its quarterly updates was published in the Patent Information Files section on the web-site of Ukrpatent (http://uipv.org/en/index.html ) and its Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion (http://iii.ua/uk).

Proper storage of the PPDC documents to meet applicable requirements and guarantee their safety was ensured during 2017.

The PPDC is located on the premises of the Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion of Ukrpatent in three specially adapted and equipped areas (two depositaries with a total area of 81 sq. m. and a reading room of 40 sq. m.). The PPDC is equipped with 10 up-to-date computers with appropriate licensed software, as well as scanners, printers and xerographic copying machines.

To enable users to access to the electronic patent information resources, such as the Digital Patent Library online, the Internet access based on Wi-Fi technology was provided for users’ convenience in addition to the traditional Internet access.

All necessary consultations and services, including on the PPDC basis, both on free-of-charge and commercial basis, including different types of information and documentation searches, were provided by the Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion of Ukrpatent.

In particular, the PPDC provided the following services in 2017:

- 12 consultations on drafting application materials for applications for industrial design registration, including in foreign countries;

- consultations on the correctness of the application materials drafting (227 in total, 27 for industrial designs patenting);

- 11 searches of industrial designs;

- 1281 title (firm) searches as for all IPRs, including industrial designs, upon requests of arbitration managers and liquidators of enterprises in default and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

Free-of-charge consultations were provided on the most efficient ways to carry out information search, search on CD-ROMs and in the free remote databases of patent documentation via the Internet and consultations on the most common issues relating to the procedure of obtaining legal protection with further detection and cessation of unlawful use of industrial designs.

In April 2017 a WIPO depository library was open on the basis of the Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion of Ukrpatent.

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

Information on industrial designs is published in the Annual Reports (available on the Ukrpatent web-site) and Annual Technical Reports of the Office on industrial design information activities prepared by Ukrpatent for WIPO.

Statistics on industrial designs is also published in quarterly issues of the review "Industrial Property in Figures" accessible for free on the Ukrpatent web-site.

Methodological recommendations on certain matters relating to industrial design applications examination are available on the Ukrpatent web-site.

Periodicals, e.g. the scientific and practical magazine "Intellectual Property in Ukraine", which is distributed as a paper and electronic edition over the territory of Ukraine by subscription, publish articles (including by the specialists of the state system of intellectual property legal protection) on various matters, in particular relating to legal protection of industrial designs. The printed edition of the magazine is available for free at the PPDC of the Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion of Ukrpatent.

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

Over the reporting year, with the purpose of updating patent collections of certain organizations of Ukraine (bodies of the national system of scientific and technical information, in particular the state and national libraries and universities, departments of which are entrusted with the appropriate patent information functions, including business innovative centres of universities) the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" on CD-ROM was sent free of charge to the specified ones and some other organizations of Ukraine in accordance with the Registries of free-of-charge distribution approved by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.

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

Significant attention was paid to the skills upgrading of experts of the state system of intellectual property legal protection.

During the past year, as a part of experience sharing, training and skills upgrading, officials of the state IP rights protection system participated in numerous events arranged by international organizations, governments and foreign IP offices, studied at the higher educational institution – the Intellectual Property Institute of the National University "Odessa Law Academy" in Kyiv; examiners also improved knowledge of English.

Also in 2017, on the premises of the Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (KUL of NASU) the WIPO seminar "Intellectual Property Policies in Universities and Research Institutions" was organized by WIPO jointly with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and KUL of NASU.

Local events in IP sphere in 2017 were held with active participation of Ukrpatent’s specialists. On May 18, 2017 a masterclass "Practical Aspects of IPR Protection, Particular of Creation and Protection of License Agreements" was held in the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (NAAS). In June Ukrpatent’s specialists took part in the work of the IV International Intellectual Property Forum IPF 2017 of the Yurydychna Praktyka Publishing House.

Specialists of Ukrpatent also gave lectures (in particular on the topics related to industrial designs) at the Summer School "Intellectual Property: Basic Course", which was organized by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Ukrpatent, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Department of Intellectual Property), Scientific and Research Institute of Intellectual Property of the National Academy of Law Sciences of Ukraine and held in Kyiv on July 17-23, 2017.

Information concerning intellectual property representatives (patent attorneys) providing services in the intellectual property rights protection sphere can be found in the State Register of Intellectual Property Representatives (Patent Attorneys) available in the Intellectual Property section (heading "State Registers and Official Bulletins", subheading "Data of State Registers") of the "Activity" chapter of the web-site of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine (http://www.me.gov.ua/).

Other activities

Detailed information on other activities of the state system of intellectual property legal protection in 2017 is published on the Ukrpatent web-site, in particular, in the quarterly issues of the review "Industrial Property in Figures".

In 2017 the Department of Patent Information Services, Consultations and Innovation Activity Promotion of Ukrpatent ensured the functioning of the Industrial Property Internet Exchange which aims to promote domestic IPRs on the market, to encourage inventive and innovative activities, to increase the level of public awareness on the intellectual property significance, to inform the wide range of stakeholders.

The Industrial Property Internet Exchange is available at http://exchange.iii.ua/en

VI.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION

International exchange of industrial design information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)

The functions of patent documentation international exchange are performed by Ukrpatent, recognized in 2003 by the law as the Centre of International Exchange of Publications according to the Convention on International Exchange of Publications, adopted on December 3, 1958 by the UN General Conference on the matters of education, science and culture.

In 2017, in the framework of international exchange of patent documentation, Ukrpatent:

- received official bulletins concerning industrial designs from 4 foreign patent offices;

-the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" on CD-ROM containing information concerning industrial designs was sent to 9 foreign patent offices and organizations;

- provided access to the Official Bulletin "Industrial Property" via the FTP-server for the Japan Patent Office and Rospatent.

Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information

In 2017 in the framework of international cooperation the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and Ukrpatent representatives took part in sessions and meetings of the WIPO Committees and Working Groups, among which were the 37th and 38 th sessions of the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications.

Within the framework of international cooperation, Ukrpatent specialists participated (online) in the Task Force of the Committee on WIPO Standards on the development of a new WIPO Standard for the exchange of legal status data for industrial designs, as well as the Task Force on preparing the recommendations on the systems of provision of public access to patent information by industrial property offices.

Assistance to developing countries

Other activities

VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS

One of the priority objectives of the examination body is to ensure effective functioning of the quality management system (QMS) of the examination procedure for industrial property rights applications introduced in 2012 at Ukrpatent (International Certificate No. 321012076 of October17, 2012).

The new Certificate № 321012076/1 concerning QMS, received by Ukrpatent under the established procedure, is valid from November 19, 2015 to September 14, 2018.

In September 2017, an independent certification organization carried out the supervisory audit of the QMS compliance with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Based on the results of the audit, the QMS complies with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2008 standard.