Annual Technical Report 2013 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by Ukraine (CWS/ATR/TM/2013/UA)
Where URLs are requested below, it is preferred that either URLs which are likely to remain stable over time (three years or more) are provided, or home (main) page URLs are provided with a short explanation of how to access the corresponding information.
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
General overview of recent developments in trademark information activities carried out by the Office
GeneraloverviewofrecentdevelopmentsintrademarkinformationactivitiescarriedoutbytheOffice.docx
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of trademark information activities and expected time frames for their realization
The main documents that determined directions for the development of patent information activities in 2013 are the Concept of the Development of the State System of Intellectual Property Legal Protection for 2009 - 2014, the Program of the Development of the State System of Intellectual Property Legal Protection for 2010 - 2014, the Basic directions of the State Enterprise "Ukrainian industrial property Institute" activities concerning realization of the Concept of the Development of the State System of Intellectual Property Legal Protection for 2009 - 2014, as well as annual plans of activities of the State Intellectual Property Service of Ukraine (hereinafter - the State Service) and the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Industrial Property Institute" (hereinafter – the SE "UIPI"). All these documents contain sections "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", which, in particular include:
- comprehensive development of the main directions of patent information support in the sphere of intellectual property;
- improvement of information support of the examination of industrial property rights applications in accordance with the worldwide trend of preferable use of information resources in a global Internet network, including access to the commercial databases;
- unification of the patent documentation international exchange procedure which is carried out with the purpose of acquisition of patent collections of the state system of intellectual property legal protection, taking into account the trends of transition of the intellectual property offices in many countries to the submission of patent information on the Internet only;
- implementation of series of actions aimed at ensuring the continued acquisition of patent information resources of Ukraine with the national patent documentation, improvement of this process by means of gradual transition to acquisition by the official publications exclusively on electronic carriers;
- development and realization of series of actions aimed at creating and development of the digital patent library;
- participation in the activities on unification and harmonization of the patent documentation of Ukraine with taking into account the world experience and in accordance with the international standards of the World Intellectual Property Organization and the current legislation of Ukraine;
- implementation of the activities for information safety improvement, including the international standard ISO/IEC 27001:2005 "Information technology – Security techniques – Information security management systems – Requirements" certification of the SE "UIPI".
Besides, the development of trademark information activities is stipulated by the Concept of the development of information and technical support of the main activities of the SE "UIPI" for the years 2013 - 2015 and by schedules of the projects on enhancement of the automated system for marks for goods and services (TMAS).
The main areas aimed at development of trademark information activities of the SE "UIPI" are the following:
- introduction of electronic document workflow technology within the framework of the TMAS;
- introduction of automation means for quality control of the applications examination;
- provision of electronic document workflow for court cases documentation;
- enhancement of the TMAS functionality to provide for:
document workflow for assignment agreements and license agreements;
generation of statistics reports for WIPO;
generation of statistics reports for state authorities requests;
- introduction of annual versions of the 10th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services applied for the registration of marks (NCL-10) and a new edition of the International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks translated into Ukrainian;
- integration of the TMAS with technological systems.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
In 2013 activities on improvement and enhancement of the TMAS project took place which included:
- integration of the TMAS with the following technological systems:
incoming documents registration system;
outgoing documents registration, drafting and printing system;
central electronic documents archive (CEDA);
appeal proceedings system;
- development and introduction of additional procedures and functions providing for:
document workflow for assignment agreements and license agreements;
generation of statistics reports for WIPO;
generation of statistics reports for state authorities requests;
- development of software modules for the automatic creation of a working version of the original electronic document using the model forms, review and approval of a working version of the document support, signing electronic documents using an electronic display of a handwritten signature of the preparer or the person responsible.
In 2013 development of specialized program means for automatic generation of reports for WIPO and reports for state authorities requests. The first work queue on improvement of the TMAS databases was finally introduced as well as new functions of statistic analysis for the TMAS were developed.
Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
Main areas of trademark information activities include examination of marks for goods and services applications, in particular, formation of search databases for internal use at the examination body, performance of searches, publication of information about registered marks in the official bulletin and creating interactive databases and information retrieval systems for information service of a wide range of users via the Internet. Publication of information on marks is also carried on optical media.
Examination of marks for goods and services applications is carried out by means of the TMAS which has full functional for text processing and maintenance of trademark applications documentation at all stages from filing to completing examination and keeping the State Register of Certificates of Ukraine for Marks for Goods and Services.
Information arrays included to the publication of the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" are formed with the use of automated workstation at the editorial department. The existing layout of the publication is sent to a printing office for its replication.
The following resources were introduced for information support of the examination procedure:
- Nice Classification, 10th edition, version 2013 (NCL(10-2013)) translated into Ukrainian;
- Vienna Classification, 7th edition (VCL(7)) translated into Ukrainian.
For broad access of a wide range of users to the mentioned classifications the following information and retrieval systems (IRS) were created and placed at the web-portal of the State Service and the web-site of the SE "UIPI":
- IRS "International Classification of Goods and Services for the registration of marks (Nice Classification). 10th edition, version 2013";
- IRS "Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification). 7th edition".
To ensure reliability of search results in the course of trademark applications examination search properties revision was performed (indexes of the Vienna Classification of figurative elements) on their compliance with the new edition of VCL(7) in technology databases of the TMAS and the AS "International Registration of Marks". Reclassification and update of this information in the working databases was done.
Special software is used for preparing data sets and recording them on optical discs.
Data shaping to update databases which provide access through the Internet is performed by using special software features of the TMAS. There are software modules to support the export function of bibliographic data into XML format according to WIPO Standard ST.66 implemented in the TMAS.
For information needs of users of the SE "UIPI" branch "Ukrainian Centre of Innovatics and Patent Information Services" of the SE "UIPI" (hereinafter – the Branch) produced and distributed commercially information products on CD-ROM with search engines, which include the current version/edition of the NCL translated into Ukrainian, in particular, in 2013 NCL (10-2013) was created and offered for sale. Information on the CD-ROM and the conditions for its purchase are available at the web-site of the Branch.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
Applications filed (national route):
in 2012 – 22 781, in 2013 – 22 471, i.e. 7.4 % increase with respect to the previous year.
Registered Certificates (national route):
in 2012 – 15 459, in 2012 – 14 981, i.e. 3.1 % decrease with respect to the previous year.
From February 1, 2013 to December 30, 2013 within the test period of the electronic filing system for IPRs the SE "UIPI" received 1 728 trademark applications (10.4 % increase with respect to the previous year).
In 2013, the highest percentage of applications was filed according to the following classes of the Nice Classification:
Class 35 "Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions" (18.8%);
Class 41 "Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities" (6.3%);
Class 05 "Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic food and substances adapted for medical or veterinary use, food for babies; dietary supplements for humans and animals; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides" (6.3%);
Class 33 "Alcoholic beverages (except beers)" (5.8%);
Class 30 "Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastry and confectionery; ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking-powder; salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice" (4.9%);
Class 43 “Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation” (3/8%);
Class 09 "Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; compact discs, DVDs and other digital recording media; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment, computers; computer software; fire-extinguishing apparatus" (3.6%).
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
Annual Reports, statistical information, the Annual Technical Reports of the Office:
- http://sips.gov.ua/ua/plans_reports.html
- http://sips.gov.ua/en/plans_reports.html
News of the Office on the issues related to trademarks:
- http://sips.gov.ua
- http://sips.gov.ua/en
- http://uipv.org
- http://uipv.org/en/index.html
Information on trademark legislation:
- http://sips.gov.ua/ua/normative_acts.html
- http://sips.gov.ua/en/normative_acts.html
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
ServicesandactivitiesrelatedtotrademarkinformationcarriedoutbytheOffice.docx
Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) – URLs
Information on various procedures and sources of information on trademarks for users, in particular, trademark legislation information, services and activities of the Office relating to trademark information, statistical information etc. is available at the State Service web-portal (http://www.sips.gov.ua) and the SE "UIPI" web-site (http://www.uipv.org).
Information on the services provided by the Branch, including commercial, is available at its web-site (http://www.iii.ua).
Information for the users on filing trademark applications is presented at the SE "UIPI" web-site (http://www.uipv.org).
Information on the means of filing electronic applications is in a separate web-site section “Electronic Filing” (http://base.uipv.org/efiling/).
A software product the "Applicant Off-line Module" was developed and put into operation for drafting application materials downloadable from the web-site of the SE "UIPI" (http://base.uipv.org/off-line/).
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
Applications filed on paper are converted into electronic form and entered into the electronic archive of documents. Applications submitted through the electronic filing system are automatically entered into the electronic archive. Thus, the electronic archive contains all application materials in electronic form ("application e-files").
In 2013 the majority of the total number of electronic applications received by the SE "UIPI" constituted trademark applications.
Matters concerning classifying
(i) Classification and reclassification activities; classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification
(ii) Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied
o Classification and reclassification activities; classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification
In the framework of the TMAS and the AS "International Registration of Marks" there functions a program system for verifying classification indexes. This system includes manuals on classification system and common software for performing functions of verifying classification indexes and reclassification.
For classifying in 2013 the 10th edition, version 2013, of the International Classification of Goods and Services applied for the registration of marks (Nice Classification) (NCL (10-2013)) and the 7th edition of the International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification) (VCL(7)) translated into Ukrainian were used.
To ensure reliability of search results in the course of trademark applications examination search properties revision was performed (indexes of the Vienna Classification of figurative elements) on their compliance with the new edition of VCL(7) in technology databases of the TMAS and the AS "International Registration of Marks". Reclassification and update of this information in the working databases was done.
o Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied
Since 2013 only electronic classification systems were used:
- NCL (10-2013) and VCL (7) translated into Ukrainian within the TMAS for trademark applications examination;
- IRS "International Classification of Goods and Services for the registration of marks (Nice Classification). 10th edition, version 2013" and IRS "Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification). 7th edition" by a wide range of users, principally examiners, available for free at the State Service web-portal and the SE "UIPI" web-site as well as NCL (10-2013) on a CD-ROM with search system which is promoted by the Branch commercially.
III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Sources of trademark information provided by the Office
SourcesoftrademarkinformationprovidedbytheOffice.docx
Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online – URLs)
Information of the Office concerning trademarks is provided in the following publications (printed editions, information products on optical carriers, electronic DBs and IRSs:
The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (Industrial Property) – printed periodical edition;
The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on DVD with search system;
The National CD-ROM "Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine";
DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (http://base.uipv.org/searchBul/);
DB "Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine" (http://base.uipv.org/searchBUL/search.php?dbname=certtm);
DB "Information on Well-Known Marks in Ukraine" (http://base.uipv.org/searchBul/search.php?dbname=certwkm);
Automated DB of the UEFA and its commercial partners intellectual property (http://base.ukrpatent.org/searchEURO2012/);
IRS "Trademark Applications Prosecution Status" (http://base.uipv.org/searchInvStat/);
IRS "International Classification of Goods and Services for the registration of marks (Nice Classification). 10th edition, version 2013" (http://base.ukrpatent.org/mktp10-2/);
IRS "International Classification of Goods and Services for the registration of marks (Nice Classification). 10th edition" (not effective, for information purposes only) (http://base.uipv.org/mktp10/);
IRS "Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification). 7th edition" (http://base.uipv.org/vienna7/);
IRS "Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification). 6th edition" (not effective, for information purposes only) (http://base.uipv.org/vienna6/).
Information regarding trademarks is published in Book 2 of the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on paper in the following sections: "Information on the issue of certificates of Ukraine for marks for goods and services", "Information on Well-Known Marks in Ukraine", "Information on Marks Registered under the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International registration of Marks and/or the Protocol to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International registration of Marks, protected in Ukraine", in indexes to each of the sections listed and the section of Notices. Color images of marks for goods and services (if any) are published in the relevant section.
Publications in the printed edition of the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" include:
- for section "Information on the issue of certificates of Ukraine for marks for goods and services" – bibliographic data, list of goods and services, black-and-white image of a mark;
- for section "Information on Well-Known Marks in Ukraine" – information on marks in the scope defined by the Office, list of goods and services, black-and-white image of a mark;
- for section "Information on Marks Registered under the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International registration of Marks and/or the Protocol to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International registration of Marks, protected in Ukraine" – information on marks in the scope defined by the Office, list of goods and services, black-and-white image of a mark.
Like in the previous year, the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" was issued both on paper and electronic (DVD) carriers twice a month – 24 issues of the bulletin were issued during 2013. The Annual Index to the paper edition of the Official Bulletin for the previous, 2012, year was also published.
The National CD-ROM "Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine" was issued with the same frequency and includes the following information: bibliographic data, images of marks, list of goods and services grouped by Nice classes.
Publications in electronic information resources include:
- DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" – information on the issue of certificates of Ukraine for marks for goods and services and information on well-known marks in Ukraine. Moreover, information concerning legal status of certificates (as an extra operational element) is provided in the section "Information on the issue of certificates of Ukraine for marks for goods and services";
- DB "Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine" – bibliographic data, list of goods and services, image of a mark;
- DB "Information on Well-Known Marks in Ukraine" – information on marks in the scope defined by the Office, list of goods and services, image of a mark.
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.
In the section "Notices" of the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (printed and electronic publications) with the periodicity of its release announcements in respect of registered marks for goods and services (to the extent provided by the respective applicable Law of Ukraine) are published including information on changes in the information entered into the State register of certificates of Ukraine for marks, information on issue of the certificate duplicates, information on modifications due to the correction of errors and other information relating to the registration of certificates of Ukraine for marks for goods and services.
The section also contains publication of changes to information about international registration n of marks protected in Ukraine.
The said information is available at www.sips.gov.ua and www.uipv.org.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
Information products available to examiners for trademark applications examination (search collection) are determined by the corresponding order of the State Service and, inter alia, include:
- AS "Marks for Goods and Services", database for marks recognized as well-known in Ukraine as well as AS "Industrial Designs";
- DB "Legislation of Ukraine";
- DB "ROMARIN;
- DB "6ter Express";
- DB "WIPO Gazette of International Marks";
- corresponding state and national classifiers of Ukraine;
- current versions/editions of Nice and Vienna Classifications;
- information and reference sources mainly in electronic form.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
A software product the "Applicant Off-line Module" was put into operation in 2013. This software was created to facilitate the work of applicants by automating the process of creating the secondary documents, as well as to improve the quality of document type definitions at the stage of incoming documents and their details entry into the database of the SE "UIPI".
Applicants can download the applicant off-line module to their own computer from the web-site of the SE "UIPI" for free (http://base.uipv.org/off-line).
For information support of the wide range of public free access to the information concerning trademarks is provided through the web-portal of the State Service and the web-site of the SE "UIPI" – see the List of DBs and IRSs above.
The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on paper carrier and DVD is distributed for free in the framework of updating patent collections of certain organizations of Ukraine by national patent documentation according to the Registries of free-of-charge distribution approved by the State Service.
External users can also purchase the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on DVD with a search system and the National CD-ROM "Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine", retrospective accumulative optical disc DVD "Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine" as well as current versions/editions of Nice Classification translated into Ukrainian on CD-ROM with search system, distributed by the Branch.
Annual reports of the Office (in Ukrainian and English), Annual Technical Reports of the Office in Ukrainian, quarterly review "Industrial Property in Figures" which includes basic indicators of the activities of the State Service and the SE "UIPI" are also accessible for free on the web-portal of the State Service and web-site of the SE "UIPI".
See also part 1 of Section 5 Promotion activities aimed to support users in access and efficient use of trademark information for information on services available to external users.
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
Information concerning legal status of the registered certificates of Ukraine for marks for goods and services to the extent prescribed by the applicable law of Ukraine is published in the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit" in the section "Notices" both on paper and in electronic form (DVD "Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit" and DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit").
In addition, such information is provided in the IRS "Information on Certificates of Ukraine for Marks for Goods and Services Deemed to be Invalid or Expired" and (as an extra operational component) in the relevant sections of the DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit" and DB "Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine".
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
ICT support to services and activities related to trademark information carried out by the Office
ICTsupporttoservicesandactivitiesrelatedtotrademarkinformationcarriedoutbytheOffice.docx
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
The main activity within the Office is processing of applications. Support of this process is performed by means of the TMAS. The TMAS runs on a local computer network running OS Windows server 2008R2. The automated system software is built on Client-Server technology. The structure of the TMAS database allows for storing all bibliographic data and provides extensive search facilities.
Internal computerized search systems for trademarks include the following search systems: AS "Marks for Goods and Services", AS "International Registration of Marks", AS "Industrial Designs" Applications Input Flow Register (E-Reestr), AS "Accounting of Fees", Central Electronic Documents Archive.
Features of the integrated information and reference search engine are advanced with tools for generating search reports performed during the examination of the presented mark for compliance with the terms of legal protection.
Features of preparation and printing outgoing documents relating to trademarks are also advanced. During the practical implementation of this phase a new automated system "Outgoing documents" was created that gave significant time savings in processing documents and provided economic impact of 15% - 30% compared to paper technology due to cost savings on postage by clustering outgoing documents that are sent to the same address (clustering is done automatically).
Software for regular automatic downloading official information about international registration of trademarks for goods and services and its revision from the server of the IB of WIPO was developed as well as for packing and sending to the IB of WIPO data and documents on the results of examination for the international registration of marks.
Central Electronic Documents Archive (CEDA) is used for storage, processing and retrieval of electronic documents relating to all industrial property rights, including trademarks. The CEAD accumulates both primary and secondary materials (documents) that are relevant to the application. Formats used for presentation of documents allow them to be searchable by keywords, number, date. Grouping (binding) of documents in the CEDA is carried by application numbers. Documents in the CEDA are stored in PDF-format.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
Network infrastructure consists of the WatchGuard XTM-520 device which contains the VPN and Firewall modules to communicate with the Internet and the internal router (built in Unix server) to support internal network. Availability of two firewalls increases the overall security.
Cisco and HP equipment is used as the switching network.
The internal network is divided into ten virtual network (Vlan).
The hardware used in the network is:
- HP (DL380G5, DL380G7, DL380Gen8), Intel (SE7520JR2, SE7501WV2) and Supermicro (6025B-8) servers;
- HP (3Par StoreServ 7200, P2000, MSA2324fc, MSA1000), IBM (ProFibre Storage Array) and Infortrend (EonStor A16F-G2430, EonStor S12F-R1420, EonStor S16F-R1430) information storages;
- network facility SAN (Qlogic SANbox 5600, HP SAN Switch 8/24);
- local network facility HP (Procurve 2910aI-24G, Procurve 2510-48, Procurve 2530-48).
Operation systems and software:
- operation systems on physical servers Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Unix;
- virtualized servers at VMware ESXi and Hyper-V (Microsoft);
- MS SQL 2008R2, MS SQL 2005 as a DBMS.
Active directory (AD) domain structure was built which allows for centralized management of all enterprise information resources, including users, computers, files, peripherals, access to services, network resources, websites, databases and so on.
Multiple domain controllers are used to organize fault-tolerant domain structure.
There is also a WSUS server which provides updating of operating systems, servers and client computers.
Antivirus Server "Kaspersky Anti-Virus" provides control of all antivirus programs on users' computers, virus updates, generation reports on database updates and existing threats.
Magnetic tapes are used for data backup. A recovery plan for all servers and after-accident services was established.
Overall corporate network consists of 650 PCs, 30 servers and other equipment.
Internet connection is provided for information systems users to search for and view information.
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
Data from a number of sources (internal and external) is used while carrying out examination of trademark applications. Data from external sources are automatically downloaded to the integrated search system.
The TMAS Database
Replenished with information about applications and registered national marks for goods and services. Updating of the database is performed while processing applications and within maintainance of the State Register.
International Trademark Registrations Database
Updated in batch mode, loaded from the WIPO web-site (ftp://ftpird.wipo.int/wipo/madrid/romarin/ and ftp://ftpird.wipo.int/wipo/madrid/notif/ua/), stored in the international registrations database.
Emblems and Flags (6ter) Database
Updated in batch mode, loaded from the WIPO web-site (ftp://ftpird.wipo.int/wipo/6ter/), stored in the TMAS database.
The Industrial Designs AS Database
Is extended and updated in the process of examination procedure and keeping the State Register by the users of the Industrial Designs AS.
International Industrial Design Registrations Database
Information on international registration of industrial designs in batches is once a day loaded from WIPO web-site (ftp://ftpird.wipo.int/wipo/hague/) and stored in a database of international industrial design registrations.
Database for Trademarks Well-Known in Ukraine
It is updated in the course of registration of trademarks recognized to be well-known.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
Information on electronic search file for trademarks is presented in Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases.
Information on electronic search file updates is presented in Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
Administrative support is provided by built-in control tools of DBMS SQL Server 2005.
Other matters
A software product the "Applicant Off-line Module" was developed and put into operation in the reporting period. This software was created to facilitate the work of applicants by automating the process of creating secondary documents, as well as to improve the quality of document type definition at the stage of incoming documents and their details entry into the database of the SE "UIPI".
The software product is equipped with a tool that provides formation of secondary documents patterns which an applicant submits to the examination body after the filing date of the application. This software also allows an applicant to prepare documents for initial filing of applications trademarks. It includes procedures and functions that will allow applicants to archive their files with the possibility to search and quick generation of the secondary documents by the selected file.
In order to unify and simplify the documents flow between applicants and examination body, the documents classifier used in the Office was integrated into the offline module.
The software is designed on module principle. Any changes to the software can be made and installed on the workstation of an applicant by the update module, which checks the availability of the software updates in a semiautomatic mode.
Applicants can download the applicant off-line module to their own computer from the web-site of the SE "UIPI" for free (http://base.uipv.org/off-line).
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
Promotion activities aimed to support users in access and efficient use of trademark information
Promotionactivitiesaimedtosupportusersinaccessandefficientuseoftrademarkinformation.docx
Office’s library (if deals with trademark 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, the Public Patent Documentation Collection (PPDC) functions within the structure of the Branch. The PPDC is the most comprehensive patent library in Ukraine available to the public (intellectual property office library).
International cooperation with WIPO, the EPO and patent documentation international exchange with foreign patent offices has been the main source of foreign industrial property documentation over extended periods of time. Such international cooperation allowed accumulating a considerable amount of current and retrospective foreign patent documentation, in particular, official bulletins from 44 countries with information on trademarks.
During 2013 the PPDC was updated with foreign documentation in the sphere of industrial property mainly on optical disks. As of 31.12.2013 the PPDC numbered about 20.6 thousand copies of official bulletins.
The PPDC provided for possibility to get information on trademarks published in the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (Book 2) on paper and electronic carriers as well as official bulletins of foreign Offices.
Proper storage of the PPDC documents meeting specified requirements and guaranteeing their safety was ensured.
In particular, visual control of unauthorized persons access to the PPDC premises was carried out constantly which made their access to the documents repositories impossible and the documents were provided to the users solely in the reading room. Modern technologies for ensuring protection of library collections from theft and damage (video surveillance) were also used. The fire safety (fire alarm, alert, fire fighting) was assured; checking of the fire and protection alarm, alarm systems in emergency situations is carried out every year; proper ventilation and air conditioning is ensured.
The PPDC is located in the premises of the Branch in the 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 12 up-to-date computers with appropriate licensed software, as well as scanners, printers and xerographic copying machines.
To enable users to make online access to the electronic patent information resources, such as a Digital Patent Library, the Internet access based on Wi-Fi technology was provided in addition to the traditional Internet access for users convenience.
In general, in 2013 the Branch provided services to nearly 15 thousand users.
The Branch provided, including the PPDC (intellectual property office library), all necessary consultations as well as services both paid and on free of charge basis.
Free access for users to the PPDC materials for work in the reading room was provided. The work of the customers with the collections of patent documentation available in the PPDC on optical carriers in foreign languages was carried out jointly with the consultants of the Branch.
Consultations on optimal ways for conducting information search, documentation search on CD-ROMs and in distant databases via the Internet were provided for free.
The Branch also provided appropriate commercial services, including carrying out different types of search of information and documentation.
In particular, within the fulfillment of users requests, the following commercial services were provided:
- 158 sets of materials for filing trademark applications were composed;
- 24 sets of materials for filing trademark applications for international registration were composed;
- 6 832 searches for similarity and identity of trademarks were made;
- 2 004 comparative analyses of trademarks were made.
In 2013 the PPDC was attended by nearly 121 users, 5% of which were legal entities and 95% – individuals.
Information concerning the contents of the PPDC and its quarterly updating was published in the "Information resources" section on the web-portal of the State Service (http://www.sips.gov.ua), web-sites of the SE "UIPI" (http://www.uipv.org) and the Branch (http://www.iii.ua).
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
During the reporting year, with the purpose of updating patent collections of certain state and national libraries, bodies of national system of scientific and technical information and universities, departments of which are entrusted with the appropriate information functions, the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (on paper carrier and DVD) was sent free of charge to the specified and some other organizations of Ukraine.
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
One of the key components of promotion of legal culture of the Ukrainians in the sphere of legal protection of creativity results is teaching intellectual property (IP) is to provide the educational course “Intellectual Property” in the higher education institutions. Each year 120 thousand students join the process of gaining knowledge in fundamentals of acquiring, exercising and enforcing IP rights.
The main higher education institution for training, retraining and skills upgrading of IP specialists is the Intellectual Property Institute of the National University "Odessa Law Academy" in Kyiv (the Institute). In 2013, the Institute granted diplomas to 220 persons, including 149, qualified as Specialists and Masters in Specialty "Intellectual Property", and 71 persons qualified as Masters in Specialty "Jurisprudence" (IP legal protection). Among the graduates 16 persons were the staff members of the State Service and SE "UIPI": 14 of them qualified as Masters, and 2 – as Specialists.
In 2013, the Institute admitted 206 persons for study, including 122 persons in Specialty "Intellectual Property", 85 of them – at the public expense, and 84 persons in Specialty "Jurisprudence" (major in IP legal protection), including 37 – at the public expense.
The Institute paid great attention to skills upgrading on IP commercialization. In particular, on March 21, 2013, the Institute hosted a science and practice seminar "Commercialization of Results of Scientific and Technological Activities in the Higher Education Institutions", attended by 37 researches from education and academic institutions. On November 11-13, 2013, the issues of IP were discussed within the V International Research to Practice Conference "Role and Importance of Intellectual Property in the Innovation-Based Development of Economy" that welcomed 71 participants, including representatives of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan.
In January and June, 2013, under the auspices of the State Service, the Institute hosted advanced courses for educational research specialists in IP. Then, on April 23-24, the XIII All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference "Challenges in Training Specialists in Intellectual Property, Information and Analytical and Innovative Activities in Ukraine" was held; the participants learned the current situation and prospects of training IP specialists in Ukraine from the point of view of enhancing the standards of higher education relating to training masters and specialists in Specialty "Intellectual Property". This Conference welcomed officials from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, teachers and educational research specialists from the higher education institutions, specialists of other agencies and organization involved in IP legal protection and innovative activities.
In October, 2013, the State Service specialists took part in educational advanced courses in the Institute of Advanced Training of the National Academy of Public Administration under the President of Ukraine for the executive staff, public servants and local government officials, as well as for the managers of departments in various ministries, and delivered lecture concerning: "Implementation of the State Policy in the Field of Intellectual Property by the State Intellectual Property Service of Ukraine".
In 2013, specialists of the State Service and the SE "UIPI" took part in 20 scientific and practical conferences, workshops, meetings of the WIPO task forces, working groups of the European Patent Office (EPO), Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent), and other international intellectual property offices.
Other activities
On July 8-19, the ordinary 5th WIPO-Ukraine International Summer School on IP was held in Odessa under the aegis of the National University "Odessa Law Academy". The Summer School increased opportunities for advanced students and young professionals to extend their knowledge in IP, to value IP as an instrument of economic, social, cultural and technological development of society. The Summer School welcomed representatives from Ukraine, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and the Russian Federation
In 2013 the Branch ensured the functioning of the Industrial Property Internet Exchange the aim of which is to promote domestic inventions to the market, to encourage the development of inventions and innovative activities, to increase the level of public awareness of the intellectual property importance, to inform the wide range of interested public.
Services provided to the clients of Industrial Property Internet Exchange in the framework of the agreements are:
- compilation, coordination, translation, posting on the web-site and accompaniment the customers information about the IPRs;
- work with individuals that have expressed an interest in the IPRs, represented on the Internet Exchange.
During 2013 about 2 500 advisory services on the functional activity of the Industrial Property Internet Exchange and the Branch were provided, 28 contracts on placing the information about IPRs on the Internet Exchange were concluded and information regarding 10 trademarks was published in the Internet Exchange.
Electronic information catalogues of enterprises and organizations (industrial enterprises of Ukraine, institutes of joint investment of Investment Business Association, investment funds, technological parks of Ukraine and CIS countries, business incubators, venture capital companies, higher educational institutions of Ukraine, embassies of foreign States or their representative offices etc), which include around 13.000 direct contacts for execution of the electronic distribution of commercial offers and information materials were created.
Detailed information on other activities of the State Service, the SE “UIPI" and the Branch in 2013 is contained in the 2013 Annual Report, section 7.2. Scientific and Practical Conferences and Workshops and section 7.3. Creativity Encouragement (http://sips.gov.ua/i_upload/file/report-2013-en.pdf).
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
International cooperation activities in the field of trademark information
Internationalcooperationactivitiesinthefieldoftrademarkinformation.docx
International exchange of trademark information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
The functions of patent documentation international exchange are performed by the SE "UIPI", 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 the framework of international exchange in 2013 the SE "UIPI" received official bulletins with information regarding trademarks from nine foreign Offices. The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on DVD was sent to exchange partners, the National CD-ROM "Trademarks Registered in Ukraine" was sent to Rospatent.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information
In 2013 in the framework of international cooperation the specialists of the SE "UIPI" took part in the work of the Committee on WIPO standards Task Forces, in particular, on development of a new WIPO standard for processing audio and motion (multimedia) marks.
VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
One of the priority objectives of the State Service is to ensure effective functioning of the quality management system of the examination procedure for industrial property rights applications introduced in 2012 (International Certificate № 321012076 of 17.10.2012).
According to the results of the supervisory audit of the quality management system carried out by the Dekra Certification Company in 2013 the examination body confirmed that the implemented quality management system complies with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2008.