Annual Technical Report 2011 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Armenia (CWS/ATR/PI/2011/AM)
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.
The term "patent" covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Industrial Design Information Activities.
I. Evolution of patent activities
Changes experienced in terms of application filings and grants with respect to the previous year
The average duration of the examination of applications on inventions from filing date of applications to the conclusion date in 2011 was 4,4 months (in 2010 - 5,7 months).
The average duration of the examination of utility models from filing date of applications to the conclusion in 2011 was 3,3 months (in 2010 was 3.9 months).
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
The number of granted patents for inventions decreased approximately up to 9.7 per cent compared with 2010, and the number of granted patents for utility models increased approximately up to 36.6 per cent compared with 2010.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to patents
The statistical data on filed applications and granted patents on inventions are given on the following site http://www.aipa.am of the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Armenia.
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, distribution and use of primary and secondary sources of patent information
In 2011 12 issues of the Official Bulletin “Industrial Property” were published in the form of CD-ROM: № 1 - № 12. Bulletins were published in 2 languages in Armenian and in Russian, which included official information on patents on 112 inventions, 56 utility models as well as information on registration of licenses and assignment agreements of patents and trademarks.
Schemes of 112 inventions and 56 utility models have been inputted, full descriptions of first pages and claims of electronic forms as well as description of 24 industrial designs have been prepared and published and distributed to the patent owners and libraries, put in the intranet of the Agency for inner use, as well as on the website of the Agency and on optical disc “CISPATENT” for public use.
Annual report of 2010 of the IPA was prepared and published in Armenian, English and Russian languages and their electronic forms were prepared to put on the Internet page.
Technical and Statistic reports on inventions and utility models for the year of 2010 have been presented to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents
Abstracting, reviewing, translating
The Agency issues monthly Official Bulletin “Industrial Property” in which abstracts on inventions and utility models in Armenian and Russian are published.
Classification1, preclassification2 (if applicable), and reclassification3 activities; Classification system used, e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC), other classification (please indicate whether or not patent documents are classified by your Office and, if so, which classification is used)
Classification and reclassification of applications on inventions or utility models filed with the Agency was realized with IPC (2011.01).
Coordinate indexing (domestic deep indexing systems, keyword indexing)
Coordinate indexing is carried out under the standards of WIPO. ST.9 (Annex 1. INID codes), ST.3 (two-letter codes for indication of country). ST.12/A (instructions for preparation of patent documents abstracts) ST.16 (standard codes for identification of various types of patent documents) etc.
Hybrid system indexing
The Agency experts use hybrid system indexing during carrying out examination on certain subject matters.
Bibliographic data and full-text processing
The Agency uses electronic database on inventions and utility models, which contains bibliographic data, abstracts and sketches with reporting opportunity in three languages: Armenian, Russian, English, as well as with transmission opportunity of bibliographic data for publishing in Official Bulletins, issued by the Agency, and transmission of information for optical CD-ROMs production under series CISPATENT (CISPATENT CD-ROM series), which contain full description of patent documents, including bibliography and abstracts in national language, Russian and English in well-known “MIMOSA” environment.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
The Agency continued works on reinforcement of funds of Armenian Scientific Technical Information Centre. Information received from foreign patent offices has been transferred to the Centre.
In 2011 the IPA continued transferring data on inventions and utility models registered in the Republic of Armenia to EAPO for the purpose of updating the search system database.
V. Activities in the field of computerized and other mechanized search systems
In the reporting period automation and technical re-equipment of the Agency has been continued. The Agency has been re-equipped with 40 computers of type Intel(R) Core i7, servers, computer supplementary devices and equipments. Shortcomings and omissions in the information system of the Agency revealed in the course of its exploitation have been eliminated. With the aim of introduction of problems occurred in the result of development changes and updates have been made in the information system of the Agency.
Windows XP, Windows Vista systems and Microsoft Office have been installed, service of operation system, installation of software, diagnostics of infected computers and programs have been carried out, and operation failures have been removed.
The hyperlinks “Statistical Data”, “Laws”, “International Agreements”, “Legal Norms”, “Blanks”, “Official Publications” of the web site have been updated. A new hyperlink “Geographical Indications, Designations of Origin and Guaranteed Traditional Product” was created under the section of “Official Publications”.
Changes were made in the subsystems of inventions and utility models. Relevant changes were made also on the website of the IP Agency.
VI. Administration of the industrial property office library, and information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, for assisting clients on searching procedures, for obtaining official publications and registry extracts)
The Official Bulletins were sent to the Armenian Research Institute of Scientific and Technical Information, libraries of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian State University, the Engineering University, the Armenian Academy of Agriculture, the State Public Library and to the Book Palace of Armenia free of charge. The Official Bulletins were as well sent to the Armenian Marz centers free of charge. Official Bulletins “Industrial Property” and annual reports of the Intellectual Property Agency for 2011 are inserted on the following Internet site http://www.aipa.am for public awareness.
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of patent documentation and information
For realization of the international agreement “On joint publication of the regional patent – informational product on optical discs CD – ROM”, members of which are 9 CIS countries, 12 compact discs “CISPATENT” are produced 4 issues of which contain bibliographical data in Armenian, Russian and English on 112 inventions and 56 utility models granted patent in the Republic of Armenia. The works within the frameworks of the said agreement are still in course.
The Intellectual Property Agency receives patent information from European Patent Office as well as USA, Austrian, French and from Canadian patent offices within the framework of information exchange by “CISPATENT” compact discs.
VIII. Other relevant matters concerning education and training in, and promotion of, the use of patent information, including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)
1. EAPO, Raising the level of IP skill, April 2011, Russian Federation, Moscow (2 participant).
2. Seminar N01-2011 "Search and examination of European patent applications", 10.-14.10.2011, Germany, Berlin (1 participant)
3. Seminar N16-2011 "Technology transfer and IP valuation", 2.-4.11.2011, Germany, Munich (1 participant)
4. Seminar OC07- 2011 "Search related training, including PCT results", 21-23.11.2011, the Netherlands, the Hague (1 participant)
IX. Other general information related to the Office that is available on the Internet -- URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that:
www.aipa.am
X. Other relevant matters
| 1. | Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application. |
| 2. | Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner). Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office. |
| 3. | Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC). The new symbols are available on patent databases. |