Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2014 submitted by Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
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I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of trademark information activities and expected time frames for their realization
Jedlik plan
The Jedlik Plan, which focuses on the responsible management of intellectual property, that is, our scientific, technical and innovative, or cultural and artistic assets, is the first such comprehensive government strategy in Hungary. The document for the period 2013-2016 arranges the middle-term objectives to be realized in the field of intellectual property into the following four main pillars:
A) With industrial property for the rise of national economy
B) With copyright for the boom of the creative industries and culture
C) Serving the nation policy and certain governmental policies with the tools of intellectual property
D) Enhancing the intellectual property institutional performance
The strategic document, which was published in Government Decree 1666/2013 (IX. 23.), defined more than forty action lines and more than hundred measures to take in line with the four pillars. HIPO included the objectives of the Jedlik Plan into its Work Plans of 2014 and 2015, as a result thereof, it continuously worked on implementing the measures listed in the national strategy, with the inclusion of professional organisations, also in 2014. Its results are contained in this annual report.
The preparation of the intermediate stage assessment of the pro-rata implementation of the Jedlik Plan has already started, which will be finalised and submitted to the Government by the Minister of Justice by way of the President of HIPO.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
National board against counterfeiting
The National Board Against Counterfeiting (hereinafter ‘NBAC’) has been set up in order to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement action in the fight against the infringement of IP rights and to unite the efforts of the representatives of state organs and societal and economic interest representation organizations involved in IP rights protection. It initiates and takes targeted actions and measures to combat IP rights infringements.
As the Government structure underwent some changes in 2014, the Government Decree on the National Board Against Counterfeiting was amended by Article 487 of Government Decree 221/2014. (IX. 4.), wherein the Minister responsible for Justice was appointed President of the Board.
The Board carried out its activities in 2014 in line with the Action Plan against Counterfeiting for 2011-2015 and on the basis of Government Decree 287/2010. (XII. 16.). The Board operates different sections such as the section against art forgery, the section against the counterfeiting of medicines, the enforcement section as well as the industrial and commercial section (with sub-sections in the fields of online trade, automotive industry and the environment). The Working Group on Awareness Raising is going to start its work as of 2015.
Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
In 2014 National Board Against Counterfeiting extended its activities to new areas and ensured the cooperation of new partners in the fight against counterfeiting; furthermore it organized and participated in numerous awareness raising events. It was again present at two festivals which drew huge audiences: in the Valley of Arts and at the SZIGET (Island) Festivals. The Valley of Arts Festival was attended by 140,000 visitors; NBAC was present there for 10 days and focussed on presenting the dangers of counterfeit objects. At the Island Festival NBAC, with the support of its European partner organization, the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, set up a ‘No Fake!’ tent, where Hungarian experts on counterfeiting gave presentations to those interested among the 413,000 visitors. NBAC shared its experiences of the Island Festival at the plenary session of the Observatory by showing a publicity film, while some notable results of NBAC were published in the quarterly newsletters of the Observatory.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
In 2014 the number of international trade mark applications (under the Madrid system) aimed at Hungary was 1599, which is less by 25.5% than in the previous year. The slow decrease in the past years is due to the fact that foreign applicants have been turning to the Community trade mark system in order to cover a larger territory. In 2014 more than 117 thousand Community trade mark applications extending also to Hungary were filed and 103 thousand Community trade marks were registered. The activity of the Hungarian applicants also increased, 534 such applications were filed. Moreover, the domestic applicants filed 207 international (under the Madrid system) trade mark applications.
Main figures of trade mark applications aimed at Hungary under international cooperations and filed following the national route (2010-2014)
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
International trade mark applications | |||||
International trade mark applications (under the Madrid system) | 2 374 | 2 117 | 2 102 | 2 139 | 1 599 |
Community trade mark applications | 98 217 | 105 857 | 107 960 | 114 267 | 117 456 |
National trade mark applications | |||||
Domestic trade mark applications | 3 447 | 3 772 | 4 177 | 3 428 | 3 489 |
Foreign trade mark applications | 446 | 425 | 422 | 429 | 392 |
Applications filed following the national route in total | 3 923 | 4 197 | 4 599 | 3 857 | 3 881 |
In 2014 the number of trade mark applications following the national route was 3881, which is a 0.6% increase compared to the previous year. 90% of these applications were filed by domestic applicants. The activity of domestic applicants grew; it exceeded the figure of the previous year by 1.8%. The number of foreign applications filed directly at HIPO was around 400, similarly to the previous years. 15% of the foreign applicants were from Switzerland, 13% from the United States and 7% from the United Kingdom.
Only 28% of the trade mark applications following the national route were filed by individuals, that is mainly institutions (economic organisations) filed applications to obtain trade mark protection. In case of foreign applications more than 90% were filed by institutions.
Figures of trade marks valid in Hungary (2010-2014)
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
Valid national trade marks | 52 061 | 53 973 | 56 130 | 55 942 | 55 813 |
Valid international trade marks (under the Madrid system) | 141 069 | 121 145 | 121 299 | 112 684 | 108 487 |
Registered Community trade marks* | 699 030 | 792 866 | 888 495 | 986 569 | 1 090 346 |
*Accumulated amount of all registered protections, irrespective of renewal
Breakdown of valid national trade marks by the countries of origin of right holders (2014)
Austria, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Hungary
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
In 2014 the HIPO received 24 international applications concerning appellations of origin. At the end of last year 830 international appellations of origin and 47 geographical indications were in the national registry. The number of valid Community protections was 1255; of them 14 originated from Hungary. They were, among others, the sweet pepper of Szentes, the paprika of Kalocsa, Hungarian grey cattle meat, sausage of Csaba, sausage of Gyula, onion of Makó, salami of Szeged, salami of Budapest.
The number of national trade marks valid in Hungary was 55 813 at the end of last year, which is around the same level than in the previous years. In addition, the number of valid international (under the Madrid system) trade marks is 108 thousand. The total number of registered Community trade marks also extending to Hungary exceeded 1 million last year.
62% of the right holders of registered national trade marks were Hungarian, 38% of them were foreigners, mainly from the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and Japan.
Right holders having the most valid registered national trade marks are Richter Gedeon Plc., Egis Pharmaceuticals Plc., Glaxo Group, a Borsodi Brewery Ltd. and Magyar Telekom Plc.
The number of right holders having a trade mark being more than a hundred years old is above 40. They are for example the German DaimlerChrysler, Kodak and Telefunken, the American Johnson & Johnson and the Hungarian Richter Gedeon Plc.
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
See statistics in Annex.
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK 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
How to protect TM: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-vedjem-a-szellemi-tulajdonomat/hogyan-vedjem-a-megjelolesemet
Guides and Forms: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/novenyfajta-oltalom/nemzeti-bejelentes/urlapok-dijak
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
http://epub.hpo.hu/e-aktabetekintes/?lang=HU
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
Nice Classification and Vienna Classification systems are used.
Nice Classification: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-tajekozodhatok-a-honlapon/adatbazisok/iparjogvedelmi-osztalyozasi-rendszerek/nizzai
Vienna Classification: http://classifications.mszh.hu/vienna/index.htm
Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, color mark, etc.)
Other activities
III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
GAZETTE: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/szabadalmi-kozlony-es-vedjegyertesito
E-SEARCH for internal use, covering the public and non-public data.
E-SEARCH for the public: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vedjegy/hogyan-kutassunk-az-adatbazisokban/e-kutatasPlease insert your reply here
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.
Web-based GAZETTE is published twice a month: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/szabadalmi-kozlony-es-vedjegyertesito
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
ACSEPTO
E-SEARCH for internal use covering the public and non-public data.
E-SEARCH for the public: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vedjegy/hogyan-kutassunk-az-adatbazisokban/e-kutatas
MADRID System, ROMARIN: http://www.wipo.int/romarin
Office for Harmonisation int he Internal Market (BHPP)
eSearh plus: https://oami.europa.eu/eSearch/
TMview: https://www.tmdn.org/tmview/welcome.html?lang=hu
TMclass: http://tmclass.tmdn.org/ec2/
Nice Classification: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-tajekozodhatok-a-honlapon/adatbazisok/iparjogvedelmi-osztalyozasi-rendszerek/nizzai
Vienna Classification: http://classifications.mszh.hu/vienna/index.htm
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
E-SEARCH for the public: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vedjegy/hogyan-kutassunk-az-adatbazisokban/e-kutatas
MADRID System, ROMARIN: http://www.wipo.int/romarin
Office for Harmonisation int he Internal Market (BHPP)
eSearh plus: https://oami.europa.eu/eSearch/
TMview: https://www.tmdn.org/tmview/welcome.html?lang=hu
TMclass: http://tmclass.tmdn.org/ec2/
Nice Classification: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-tajekozodhatok-a-honlapon/adatbazisok/iparjogvedelmi-osztalyozasi-rendszerek/nizzai
Vienna Classification: http://classifications.mszh.hu/vienna/index.htm
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
E-dossier: http://epub.hpo.hu/e-aktabetekintes/?lang=HU for information purposes.
Certified legal status information can be available for a fee.
Other sources
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
The IT system provided the necessary background for the Office’s official and service activity, and supported its tasks related to e-governance. The system supports 135 different services or service families altogether. Out of these 69 service families provide direct support for the performance of the Office’s official and central tasks, and an additional 66 services support the operational, service management, information security and ISO certification objectives of the previously mentioned functions.
In order to ensure a higher level of information security, in 2014 the Office prepared once again a risk assessment analysis of its electronic information systems and adopted a plan to reduce the risks. It classified its systems into security categories in accordance with the relevant legal provisions, and took the necessary steps in order to increase the level of security in the Office.
The IT activity of the Office is made easier by the fact that two of the three certifications of the Office belong to the IT field: the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 Information Security Management and the ISO/IEC 20000-1:2013 IT Services Management Systems.
The aim of the SZEMAFOR (‘Modular Data Base and Process Management System for IP Protection’) programme is to replace the crucial IT business management system of the Office with a new electronic system. The SZEMAFOR project was started in 2012 and financed partly from EU funds, but it was stopped by the Office for objective scheduling reasons; in June 2014 it was re-started under the name of SZEMAFOR programme within a new framework and exclusively with internal financing. So far all the official business processes of HIPO have been electronically mapped and the possible introduction of electronic payment is being considered. The digitalization of official documents continued as well: approximately 27,000 documents were digitalized in 2014.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
Unix Tru64 server
Linux server
Netware server
MS Windows server
VMware ESX
Oracle VM/RAC
ASA VPN
ZORP
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
The Unified Administrative System of the Office comprise the bibliographic and image data, the documents and the official letters that belong to the different intellectual property rights.
The public web-based databases GAZETTE, IP-SEARCH, E-REGISTER, E-DOSSIER are also used by the Examiners. The IP-SEARCH database has an internal version for internal use with the public and non-public data.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
The Unified Administrative System of the Office is used for file building, which covers all industrial property titles of protection. It is a real-time updated system and has a daily backup storage.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
The Unified Administrative System of the Office comprise the bibliographic and image data, the documents and the official letters that belong to the different intellectual property rights.
The public web-based databases GAZETTE, IP-SEARCH, E-REGISTER, E-DOSSIER are also used by the Examiners. The IP-SEARCH database has an internal version for internal use with the public and non-public data.
Other matters
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
Office's library (if deals with trademark information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
Accessible databases:
HUNTÉKA Onlene Catalog: http://hunteka.asp.hunteka.hu/hipo/index.jsp;jsessionid=0C33EADC538177502CCB010CBBB3EF80?lang=en
E-SEARCH: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vedjegy/hogyan-kutassunk-az-adatbazisokban/e-kutatas
Nice Classification: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-tajekozodhatok-a-honlapon/adatbazisok/iparjogvedelmi-osztalyozasi-rendszerek/nizzai
Vienna Classification: http://classifications.mszh.hu/vienna/index.htm
MADRID System, ROMARIN: http://www.wipo.int/romarin
Office for Harmonisation int he Internal Market (BHPP)
eSearh plus: https://oami.europa.eu/eSearch/
TMview: https://www.tmdn.org/tmview/welcome.html?lang=hu
TMclass: http://tmclass.tmdn.org/ec2/
The customer service of HIPO received a record amount¸ 25 514, of enquiries. The total number of enquiries exceeded the figure of the previous year by 14%. A large part of the requests for information was received by phone: 10 600 enquiries, which is a 15% increase. Both the number of enquiries in person (more than 5600) and by fax or letter (461) decreased by 14%, while the number of enquiries by e-mail (1527) is at the same level of the previous year. The number of enquiries for public data on industrial property also grew: in 5059 cases the enquiry needed information from databases, which is the double of such enquiries received in the previous year. The customers enquiring about public data had the opportunity, as part of information provision, to better learn the use of databases and to learn how to use them individually.
Most of the enquiries (5910) requested information on trade marks, similarly to the previous years. Other important fields are patents and general information: in 2014 HIPO received 2351 and 1970 such enquiries.
The customer service received 98 enquiries from other authorities, nearly three-quarters of them were submitted by the National Tax and Customs Administration and concerned trade marks (60).
HIPAvilon also takes part in the customer service functions of HIPO by maintaining the relations with customers in order to gain new applicants and customers.
In addition to the free of charge services of information provision, the domestic customers are offered advanced level IP services against payment. They include, as from 1 February 2013, “express trade mark filtering”. The services against payment of HIPAvilon for patent and trade mark search, as well as its services for IP audit and IP valuation are of great help. In 2014 HIPAvilon received 85 such orders.
Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
IP PANORAMA Multimedia information package for small and medium-sized enterprises for extension of their intellectual property knowledge:
http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/szabadalom/ip-panorama
Start-up Guide: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vallalkozoknak/hogyan-kezdjek-hozza/start-up-guide
AIDA Light: Assessment and Improvement integrateD Approach: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vallalkozoknak/hogyan-kezdjek-hozza/aida
Partner Search: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vallalkozoknak/partnerkereso
Tenders: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vallalkozoknak/palyazatok
IP Valuation Forum: http://ipvaluation.hipo.gov.hu/
Information nationwide:
Our partners
Other intellectual property sites
http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vallalkozoknak/informacio-orszagszerte
etc, see: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-vedjem-a-szellemi-tulajdonomat/hogyan-vedjem-a-megjelolesemet
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
Cooperation with higher education
Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Eötvös Loránd University, University of Miskolc, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, University of West Hungary, Óbuda University, University of Pécs, Széchenyi István University, Szent István University, University of Applied Sciences, Budapest, College of Nyíregyháza.
As separate subject, lectures on intellectual property were held in 11 institutions of higher education. Knowledge on intellectual property was taught at 7 universities, connected to subjects including knowledge on business/technology/law/social and/or natural science.
Improving awareness of enterprises
The enlargement of knowledge on industrial property and copyright, the improvement of awareness on intellectual property of enterprises – especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) – are objectives of high importance. In case of these parties it is essential that they can have personal consultation not only at the headquarters in Budapest but they also can find information points or events close to them, in their regions, where they can receive information. In this spirit, the relations with partners continued to enlarge in 2014. HIPO cooperated with 16 chambers of commerce and industry in counties and towns, 6 PATLIB centres, 7 regional innovation agencies and 2 professional organisations (HITA, SEED) in programs related to awareness raising.
In the framework of the VIVACE program improving the knowledge on industrial property of enterprises HIPO participated in the preparation, organisation and accomplishment of 18 events on awareness raising in and outside Budapest. The program was financed mainly by the projects of OHIM and EPO and from the sources of IPorta project supported by the European Commission.
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
Education on Intellectual Property
The courses on industrial property and the education on intellectual property in institutions of higher education are important fora of education and awareness raising in Hungary. They significantly contributed to the improvement of the culture of industrial property, to the education of future IP experts and to awareness raising. HIPAvilon Ltd. also took active part with providing technical support.
The numbers of classes of IP education and of the participants have been increasing since 2012. In 2014 the number of classes was 907, the number of participants was 1991. These figures are more by 23% and by 31% respectively than in the previous year.
10 persons participated in the basic level industrial property course, 56 persons finished the intermediate level industrial property course and passed the final exams, moreover, 49 participants of the advanced level industrial property course passed the exams successfully. Besides the employees of HIPO, the representatives of law and patent attorney offices, institutions of higher education, pharmaceutical companies and other enterprises participated in the trainings. The courses on demand were mainly attended by employees of the National Tax and Customs Administration, researchers of the institutions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and representatives of creative industries.
The education of intellectual property in the form of e-learning was available at Budapest University of Technology and Economics, University of Debrecen, Károly Róbert University College and College of Szolnok.
39 students from 12 universities and colleges applied to the – renewed – Ujvári János Award for diploma works announced for graduating students of higher education. 13 of them were awarded for their high level work.
The comprehensive education project attached to the curricula framework for the students of the primary and secondary schools and their teachers was continued. As a result, the first package of lesson plans was prepared, which is accessible free of charge on the website of HIPO. As part of the project for the implementation of knowledge on intellectual property in public education, HIPO announced a quiz game and contest for designing logo entitled Invent it/find it out/find it! for secondary school students.
Other activities
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
International exchange of trademark information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
HIPO is one of the participating offices in the TMview.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information
IMPROVING IP CULTURE, PROVIDING INFORMATION
The partners and customers of HIPO, who are interested in intellectual property, can choose from a variety of services or programs of customer service, information provision and education. Through these tools HIPO improved the conditions of awareness, information provision and education of industrial property and copyright culture in Hungary.
Improving awareness of enterprises
The enlargement of knowledge on industrial property and copyright, the improvement of awareness on intellectual property of enterprises – especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) – are objectives of high importance. In case of these parties it is essential that they can have personal consultation not only at the headquarters in Budapest but they also can find information points or events close to them, in their regions, where they can receive information. In this spirit, the relations with partners continued to enlarge in 2014. HIPO cooperated with 16 chambers of commerce and industry in counties and towns, 6 PATLIB centres, 7 regional innovation agencies and 2 professional organisations (HITA, SEED) in programs related to awareness raising.
In the framework of the VIVACE program improving the knowledge on industrial property of enterprises HIPO participated in the preparation, organisation and accomplishment of 18 events on awareness raising in and outside Budapest. The program was financed mainly by the projects of OHIM and EPO and from the sources of IPorta project supported by the European Commission.
A survey questionnaire was prepared on the awareness on industrial property of Hungarian SMEs with the involvement of the Institute for Economic and Enterprise Research of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in respect of the circle of enterprises already observed in 2005 and 2009. According to 435 answers, although the level of knowledge on intellectual property has become better but the use of industrial property systems has declined, which draws the attention – in compliance with the Jedlik Plan – to the importance of the development of services.
See „Outstanding Events” in Annual Report:
Assistance to developing countries
Other activities