Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2014 submitted by State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova
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
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
To streamline the work on examination of trademarks it was requested the creation of a Unique Search Program that allows searching in both National Trademarks DB and International Trademarks DB. During the year, there were carried out works on the development and testing of a common DB (jointly with the Informatics Department). The unique search program DoRa was implemented on the basis of Order No. 155 of 17. 09.2014.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
During the year 2014, AGEPI received 5511 trademark registration applications, with 359 (6%) less than in the previous year. Of the total number of applications, by national way entered 2073 (38%) and by international way − 3438 (62%). On 31 December 2014, the total number of trademark registration applications received throughout the AGEPI activity amounted to 109,172, including 39,097 applications (36%) filed by national way and 70,075 (64%) − by international way. On the whole, 78 percent of the total of applications proceeded from foreign applicants and 22 percent – from national ones.
The number of applications filed by national applicants (by 2,4%) and foreign applicants (by 7,4 %) decreased, as compared with the previous year. At the same time, the national applicants registered a percentage of 27 and the foreign ones a percentage of 73 of the total number of applications filed in 2014 due to the fact that under the Madrid System procedure filed applications only by the foreign applicants. The ratio is reversed in the case of applications filed under the national procedure, where most of applications – 1509 applications (73%) came from applicants from the Republic of Moldova, and 564 (27%) − from foreign ones.
Most applications filed by the national applicants − 1219 (81%) − proceed from natural or legal person with the domicile or headquarters in Chisinau, 29 (2%) − from Ialoveni, 27 (2%) − from Straseni, 1% of applications belong to applicants from ATU Gagauzia, Criuleni, Causeni, Taraclia, Floresti, and the rest of circa 10% of applications − to applicants from other units administrative-territorial of the country.
Under the national procedure were filed applications from 48 countries. An increased interest to Republic of Moldova showed the applicants from the United States of America, who filed 9% of applications, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain (2% each), Germany, India, Japan, Ukraine (1% each), the applicants from other countries accumulating in sum 10% of applications.
Under the Madrid System procedure applications proceeded from 60 countries, most of them proceeding from Russian Federation (13%), Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) (11%), Germany (10%), Switzerland, Turkey (7% each), Italy, United States of America Ukraine (5% each), China, France, Hungary, (4% each), etc.
Alltogether, trademark registration applications filed with AGEPI in 2014 proceed from applicants from 78 countries (with 2 less than in 2013), the largest share belonging to those from the Republic of Moldova.
In the applications filed by national way, the most requested classes of the International Classification of Goods and Services (ICGS) remain to be: class 35 (advertising, business management services, etc.) − in 639 (31%) applications; class 05 (drugs, pharmaceuticals, etc.) − in 331 applications (on the decrease by 1 percentage points compared with 2013); class 33 (alcoholic beverages) – in 280 applications (on the decrease by 3 percentage points compared with 2013); followed by classes 41 (education, entertainment, sporting activities) – in 215 applications; 30 (sugar, flour, preparations made from cereals, etc.) − in 187 applications; 43 (services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation) – in 185 applications; 25 (clothing, footwear, etc.) − in 160 applications; 03 (bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use) – in 140 applications.
Under the international procedure, on top of preferences remains class 05, requested in 885 applications, followed by classes 09 (various apparatus and instruments, calculating machines, etc.) − in 516 applications and 35 (advertising, business management services, etc.) – in 511 applications, 03 (cosmetics, bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use) – in 462 applications, 30 (coffee, pastry and confectionery) – in 458 applications, 25 (clothing, footwear, etc.) – in 316 applications. It should be mentioned that both classes are on the top and the frequency of their request did not undergone great changes compared to the previous year.
During the year under review, it registered almost the same number of trademark registration applications was examined as in the previous year – 735, including 2101 filed under the national procedure and 3634 – under the international one. The substantive examination on the national way do not differ from 2013: the share of trademark registration applications, accepted totally or partially, constituted 81%, the share of applications for which were issued provisional refusals for all products and/or services requested under the national procedure being of 19%. As regard the international procedure, the share of trademark registration applications, accepted totally or partially, increased by 4 percentages, constituting 92%(compared with 88% in 2013). Consequently, the share of applications in respect of which were issued provisional refusals for all products and/or services requested for registration under the international procedure decreased in the same proportion − up to 8% (compared to 12% in 2013).Monitoring of the grounds for refusal attests that 70% of those relating to applications filed under the national procedure and 84% of those relating to applications filed under the Madrid System are based on relative grounds (conflict with identical or similar trademarks protected on behalf of other persons for identical or similar goods/services, conflict with other intellectual property rights); 34% and, respectively, 9% of refusals were issued on the ground that the requested signs were deceitful or liable to mislead; 27% and, respectively, 6% of refusals − on the ground of lack of distinctiveness of signs requested for registration. In the year under review, 2151 applications were examined on compliance with the conditions for filing, of these 2022 applications ( 94%) were entered in the National Register of Trademark Registration Applications, and 129 applications ( 6%) did not meet the conditions for filing set by the Law.
In 2014, AGEPI, as the office of the country of origin, checked and sent to WIPO 84 applications for international registration of trademarks, filed under the Madrid System – with 23 more than in the previous year, including 71 new applications and 13 – for territorial extension.
In the applications for international registration filed by national applicants, most frequently are designated: Ukraine (in 36% of applications), Romania and Russian Federation (33% each), China (32%), Belarus (31%). It should be noted that in the reporting period national applicants sought protection under the Madrid System in 60 countries, among them are counted countries like Algeria, India, Morocco, Mexico, Mongolia, Vietnam, etc.
Simultaneous with the new applications, there were also filed trademark registration renewal applications: in 2014 was supposed to expire the term of validity of 9315 trademarks (5289 - international and 4026 - registered under the national procedure). As a result, it was sought the renewal of 4633 trademarks (by 1681/57% more than the previous year). Most renewals 4282 (92%) − were requested by foreign owners, including 2504 − under the international procedure and 1778 − under the national one. National owners requested renewal of 351 trademarks.
In the year under review, 1576 trademark registration certificates were issued (with a increase by 16% than in 2013), national owners obtaining 901 certificates (57%) and foreign ones – 675 (43%).
As in the case of trademark registration applications, most certificates issued to national owners belong to persons having their domicile or headquarter in Chisinau − 83%. At a very big distance from them are owners from Criuleni, ATU Gagauzia Balti, Floresti (2% each), the remainder eleven percent belonging to owners from other administrative-territorial units.
In 2014, 1988 trademark registration renewal certificates were issued, of which 337 (18%) − to national owners and 1621 (82%) − to foreign ones. Compared with the previous year, the number of issued renewal certificates increased by 1334 (204%).
From the start of its activity and until 31 December 2014, AGEPI issued 26,564 trademark registration certificates, valid being 19,802 (75%) certificates, including 6,447 – renewed, the latter constituting 33% of the number of valid certificates. The significant difference between the number of applications for registration and the number of issued certificates is explained by the fact that AGEPI does not issue certificates of registration for international trademarks.
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
The most important office notices and news regarding the trademarks and other IP objects are provided directly on our website with free access www.agepi.gov.md. Detailed information on trademarks and geographical indications could be found accessing the following links: http://www.dev.agepi.gov.md/en/trademarks/presentation, http://www.dev.agepi.gov.md/en/gi-ao-tsg/overview.
As regard the general information about IP objects, their protection and related events organized in the view to promote them on the national and international level, the statistics data and their impact to the national economy, could be found in the Annual Report, published by AGEPI every year and distributed on the official web page http://www.dev.agepi.gov.md/en/publication/50.
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
During the reporting period, AGEPI persevered with the information and tuition of civil society, the development, training and upgrading of staff in the field of IP. Thus, in 2014 were organized 55 training/upgrading/information events in the field of intellectual property (conferences, seminars, roundtables, training courses) (31 – in Chisinau and 24 – in the territory), including: 18 – for business environment, 6 – for academic environment, 4 – in public institutions, 9 – in educational institutions and 18 – in libraries. Approximately 753 economic agents, including from SMS sector, were familiarized with the role of IP as an economic instrument, the modality of registration and use of IPOs, ways of enforcement of IPRs, etc.
AGEPI attended the event as co-organizer of the section “Intellectual Property - A Tool for Business Development”, organized by the Business and Business Administration Department of the AESM.
During 2014, AGEPI, in collaboration with ODIMM, has organized a seminar “Trademarks, Industrial Designs - Effective Tools to Enhance the Competitiveness of Enterprises”, on November 20, 2014. Their purpose was tuition and training of representatives of business incubators, scientific-technological parks and innovation incubators in the republic on intellectual property, and development of research and documentation skills in the national and international main information sources, in particular in relation to trademarks, industrial designs.
It should be noted that, during 2014, AGEPI specialists organized a series of information and training seminars for economic agents, participating in the national exhibitions organized at the IEC “Moldexpo” JSC, on the protection of intellectual property in the Republic of Moldova and the role of IP in developing a business, among which should be mentioned the exhibitions “Made in Moldova”, “Moldagrotech” and “Food & Drinks. Food Technology. Packaging. Depot”. During these seminars were presented reports that included themes: “Intellectual Property - Support for the Stable Development of the Enterprise”, “Trademark - Effective Tool to Promote Business”, “Industrial Designs for Successful Business”, “Geographical Indications / Appellations of Origin - New Opportunities for Your Enterprise”, etc.
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
To face the current challenges determined by the information age, intellectual property offices used different ways to meet the needs of users. Thus, the experience of the World Intellectual Property Organization, and also of the national IP offices from abroad in the implementation of information technologies for submission/receipt of applications for registration of intellectual property objects in electronic format (EF), was the basis of the decision taken by the AGEPI on the implementation of the procedure for online filing of IPO applications and related documents, it becoming one of the priority objectives of the Agency. In this context, in 2014, AGEPI completed the Project “Development and implementation of Software for online filing of IPO applications”, which was launched in 2011 and was implemented by stages. In the period under review, it was successfully tested, parameterized and implemented the Electronic Service (ES) e-AGEPI “Online Filing of IPO Applications”. Filing and payment procedures were divided and implemented in the modules “Receipt/Sending of Applications” and “Online Payment of Fees”, which include the calculation of fees, generation of the account for payment, request of facilities, etc. It was also created the web interface and the functional for the module “Patent Attorney”, which allows of sending IPO registration applications in the name of the applicant, and payment of fees. At the same time, within the system was created the module “Statistics”, for generation of statistical reports. In the e-agepi ES were implemented the following instruments: digital signature, mobile signature, electronic signature e-AGEPI, including the MSign Governmental Service and the Mpay Electronic Payment Governmental Service, which allows the payment of AGEPI services with any instrument of payment (credit card, internet banking, payment terminals, account for payment). It was carried out the monitoring of information systems for proper operation of the portal and its security.
It should be mentioned in this context that in order to help the user there were developed and integrated into the e-AGEPI ES the “Guide for Using the Electronic Service for Online Filing of IPO Applications” (in Romanian, Russian, English), and were edited three quick reference guides: “Guide for Quick Use of e-AGEPI ES”, “Online Payment of Fees” and “Patent Attorney’s Guide”.
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
During the year under review, the AGEPI trademarks’ examiners have applied during their activity the following classifications:
-The 10th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification) starting on 1st January 2014;
- The 7th edition of the International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), starting on 1st January 2013
(ii) Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied
The electronic classification systems to check the classification symbols furnished by applicant and which are contained in the lists of goods and/or services;
The electronic classification system offered by WIPO and electronic version of the Nice Classification translated into Romanian (offered by Romanian Patent Office (OSIM) with the purpose to check the conformity of goods and services to the Nice Classification and of the figurative elements to the Vienna Classification
Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, color mark, etc.)
Non-traditional trademarks are protected in the Republic of Moldova under the Law 38/2008 on protection of trademarks. The requirements for non-traditional trademarks are the same as those for the traditional trademarks. Any graphically representable designations may be registered as trademarks and may serve to distinguish the goods and/or services of one natural person or legal entity to be distinguished from the goods and/or services of other natural persons or legal entities ( in the Republic of Moldova on the national were registered two sound marks and more than a thousand of three-dimensional trademarks).
Simultaneously, in 2014, was elaborated the draft amending of the Law no. 38-XVI / 2008 on the protection of trademarks where the non-traditional trademarks (sound, smell, touch), are expressly mentioned at signs that can be registered as trademarks without requiring to be capable of graphic representation
Other activities
Obligation for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification applied.
It’s not obligatory for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification applied but is highly recommended.
Bibliographic data and processing for search purposes
Data included in the WIPO Standard ST.60.
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)
The main publications used by the National Office to inform the public and interested person about the trademarks are the following:
- The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property Protection (BOPI);
- The Trademark Register;
- National Register of Applications for the Registration of Trademarks;
- The Protected Geographical Indications Register;
- The Protected Appellations of Origin Register;
- National Register of Applications for the Registration of Geographical Indications;
- National Register of Applications for the Registration of Appellations of Origin
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.
The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI) which appears with a monthly periodicity, on paper carrier (ISSN 1810-7095), CD-ROM (ISSN 1857-050X) and online on the AGEPI website http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/48
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
BOPI is available on AGEPI webpage and the public has an unlimited access to the publication.
There are 3 chapters related to trademarks:
Chapter III contains:
- Applications for registration;
- Examined applications for trademark registration;
- List of registered trademarks;
- List of renewed trademarks.
Chapter IV contains:
- Applications for registration of appellations of origin of goods submitted under the Lisbon Agreement;
- Applications for registration of appellations of origin of goods or of geographical indications submitted by national procedure;
- List of registered international appellations of origin.
- List of registered national appellations of origin and/or geographical indications.
Chapter VI contains various types of notices referring to all amendments occurred to the legal status of the protected industrial property objects (List of amendments, List of assignment agreements, Errata, etc), the half-yearly subject indexes of registered trademarks.
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
In 2014 regulatory-legislative activity in the field of intellectual property was focused on continuation of previously initiated actions, and also initiation of new drafts in order to improve and harmonize the legal framework necessary for optimal functioning of the intellectual property protection system in the country.
Thus, in the reference period by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldovan was adopted the Law No. 114 of 07.03.2014 on State Agency on Intellectual Property, expressly governing the general principles regarding the National Intellectual Property Office (AGEPI) and its status, core activities, extrajudicial examination of disputes, evaluation of IPOs and representation in the field of intellectual property. In order to implement the provisions of this law there were initiated several draft normative acts, especially aimed at reorganizing the AGEPI, amending and supplementing the Government Decision No. 774 of 13.8.1997 on the fees for legal services in the field of protection of intellectual property objects, it was also continued the procedure for promotion of draft Government Decision approving the Regulation of the Mediation Board of AGEPI.
To implement the normative prescriptions of Government Decision No. 880 of 22.11.2012 on the National Intellectual Property Strategy until 2020, regarding the implementation of its goals in three stages, based on the Action Plans developed and approved by the Government for each stage, by AGEPI in common with the authorities concerned was developed the draft Government Decision on approval of the Action Plan for the years 2015-2017 on the implementation of the mentioned Strategy.
In order to regulate and improve the mechanism for granting permission to use the official or historical name of the state in trademarks and industrial designs, by Government Decision No. 104 of 02.10.2014 were made a number of amendments and additions to the Government Decision No. 1425 of 02.12.2003 on the mode and conditions for granting permission to use the official or historical name of the state in the product and/or service trademark.
In 2014, 144 appeals were filed with the Board of Appeals, with 36 (25%) less than the previous year. Of the filed appeals 141 (97.92%) relate to trademarks, including 95 (67.4%) - national trademarks and 46 (32.6%) - international trademarks.
To ensure public access to legal and jurisprudence information in the field of intellectual property, in the reference period as well AGEPI website (http://agepi.gov.md/en/node/6795) was supplemented with new final judgments and irrevocable decisions of the courts on IP-related disputes. In this regard, during 2014, there were published 71 judgments and decisions, their total number amounting to 423, of which 312 relate to trademarks.
Other sources
The AGEPI maintains a complete history of its national and international trademarks files in paper form.
Started with 2003, AGEPI established an electronic archive and until now all paper files, relating to registered national trademarks, have been already scanned. In 2012, AGEPI established an electronic archive on international trademark applications which have been refused.
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
In the period under review, AGEPI developed and implemented the following software products:
- unique search program in DB “Trademarks” and “International Trademarks”, DoRa™;
- Web Services for data exchange between AGEPI DB and e-agepi system for online filing of applications;
- procedure for application of holograph signatures on documents created in the IPO management programs;
- module of the procedure for examination of appeals lodged to the Board of Appeals in the national trademark management program.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
Each expert has a personal computer with LCD monitor and DVD drive. Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 7 is used as operating system. All computers are connected via the 100 Mb/s network into the Microsoft Active Directory 2003 Domain. Agency has a fiber channel link into the internet with 40 Mbps speed foreign traffic and each expert can use internet and has his own official e-mail address.
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
In the same period were administered, updated and improved the databases and their management applications. Among major actions can be highlighted the following:
a) modification of IPO DB structure for storage of information on the electronic file, realization of applications for initiation, completion of the electronic file of IPO, printing and mailing of letters, implementation in the IPO management programs in DB “Trademarks” and “Inventions Protected by Patents and Short-Term Patents“ of the electronic file module.
During the reference period, there were improved and delivered information from:
b) DB “International ID” and “International Trademarks” for WIPO;
c) DB “National Trademarks”, for Thomson Reuters;
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
The examiners use different browsers for search in Internet, dictionaries, atlases and electronic encyclopedias. Moreover, the manual paper search files consist of encyclopedias, dictionaries, special books, periodicals, and a number of other lists and sources. Both the examiner’s search files and documentation at the library are updated on a regular basis.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
In the reference year was implemented and developed a module related to online applications, namely completing, signing and submitting the application; formation of electronic file; sending notifications. Another novelty of the system is the possibility to pay taxes online through the Governmental service for electronic payments Mpay that allows the payment of AGEPI services via several instruments - credit card, e-banking, payment terminals, invoices.
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
Within the Moldavian Office, there is a subdivision named AGEPI library structure which provides information-library services in the field of intellectual property to beneficiaries, including on various aspects related to registration and protection of trademarks.
The AGEPI Library is the depositary of the National Patent Collection of the Republic of Moldova. The Library has a reading room with the equipment necessary to use the information on various media and from various sources, including the Internet. Beneficiaries of services provided by the library are experts and other collaborators of AGEPI, and all interested individuals from other institutions: counselors in intellectual property, researchers, inventors and rationalizers, teachers, students, etc.
At the Library visitors may obtain the following services:
- to consult, subscribe to or to purchase the official publications of AGEPI in the field of intellectual property which cover information on practical aspects related to trademarks and geographical indications, traditional specialties guaranteed, etc:
- to review the BOPI, "Intellectus", "AGEPI INFO", etc., and the collections of laws and methodical literature in the field of intellectual property, CDs edited by AGEPI;
- to get copies of the descriptions of inventions from patents for invention;
- to obtain methodological assistance in searching the information from the electronic DB;
- the library-bibliographic services in "request-offer", "information-express" regime, by complying with the bibliographic, thematic and factual references;
- the opportunity to participate in the local and republican activities on promotion of IP information.
The program for beneficiaries is from 9.00 to 16.00 on Monday to Friday. Days without a program - Saturday and Sunday.
AGEPI Library experts provide to interested persons free of charge access to the national trademarks database as well as to the geographical indications/appellations of origin databases.
Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
In the year under review, AGEPI continued to publish and to distribute on paper carrier, on the basis of mutual agreements with foreign national IP offices and international and European organizations, and also during the main promotion actions organized by AGEPI, a list of periodicals provided by its statute, namely:
- Annual Report AGEPI-2013 in 2 languages (Romanian and English);
- The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI), on a monthly basis (ISSN 1810-7095);
- Collection of communications “AGEPI readings - 2013”;
In the reporting year, four issues of the Journal of Intellectual Property “Intellectus” (ISSN 1810-7079 – on paper carrier) have been published. The edition was accredited in 2009 and reaccredited in 2014 by the National Council for Science and Technological Development of the ASM (NCSTD) in the category “B”, on profiles law, mechanical engineering, biology, chemistry, and economics. The National Council for Accreditation and Attestation (CNAA) is co-publisher of the journal, its specialists supporting a profile column in its pages. In the four issues of the journal were published 76 scientific articles, with a total volume of 486 pages, in Romanian, English and Russian, with abstracts in these 3 languages.In 2014 were updated and reprinted a number of publications in the Collection Library of Intellectual Property, with reference to the protection of intellectual property objects (inventions, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications, appellations of origin and traditional specialties guaranteed, plant varieties), in Romanian and Russian.
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
AGEPI has a constant relation with national institutions in the field, in particular with universities, research centers and innovation support centers. We have signed about 60 national agreements with national institutions, 20 of which are signed with the national universities and 40 with research centers, technology and innovation support centers. To promote the knowledge about the intellectual property and its protection, AGEPI is involved in organization of Round tables, seminars and trainings for the representatives of universities, research and technology centers.
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
In the period under review, AGEPI participated as organizer and coorganizer of a large number of national events aimed to promote the intellectual property and the benefits for its protection. Here we have to mention 18 national exhibitions in the framework of which the AGEPI experts have participated with reports, about 55 seminars, training courses, organized for public and educational institutions, libraries and entrepreneurs.
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)
During the reporting period, AGEPI continued to publish and disseminate the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI), which appears with a monthly periodicity, on paper carrier (ISSN 1810-7095), CD-ROM (ISSN 1857-050X) and online on the AGEPI website, the total number of hits being over 84,198 (compared with 81,856 in 2013). The CD-ROM is sending monthly to the Offices with which AGEPI has signed bilateral cooperation agreement. Through BOPI, users had access to 29 systematized half-yearly indexes of the titles of protection granted in the Republic of Moldova and the annual Index of the normative acts and information materials published in BOPI during 2014.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information
During the 2014 year, trademarks examiners have actively participated in the following international and regional activities:
- The 31st session of the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications - 17 to 21 March 2014, Geneva, Switzerland
- The 9th session of the Working Group on the Development of the Lisbon System (Appellations of Origin) - 23 to 27 June 2014, Geneva, Switzerland
- IP executive week, organized jointly by European Patent Office and Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market - 7 to 11 July 2014, Munich, Germany
- The 10th session of the Working Group on the Development of the Lisbon System (Appellations of Origin) - 27 to 31 october 2014, Geneva, Switzerland
- The 32nd session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications - 24 to 27 November 2014, Geneva, Switzerland
Assistance to developing countries
Every year the developing countries receive assistance to improve the intellectual property field on national level. This assistance is provided by the main international institutions in the field and by the national IP offices with which AGEPI has bilateral cooperation agreements or Memorandum of understanding. In 2014, the AGEPI have successfully participated with the financial assistance (full or partial) of WIPO and other institutions in the following events related to trademarks:
- Seminar organized jointly by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market and Romanian State Office for Patents and Trademarks cooperation in context of Program of convergence and the international cooperation projects - 3 to 5 September 2014, Constanta, Romania
- WIPO Training on trademarks organized by WIPO jointly with IP Office from Norway - 15 to 19 September 2014, Oslo, Norway.
Other activities