Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2024 submitted by Uganda Registration Services Bureau(URSB)

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URLs in responses should meet the following requirements:

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

Information on the following topics is desired:

In the calendar year 2024, focus was on universities and Research and Development institutions for Patent information activities with Activities implemented through the Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs)

URSB implemented and handed over to a beneficiary community, an appropriate technology developed through the use of patent documents as part of the Bilateral Project on Appropriate Technology for Uganda (BPoAT) supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a project that culminated in the development of a business plan for two appropriate technologies in February 2023. URSB implemented the business plan with a pilot at Mengo Senior School, the selected beneficiary community.

2024 Patent applications declined by 38% compared to 2023, while there was a 100% increase in patent grants compared to 2023. Additionally, 2024 Utility model applications grew by 6% while grants declined by 66% compared to 2023.

URSB annual report: https://ursb.go.ug/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ursb-annual-report-2023-2024.pdf

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

While paper filings may be accepted, URSB provides support to applicants for online filing through: https://iponline.ursb.go.ug/services.html, URSB also accepts applications received by email to ip@ursb.go.ug

Applications may be searched through: https://iponline.ursb.go.ug on the link to "view register"

Uganda uses the International Patent Classification (IPC) for classification of patents and utility models.

III. SOURCES OF PATENT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

The office publishes bibliographic data in the Uganda Gazette https://uppc.go.ug/egazettes.

Data on URSB is also available under ARIPO:http://regionalip.aripo.org/wopublish-search/public/home;jsessionid=CE4FA4B7E6B30A595DF28BD45721A8B6?0&0. 

The Uganda Gazette is the official government publication in Uganda, published weekly with occasional extraordinary publications.

Information available to examiners: The office utilizes the ARIPO Patent Database as well as open databases including patentscope, google patents, espacenet.

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

Information on the following topics is desired:

URSB utilizes three systems for IP filing, EUIPO Front office for online filings, the WIPO IPAS for processing applications and the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) to store documents.

WIPO Industrial Property Administration System (IPAS), a system provided by the World Intellectual Property System for Administration of Industrial Property. All these system have the advantage that they are offered free of charge to the office and have specifically enhance application timeline.

URSB also utilizes WIPO publish to ease viewing the IP register.

Possible improvements include to enable the preparation and editing of reports within the system and to automate timeline reminders in the system. 

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

Information on the following topics is desired:

URSB is currently implementing Technology and innovation Support Centers in 37 host institutions. The TISCs are hosted at Universities and research and development institutions.

URSB has also partnered with public and private institutions including universities, research institutions and professional bodies to conduct search promotion activities.

VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

Uganda Participated in:

  1. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Regional Meeting on Building an Integrated Sub-Regional Technology And Innovation Support Center (TISC) Network, Harare, Zimbabwe (June 6 And 7, 2024)

  2. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) International Patent Drafting Training Program June 2024
  3. Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Training at the Austrian Patent Office in Vienna, Austria from 26th-30th September 2024.

VII. ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WIPO STANDARDS CONCERNING PATENT INFORMATION

Note: For each Standard listed below, please enter one of the following values: 

  • "Implemented";
  • "On implementation phase";
  • "Planning to implement";  and
  • "No plan to implement"

WIPO Standard ST.3: Two-letter codes for the representation of states, other entities and organizations

Implemented

Two-letter codes are applied in systems and naming of different countries in official codes.

WIPO Standard ST.6: Numbering of published patent documents

Planning to implement

The current number included non-numerical aspects as it relates to the patent application numbers, it is planned for implementation of ST.6.

WIPO Standard ST.9: Bibliographic data on and relating to patents and SPCs

Implemented

Currently Uganda uses INID codes in the bibliographic data on and relating to patents.

WIPO Standard ST.10/C: Presentation of bibliographic data components

On implementation phase

Partially being implemented to be improved.

WIPO Standard ST.13: Numbering of applications for IPRs

On implementation phase

Partially being implemented

WIPO Standard ST.14: References cited in patent documents

Implemented 

References cited using INID codes and in order of recommended precedence per standard.

WIPO Standard ST.16: Identification of different kinds of patent documents 

Planning to implement

Implementation is planned for next reporting period

WIPO Standard ST.18: Patent gazettes and other patent announcement journals

Planning to implement  

The office currently doesn't publish its own patent gazette.

WIPO Standard ST.26: Presentation of nucleotide and amino acid sequence listings using XML

Planning to implement 

The office is yet to receive specific applications requiring this standard

WIPO Standard ST.27: Recommendation for the Exchange of Patent Legal Status Data

Planning to implement

The office has not yet commenced exchange of information on Patent Legal Status

WIPO Standard ST.36: Processing of patent information using XML

Planning to implement

The office is planning to review formats for patent information 

WIPO Standard ST.37: Recommendation for an Authority File of Published Patent Documents

Planning to implement  

Not yet implemented

WIPO Standard ST.50: Corrections, alterations and supplements relating to patent information

Planning to implement

Not yet implemented

WIPO Standard ST.90: Recommendation for processing and communicating Intellectual Property data using Web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)

Planning to implement

Not yet implemented

WIPO Standard ST.91: Recommendations on digital three-dimensional (3D) models and 3D images

No plan to implement

Not yet implemented

WIPO Standard ST.92: Recommendations on the Data Package Format for the Electronic Exchange of Priority Documents

No plan to implement

No plan to implement

WIPO Standard ST.96: Processing of Industrial Property information using XML

Planning to implement

Not yet implemented

Other WIPO Standards Related to Patents

Note: Please list any other WIPO Standards related to patents (not mentioned above) that your Office or Organization has implemented, is currently in the process of implementing, or plans to implement in the future.  For each Standard, please indicate the implementation status with an option: Implemented, On implementation Phase or Planning to Implement.

VIII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS

Please include any other relevant information here.

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.