Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2023 submitted by Rospatent

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

The 2023 Annual Report (AR) of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) is available in Russian at https://rospatent.gov.ru/content/uploadfiles/otchet-2023-ru.pdf and the English version will be published soon at https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/reports2023.

The goals, objectives and plans of Rospatent are published in Russian in the "Plans" section on its official website, available at https://rospatent.gov.ru/ru/about/plans.

For the new projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, see the AR paragraph 4.3 on pages 59-61 (Russian version).

In addition, the Search Platform was launched and now available both in Russian and English at https://searchplatform.rospatent.gov.ru/.

The advanced approaches and technologies were used for the implementation of the new Rospatent IT infrastructure. Furthermore, the operation processes of the IP Office were harmonized. The data exchange within the infrastructure is based on a single data model in line with international standards. The interconnection between the systems was ensured through the integration bus that allows to further develop the integration platform. The software integration with the Rospatent’s public services was also introduced.

In 2024, Rospatent plans to further develop the created information systems and services, design and implement new technologies in the process of providing the public services, which will allow to reduce the examination pendency.

For the main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year, see the AR paragraph 4.3 on pages 58-60.

In 2023, Rospatent continued filling e-registers with records, including the State Register of Trademarks and Service Marks of the Russian Federation (ESR of TMs), the List of Trademarks Well-known in the Russian Federation (List of WTMs).

As of December 31, 2023, the electronic registers contained the following number of registrations:

ESR of TMs – 932 688;

List of WTMs – 257.

Under the national examination procedure, users can access 1.7 million documents related to trademarks.

For the changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year, see the AR paragraph 2.4 on pages 28-30. The statistical data is also available at https://rospatent.gov.ru/ru/about/stat (in Russian).

Other useful links:

Rospatent news are available at https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/news

Furthermore, the IP Office’s website contains the following sections:

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

The following webpages provide information related to the filing of applications:

Within the framework of the electronic document management system for trademarks, access is provided to the primary materials of applications received in paper and / or electronic form, lists of goods and / or services, designations applied for registration, bibliographic data on applications and versions of documents - incoming and outgoing correspondence signed electronic signature.

For the matters concerning classifications, see the AR paragraph 6.1 on pages 101- 102 and https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/products_services/classifications

In 2023, Rospatent participated in various activities aimed at improving the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification or NCL), and establishing conditions for the use of the new WIPO Standards by Rospatent, including the following:

  • preparation of the official translation of the 12th NCL edition (12-2024) into Russian;
  • translation of terms used in the NCL 12-2024 for the Madrid Goods & Services Manager (MGS) into Russian and sharing these materials with WIPO;
  • preparation of the NCL terms in Russian in a special format to download them in a software package for e-filing of applications for trademark registration in a software package for electronic record-keeping when examining trademark applications;
  • preparation of proposals concerning amendments to the NCL at the 34th session of the Committee of Experts of the Nice Union.

Since 2011, the procedure of automatic electronic classification of the figurative elements of the input stream of images of national trademark and Madrid registration applications submitted from the WIPO International Office, under the sixth edition of the International Classification of Figurative Elements (Vienna Classification) of Trademarks, has been used. This was made possible in 2006 when the SILOIZ system of linguistic description and search for similarities in figurative elements was introduced, itself a sub-system of the automated system, trademarks in force in the Russian Federation.

The results of classification as an additional service are provided to experts when examining claimed trademark designations.

Rospatent participates in the regulatory and method-related settlement of issues in the consideration of applications for registration of non-traditional trademarks, and the publication of corresponding information. Moreover, information received through Rospatent’s involvement in the work of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications is also widely used.

III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

For the main types of publications in the field of trademark information, see the AR paragraph 4.1 on pages 56-57 and 152-153.

The web pages provide information concerning the IP Office’s publications:

In 2023, the following types of notifications covering national and international trademark registrations were published.

The forms of notifications covering trademarks published in the Rospatent Official Gazette, Trademarks, Service Marks, Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin, are listed below (national registration):

  • Change in the denomination, first name, surname or patronymic of a rights owner and/or place of business or residence;
  • Change of contact details of the rightsholder;
  • Reduction of the list of goods and/or services for which a trademark is registered, for the information of the rights owner;
  • Change to the individual elements of a trademark, which do not alter its essential features;
  • State registration of an agreement on alienation of the exclusive right in a trademark for all goods and/or services;
  • State registration of an agreement on alienation of the exclusive right in a trademark for part of the goods and/or services;
  • Segregation of the separate registration of the trademark
  • Changing the range of persons having the collective sign right of use
  • Acknowledgement the trademark as being well-known in Russian Federation
  • Replacement the national registration with international one
  • Replacement the national registration with international one for separate classes
  • Converting trademark into collective mark
  • Converting collective mark into trademark
  • Termination of the trademark legal protection due to the trademark exclusive right expiration
  • Fully invalidated trademark
  • Partially invalidated trademark
  • Full early trademark termination
  • Partial early trademark termination
  • Renewal of the exclusive right to trademark
  • Providing a trademark certificate copy
  • Inclusion of information regarding the responsible patent attorney in the State Register of Trademarks and Service Marks of the Russian Federation
  • Exclusion of information regarding the responsible patent attorney from the State Register of Trademarks and Service Marks
  • State registration of trademark exclusive rights transfer without a contract
  • State registration of trademark exclusive rights pledge (subsequent pledge) under contract
  • State registration of trademark right of use granting under contract
  • State registration of changes concerning trademark exclusive rights under contract alienation
  • State registration of changes concerning trademark right of use under contract granting
  • State registration of changes concerning trademark exclusive rights pledge (subsequent pledge) under contract
  • State registration of trademark right of use under contract termination
  • State registration of the trademark exclusive rights pledge (subsequent pledge) under contract termination
  • Correcting the obvious and technical errors in the entries of the State Register of Trademarks and Service Marks of Russian Federation and/or in the bulletin publications
  • Other changes related to registered trademarks

Forms of notifications covering the international registrations:

  • State registration of granting trademark right of use protected in Russian Federation due to international registration, under contract
  • State registration of pledge (subsequent pledge) of trademark exclusive rights protected in Russian Federation due to international registration, under contract
  • State registration of changes concerning granting trademark right of use protected in Russian Federation due to international registration, under contract
  • State registration of changes concerning pledge (subsequent pledge) of trademark exclusive rights protected in Russian Federation due to international registration, under contract
  • State registration of termination the trademark right of use protected in Russian Federation due to international registration, under contract
  • State registration of termination of the pledge (subsequent pledge) of trademark exclusive rights protected in Russian Federation due to international registration, under contract
  • Correction of obvious and technical errors in Gazette publications relating to notifications concerning trademarks protected in the Russian Federation by virtue of international registration;
  • Other changes relating to registered trademarks protected in the Russian Federation by virtue of international registration.

Access to online publications:

From the above page, a user may refer to the following resources by means of the appropriate link:

  • Register of Trademarks and Service Marks of the Russian Federation
  • Register of Trademarks Well-Known in the Russian Federation
  • Register of geographical indications and Appellations of Origin of the Russian Federation
  • Register of International Trademarks
  • Register of Russian Federation Trademark and Service Mark Registration Applications
  • Register of Applications for the Registration of Appellations of Origin of the Russian Federation

In 2023, access was provided online to the following texts of international classification and national publications related to classification of goods and services:

  • International Classification of Goods and Services (NCL, 12th edition, version 12-2023) in Russian;
  • Lexical and semantic identifier of goods and services (LEXINTU - 2023), 15th edition, with changed and corrected names of subsumption groups (in Russian);
  • Lexicographical information Gazette of goods and services (LEXINFORM №21 -2023, in Russian).

In the course the processing and examining applications for trademark registration, examiners use the following databases and supporting tools available internally:

They also use the following external sources:

For the information products, services available to external users and conditions of access, see the AR paragraph 4.1 on pages 53-56.

There are three free-of-charge sources available on the FIPS website for obtaining information on the trademarks, appellations of origin, WTMs list and geographical indications:

  • "Official Publications" containing the data on applications for trademarks, appellations of origin, well-known trademarks and geographical indications from 2005 to present.
  • "Open Registers" containing information on the trademark registrations (since 1926 sorted by the date of applications), registered appellations of origin (since 1994), trademark applications (since 1991), applications for well-known trademarks and the relevant registrations (since 2001), applications for appellations of origin (since 2005), and applications for geographical indications and the relevant registrations (since 2020).
  • Online Search Resources containing the same data as the "Open Registers" (except for information on geographical indications), with advanced search (including fuzzy word search) provided to users for fee.

Furthermore, in 2023, Rospatent launched a new Search Platform available in both Russian and English and containing information on trademarks: https://searchplatform.rospatent.gov.ru/trademarks.

The addresses of web pages of the Office’s website containing information on information products and services provided by the Office:

Information on how to access and use resources – in the Search System section:

Access of external users to databases containing information on trademarks of the Russian Federation, foreign countries and international organizations is free of charge in the electronic resources room of the All-Russian Patent and Information Library of FIPS (VPTB FIPS).

The information on a legal status based on estimated data obtained from internal automated systems is published in the "Open Registers" section of the FIPS website. This data contains the current status and the date when the status changed for the last time.

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

Under the implementation of the IP Office's 2022-2024 Digital Transformation Program, the operation of the 9 State information systems and the 5 information systems continued in 2023. The systems were designed specifically for the users of the IP-related public services and the technologies used for their development enabled:

  • To improve the full-scale search for the Russian and the world patent collections.
  • To optimize the decision-making process in the formal examination (accounting the fee payment, initial check of the incoming application materials), and the identification of the possibility to take legally significant actions to accelerate the entire decision-making process.
  • To issue an electronic title of protection and the Registry extract. The rightsholder can access the e-document anytime when the title is valid and to forward this electronic document to any
  • To increase the quality of the image similarity search during the substantive examination.
  • To provide applicants with an opportunity to file 3D visual representations of their objects for IP rights.
  • To increase the efficiency of the governance decisions due to the
  • To create the electronic reference information and enhance interconnection between both internal and external systems (federal executive authorities, foreign IP Offices, regional and international organizations).
  • To reduce the number of documents to be provided by applicants when they file trademark applications in an electronic form via the Public Services Portal of the Russian Federation due to the possibility of using the reference information of the Russian and regional executive authorities.
  • To reduce the pendency of the formal examination of applications filed via the Public Services Portal by carrying out automatic service checks using the reference information of the Russian and regional executive authorities.

Rospatent uses the following hardware used to support its business processes:

Fujitsu M10-4S server (RAM – 64GB, processors – 16, external memory – 40 TB)

26 HP DL380 servers (RAM – 4GB, processors - 2, external memory – 200 GB)

8 HP DL580 servers (RAM – 16GB, processors - 4, external memory - 600 GB)

530 HP IRBIS workstations 

Software: Solaris, Windows 2008 Server, Windows 2012 Server, Astra Linux operating systems.

Carriers used: LTO-7 magnetic tapes

Database of the Russian Trademarks contains information on 903 000 certificates issued from 1925 to 2023 inclusively. In 2023, patent documents were uploaded to the system in order to fully meet the requirements of the search procedure.

The same year, Rospatent continued to improve the Search Platform, introduced artificial intelligence-based services and added the new IP rights for search procedure. In addition to the free open access to the world patent collection, the access to the Russian Trademark Search Service was provided. The users of the Platform have access to information on registered trademarks, service marks, well-known trademarks, as well as international trademarks protected in the territory of the Russian Federation under the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks. The users can search by word designation, by image and by attributive information, the search according to the Vienna Classification is also available. The image search is carried out using the artificial intelligence technologies. Now the Search System capabilities can be used not only by the IP Office experts in course of examination, but also by a wide range of interested users.

In the end of 2023, the Rospatent Search Platform (in addition to the Trademark Search Service) will be supplemented with the search on industrial designs, computer programs, databases and topologies of integrated circuits of the Russian Federation.

Currently, data from such sources as trademarks, appellations of origin, geographical indications and well-known trademarks of the Russian Federation as well as international trademarks (Madrid System) are uploaded to the internal search system for the purposes of the trademark examination.

The data sources as official symbols (6ter database, coats of arms, flags and other State emblems), objects of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation and UNESCO, appellations of origin of the Russian Federation (Lisbon Database), international non-proprietary names, names of legal entities, as well as industrial designs of the Russian Federation and international industrial designs will be additionally uploaded. As data sources for the search, notifications on trademarks, well-known trademarks, appellations of origin and industrial designs of the Russian Federation will be used.

For the establishment and maintenance of electronic search file, see the AR pages 154-155.

Applications for trademarks, appellations of origin and geographical indications are accepted through the e-filing system on the Office website or via the Public Services Portal of the Russian Federation.

The Office uses several filing systems related to trademark information, providing:

  • ­workflow on applications for trademarks, appellations of origin and geographical indications.
  • ­workflow on applications related to the registration of a trademark (for example, prolongation, change of ownership, cancellation) of the registered appellations of origin, geographical indications and well-known trademarks.
  • ­workflow on international registrations.

The international registration system implements electronic data exchange with WIPO regarding the international trademark registrations on MECA technology using the WIPO ST.66 Standard. Decisions on provisional and final refusals are sent to WIPO in an electronic form.

The Trademark e-Filing Service, ensuring the e-filing of applications for registration and e‑correspondence between the IP Office and applicants through the applicant's personal account, functions using the cryptography and electronic signature. The Service is integrated into the hardware and software environment of the automated system of paperless processing of the trademark applications.

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

The Rospatent library: https://new.fips.ru/en/about/vptb/ and https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/activities/russian_patent_library

For more information, see the AR paragraph 2.4 on pages 81-85.

The 2023 Rospatent Facts & Figures (brief annual report) contains statistical and analytical materials reflecting the main outcomes of the activities of Rospatent and its subordinate organizations in 2023, as well as plans for development of the IP ecosystem: https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/reports2023

In the "Electronic brochures" section you can download practical manuals on the protection and use of trademarks and appellations of origin (in Russian). https://rospatent.gov.ru/ru/sourses/publications

Online publications of the All-Russian Patent and Technical Library Division available on the FIPS website in the State Patent Collection and VPTB Information Products sections at: https://www.fips.ru/en/about/vptb/vptb-information-products.php

 Electronic catalogue of patent-legal and scientific-technical literature: https://irbis.fips.ru/web/index.php?LNG=&C21COM=F&I21DBN=FIPS&P21DBN=FIPS (in Russian).

In the Official Publications section of the FIPS website, information is posted on a daily basis on current registrations of trademarks, service marks, appellations of origin, well-known trademarks, as well as notifications regarding amendments to the State Register of Trademarks: https://www.fips.ru/publication-web/publications/UsrTM?inputSelectOIS=TM,CKTM,AOG,ERAOG,TMIR&tab=UsrTM&searchSortSelect=dtPublish&searchSortDirection=true

In the Trademarks, service marks, appellations of origin section, the following guidelines can be found on various examination and prosecution issues (in Russian): https://fips.ru/to-applicants/trademarks/metodicheskie-rekomendatsii.php

For the cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc, see the AR paragraph 6.4 on page 131 and paragraph 7.3 on page 165.

Scientific Youth in IP (in Russian) https://www.fips.ru/about/vptb-otdelenie-vserossiyskaya-patentno-tekhnicheskaya-biblioteka/projects/molodezhi-ob-is.php

 Inventors NEXT (in Russian) https://www.fips.ru/about/vptb-otdelenie-vserossiyskaya-patentno-tekhnicheskaya-biblioteka/projects/izobretateli-next.php

 Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs, in Russian) https://www.fips.ru/about/tspti-tsentr-podderzhki-tekhnologiy-i-innovatsii/index.php

For the education and training, see the AR paragraph 5.2.1 on pages 84-85 and paragraph 5.3 on pages 87-91.

- "Training" section (in Russian): https://www.fips.ru/about/deyatelnost/obuchenie/index.php

-  "Scientific Conferences" section: https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/activities/scientific_conferences

- "Conferences, webinars" section (in Russian): https://rospatent.gov.ru/ru/activities/conferences

- Training videos (in Russian): https://rospatent.gov.ru/ru/sourses/multimedia/video#training-video

- Plan of thematic meetings of the employees of Rospatent and FIPS with representatives of the business community dedicated to acquaintance with the new by-laws for 2023 (in Russian):  https://fips.ru/about/vptb-otdelenie-vserossiyskaya-patentno-tekhnicheskaya-biblioteka/tematicheskie-vstrechi/plan-provedeniya-tematicheskikh-vstrech-2023.php

In 2023, Rospatent held the 4 thematic webinars on trademarks for applicants and representatives of the business community on the following topics: 

  • "Request to Make Amendments to an International Trademark Registration under the Madrid System. Overview of the Current Forms. Filing Options";
  • "How to Correctly File an Application for International Trademark Registration under the Madrid System via the Personal Account on the Rospatent Website";
  • "International Registration of GIs and AOs Following Russia's Accession to the Lisbon System";
  • "Digital Platform for searching information on patents and the means of individualization. New Opportunities for Search for IP Rights".

The webinars were viewed 1 275 times.

In 2023, the Rospatent organized and held 4 webinars on various issues related to industrial designs for representatives of the Technology and Innovation Support Centers Technology (TISCs) and the business community. The events covered the following topics: "IP Rights Management System", "Practice of Intellectual Assets: Licensing, Alienation of Rights, Investments", "Legal Protection for the Commercialization of the Results of Intellectual Activity", and "Peculiarities of Patenting in Certain Critical Technologies". The webinars were viewed 4 972 times in 2023.

Webinar recordings are available in Russian at https://fips.ru/about/vptb-otdelenie-vserossiyskaya-patentno-tekhnicheskaya-biblioteka/tematicheskie-vstrechi/plan-provedeniya-tematicheskikh-vstrech-2023.php

VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Within the international exchange of trademark information, Rospatent uploads official bulletins, including information about trademarks on the FTP-server and provides access thereto via login and password to patent Offices of 45 foreign countries and 3 international organizations.

In 2023, 133 copies of trademark bulletins from 4 countries were included in the State Patent Fund: 11 paper bulletins; 7 bulletins on optical disks and 115 bulletins downloaded from the foreign patent Offices websites.

For the participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information, see the AR paragraph 6.1 on pages 103-104.

As part of its participation in international and regional activities and projects relating to trademarks, representatives of Rospatent participated in the following events:

As part of the other projects, related to trademark information, several thematic webinars were held in Rospatent with representatives of the business community. In particular, on February 16, 2023, a webinar was held on the topic “How to correctly fill out an application for international registration of a trademark within the Madrid system through your Personal Account on the FIPS website” https://vk.com/video457927039_456239379 (in Russian).

On June 15, 2023, a webinar was held on the topic "Requests for modifications to the international registration of a trademark under the Madrid System. Review of current forms. Options of filing" https://vk.com/video457927039_456239429  (in Russian).

VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS

- Section "International Cooperation" on the website of the Office: https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/activities/international_cooperation

- Subsection "Madrid System of International Registration of Marks": https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/activities/international_cooperation/madrid