CWS.ATR.PI.2012.MD

Annual Technical Report 2012 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Republic of Moldova (CWS/ATR/PI/2012/MD)

Where URLs are requested below, it is preferred that either URLs which are likely to remain stable over time (three years or more) are provided, or home (main) page URLs are provided with a short explanation of how to access the corresponding information.

The term "patent" covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Industrial Design Information Activities.

I. Evolution of patent activities

Changes experienced in terms of application filings and grants with respect to the previous year

After entry into force, on 4 October 2008, of the Law of the Republic of Moldova No. 50-XVI of 07.03.2008 on the Protection of Inventions, their protection became possible by both patent for invention (PI) and short-term patent for invention (STPI). At the same time, it was stopped the receiving of applications for the issue of patents under the responsibility of the applicant and of applications for the registration of utility models. Protection of inventions by short-term patent for invention proved very attractive to national applicants, namely due to:
- the simpler, faster and cheaper procedure, compared with the protection by patent for invention granted with the substantive examination of the application, on the one hand, and
- the extension of categories of objects that can be protected by this way, compared with the protection by utility model, on the other hand.

During 2012, AGEPI received the same number of patent applications as in 2011, namely 290 applications, being maintained the interest of national applicants in STPI, generated by the more simplified, faster and less expensive procedure compared with the protection of inventions by PI. Thus, 63% of applicants have opted for STPI and only 40% − for PI (in 2011 this ratio was 63:37%). In the following the statistical data relating to both types of applications and titles of protection are presented both cumulatively and separately, to highlight the trends, differences or similarities between them.

In 2012, AGEPI received 115 applications for PI and 175 - for STPI, with 7 more and, re-spectively, 7 less than in 2011. Most applications for PI (104) and all applications for STPI were filed under the national procedure.

Foreign applicants filed 25 patent applications in total, of which directly with the AGEPI were filed 11 applications for PI and 3 applications for STPI. Under the PCT procedure were received 11 applications for PI, with 4 more than in 2011. The extremely small number of patent applica-tions, filed by applicants from abroad directly with the AGEPI, is explained by the fact that, in order to patent their inventions in the Republic of Moldova, foreign applicants opted for the international way (PCT) or the regional one (Eurasian Patent Convention (EAPC)), to which the Republic of Moldova was party until 26.04.2012, when its denunciation entered into force.

In total, during the period of 1993-2012, 6444 patent applications for inventions (5643 applications for PI and 801 applications for STPI) were filed with AGEPI, of which 5705 (89%) came from national applicants, and 739 (11%) - from foreign applicants.

In 2012, the national applicants have filed via AGEPI, as the receiving office, seven applications for patenting inventions abroad, including three - under the PCT and four − by the regional way, under the EAPC. In the previous year were filed 15 applications for patenting inventions abroad − three under the PCT and 12 under the Eurasian Convention, and in the period of 1995-2012 were submitted in total 104 applications − 42 under the PCT and 62 under the EAPC.

Following the formal examination, in the National Register of Patent Applications were entered 115 applications, of which 93 were to national applicants. These relate to the following sections of the International Patent Classification (IPC):
•A (Human Necessities) - 28 (24%);
•B (Performing Operations; Transporting) - 15 (13%);
•C (Chemistry; Metallurgy) - 46 (40%);
•F (Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating; etc.) - 10 (9%);
•G (Physics) - 12 (10%);
•H (Electricity) - 2 (2%);
•E (Fixed Constructions) - 2 (2%).

In the National Register of Short-Term Patent Applications were entered 175 applications, including 172 − from national applicants. According to statistical data, the distribution of STPI applications by sections is as follows:
•A (Human Necessities) - 76 (43%);
•B (Performing Operations; Transporting) -22 (13%);
•C (Chemistry; Metallurgy) - 32 (18%);
•F (Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating; etc.) - 14 (8%);
•G (Physics) - 15 (9%);
•H (Electricity) - 9 (5%);
•E (Fixed Constructions) - 7(4%).

In the year under review, as a result of examination of patent applications, were adopted 273 decisions. Compared with those recorded in the previous year, we have an decrease by 9 percentage points in the number of decisions of rejection of PI applications and an increase by 8 percentage points in the number of decisions of grant of patents for invention. At the same time, the rate of rejected STPI applications increased by 6 percentage points, leading to a decrease in the share of STPI applications for which were issued decisions of grant up to 67%, respectively by 9 percentage points less compared to 2011.

Those 19/38 decisions of rejection of PI/STPI applications, based on the legal grounds of noncompliance with the criteria for patentability, are distributed as follows: 0/3 decisions − nonpatentable subject-matter of the invention; 5/5 − lack of novelty, 9/22 - lack of inventive step, 5/8 - lack of industrial applicability.

In 2012, the average period of examination of PI applications until the publication of the decision in BOPI was 18 months, representing the statutory period of substantive examination of the application, and for STPI the period decreased by one month compared to the previous year and was 7 months, this being one of the factors that makes many applicants to choose specifically the short-term patent.

In 2012, AGEPI issued 194 titles of protection for inventions (51 - PI and 133 - STPI), with 37 (17%) less than in the previous year, when were issued 221 patents. This decrease is a consequence of the large number of decisions of rejection and withdrawal of applications for PI and STPI. The absolute majority of titles of protection for inventions was issued to national owners − 180 (98%), of which 53 (29%) belonging to natural persons and 127 (71%) - to legal persons. Throughout its period of activity, AGEPI issued 4465 titles of protection for inventions (3968 PI and 497 STPI), of which 4039 (90%) - to national owners and 427 (10%) − to foreign ones.

Of the total number of patents issued by AGEPI, 1039 patents (613 PI and 426 STPI) were valid on 31 December 2012, of which only 252 patents (24%) are maintained in force for a period greater than 5 years. Of the patents maintained in force over 5 years, 198 (79%) belong to national owners and 54 (21%) − to foreign owners. National patent owners who have maintained their patents in force for more than 5 years shall be distributed as follows: natural persons − 106 (54%), legal persons − 92 (46%), including 54 (27%) − organizations in the science and innovation field.
In total, 4456 patents were valid in the Republic of Moldova on 31December 2012, of which 3417 − Eurasian patents (77%).
Utility models

In accordance with Article 97(3) of Law no. 50/2008, utility models (UM), registered in the Republic of Moldova before the entry into force of said Law, shall remain valid and may be renewed, even if the receipt of UM registration applications was stopped. In the period under review, there were renewed four UM protection certificates, by 31 December 2012 of the total number of 185 issued UM registration certificates being valid 29, of them 15 − renewed.

Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year

During 2012, AGEPI received the same number of patent applications as in 2011, namely 290 applications.

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to patents

http://agepi.gov.md/en/about/report.php

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/inventions/statistics/

II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, distribution and use of primary and secondary sources of patent information

Publishing, printing, copying (main types of publications of the Office in the field of patent information, etc.)

1) Paper
Patent applications:
The front page containing bibliographic data, the abstract and the drawings are printed. The original specifications are laid open to public inspection in the AGEPI library.
Patents:
The front page and the specification are printed, the incorporated drawings being scanned.

2) CD-ROM
National CD-ROM „Inventions of the Republic of Moldova, 1993-2012", containing bibliographic data and abstracts in 3 languages (Romanian, English and Russian) for patent applications; bibliographic data, abstracts and specifications for patents. This CD-ROM is renewed annually by adding the data for the last year.
CISPATENT - in conjunction with the IP Offices of several CIS countries (AM, BY,GE, RU, TJ, UZ, UA) and of the EAPO is issued this CD-ROM containing bibliographic data and abstracts in Romanian, English and Russian for patent applications and bibliographic data, abstracts in 3 languages and specifications in the original language for patents. The CD-ROM is issued on a monthly basis; there is also a yearly issue.

3) Official Bulletin on Industrial Property (BOPI). Bibliographic data and abstracts in Romanian, English, Russian and official notices are published in this official monthly newspaper.
The Bulletin appears on paper form and on the AGEPI website in PDF format: http://agepi.gov.md/en/publishing/bopi.php
BOPI is also published and distributed on CD-ROM, on a monthly basis.

4) On-line database. Full text search through national applications and patents, short-term applications and short-term patents or Utility Models are available on the on-line database located on the offices website: http://www.db.agepi.md/inventions/

At different stages of evolution of the application there can be found bibliographic data, description, claims, figures, cited references, search report, application and patents abstracts in 3 languages, Granted and Issued title of protection.
The database is updated monthly.

Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of patent information

Announcements, notices and changes in the legal status or the patenting procedure are published in the Official Bulletin on Industrial Property (BOPI).
The Bulletin is published also electronically on the public AGEPI website (in pdf format): http://agepi.gov.md/en/publishing/bopi.php
The most important office notices regarding patents and other IP rights are provided directly on the AGEPI website (www.agepi.gov.md) for different kinds of users (applicants/owners, patent agents etc).

Mass storage media used (paper, microforms, optical storage, etc.)

The AGEPI has a complete classified paper collection of MD patent documents. This collecton has been scanned and stored on file servers being available to our examiners. The full data relating to MD patent documents, excepting some of the old author certificates of the former URSS based patents, are stored in the internal database. The AGEPI has a CD/DVD-ROM collection containing published/granted US, FR, DE, CH, RU, WO, EP, EA, CISPATENT and other patent documents. See also "Publishing, printing, copying etc.", item II, p.2).

Word processing and office automation

The Patent Office uses Microsoft Office suite 2003, 2007 or 2010. All of the patent documents are entered in MS Word trough internal patent IT system. Upon opening, patent documents are automatically formatted and corrected (characters encoding, degree character's, appearance of cyrillic letters in non cyrillic words and viceversa, etc). All of the other documents like correspondence letters, publication files, miscellaneous reports, etc. are generated using the same system.

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide access to online publication of patent documents and gazettes, and to other primary and secondary sources of patent information, including patent publication servers and download of bulk patent data

http://agepi.gov.md/en/publishing/bopi.php
http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/inventions/info.php

III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents

Abstracting, reviewing, translating

The office translates the titles and abstracts into English and review the titles and abstracts provided by the applicant (in Romanian and Russian) and, if necessary, amend them accordingly to WIPO standard ST.12/A in order to ensure that the abstract contain the necessary information to be a useful search tool. The abstracts and titles are published in the Official Bulletin for patents and utility models applications and granted protection titles in 3 languages.

Classification¹, preclassification² (if applicable), and reclassification³ activities; Classification system used, e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC), other classification (please indicate whether or not patent documents are classified by your Office and, if so, which classification is used)

From January 1, 2006, the AGEPI use the advanced level of the IPC (8th edition).

Coordinate indexing (domestic deep indexing systems, keyword indexing)

Not available.

Bibliographic data and full-text processing

The AGEPI maintains an electronic search file for all MD patent documents, which are searchable using bibliographic data, classification symbols and the keyword contained in titles and abstracts for all types of tittles of invention protection: patents, short-term patents and utility models. In the year 2009 there were introduced some new searchable fields such as "Cited prior art in Search Report", "Patent examiner", full-text search in the "Description" or "Claims". A new field "Current legal state" has been introduced also.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

File building

File building of paper search files classified under the IPC and of the CD/DVD-ROM collections classified under years and countries are centralized at the office library. The patent documents and author certificates of the former URSS from 1924 up to 1992 are stored in National Technical Scientific Library (NTSL).
All MD patent documents are electronically stored and searchable for internal use; all published MD patent applications (abstracts) and patents (full text) are electronically searchable for external use.

Updating

Paper and some CD/DVD-ROM search files are updated monthly, several CD-DVD/ROM search files are updated yearly. Electronically searchable files for internal use are updated permanently depending of filings; electronically searchable files for external use are updated monthly.

Storage, including mass storage media

Patent documentation on paper is stored on shelves in the AGEPI archive, CD-DVD/ROM are stored in the library, electronic data are stored on Fileservers, and on magnetic tapes, for backup.

Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file

Eurasian published patent applications and granted patents are mandatory search files.

V. Activities in the field of computerized and other mechanized search systems

In-house systems (online/offline)

The online "patents" search database, can be used by examiners and other interested persons to search through the MD published patent applications/short term applications and granted patents/short term patents, as well as through utility models. There is also another online "Inventions" search database that contains bibliographic data of Certificates of authorship of the USSR that were published in the 1963-1992 period. The offline search database, is used by examiners in conducting the examining procedure by searching through all of the MD applications and patents.

External databases

- EAPATIS, administered by EAPO;
- Espacenet
- VINITI (NPL - bibliographic data), managing by the Scientific and Technical Information Institute (VINITI) of the Russian Federation (www.vinini.ru);
- Global Patent Index

Administrative management systems (e.g., register, legal status, statistics and administrative support)

The whole administration is built in "Patents" program and is performed by an Administrator from Inventions Department, but also by a Database Administrator for a complete administration.

Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), carriers used

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.

Existing online thesauri; their structure, presentation and usefulness for computerized searches

None

VI. Administration of the industrial property office library, and information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, for assisting clients on searching procedures, for obtaining official publications and registry extracts)

Planning, administration, automation, security, buildings

The Library is a subdivision in AGEPI structure that provides information-library services in the field of intellectual property to beneficiaries. 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 persons outside the institution: counselors in intellectual property, researchers, inventors and rationalizers, teachers, students, etc.
At the Library visitors can also:
- consult, subscribe to or purchase the official publications of AGEPI in the field of intellectual property - BOPI, “Intellectus”, “AGEPI INFO”, etc., collections of laws and methodical literature in the field of intellectual property, CDs edited by AGEPI;
- obtain copies of the descriptions of inventions from patents for invention;
- methodological assistance in searching for information in electronic DB;
- library-bibliographic servicing in “request-offer”, “information-express” regime, by complying with the bibliographic, thematic and factual references;
- opportunity of participating in IP information promotion activities at local and republican level.

Program for beneficiaries: From 9.00 to 16.00 Monday - Friday. Day without a program - Saturday and Sunday.

Collecting, acquisitions, preparation

The AGEPI Library has collections of specialized literature structured according to objects of intellectual property, methodical and scientific literature, of legal, informative and cognitive character, including:
- Patents for Inventions protected in the Republic of Moldova - about 7500 units (see DB "Inventions");
- Official Bulletins of Intellectual Property of IP Offices from 37 countries and 4 international organizations purchased under bilateral exchange - about 6000 units;
- Electronic databases on intellectual property (available on 01.01.2008) - 34 with a total of 23,744,839 of documents;
- Books in intellectual property, legal documents, normative acts, international treaties and agreements, dictionaries and encyclopedias in different branches of economy, official and methodical publications of AGEPI - about 5000 copies.

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/services/library/collection.php

The new acquisitions of the AGEPI Library IP fund can be accessed at:

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/services/library/new.php


Due to WIPO Program “WIPO Depositary Library”, the IP book fund of the AGEPI has been completed.
Also, in 2012, AGEPI continued to benefit from the Program “Access to research for Development and Innovation –ARDI”, coordinated by WIPO in cooperation with a number of development partners, thus providing access of users in our country to scientific and technical information.

Library Collection is annually completed by about 500 thousand of new documents in various fields, which are reflected in the Electronic Catalogue and in specialized DB.

Collection management, preservation

In the year under review, AGEPI continued publishing and distributing on paper carrier, periodical provided by its statute, developed new works and updated existing ones either on paper or electronic carrier. Their purpose is to:
- Promptly and comprehensively inform stakeholders on the operation of the IPO protection system;
- Modernization of the specialized regulatory and legal framework, latest developments in the field of intellectual property at national and international level.

Thus, for example, in the process of publication of the AGEPI periodical, such as the Official Bulletin on Intellectual property (BOPI) were used WIPO updated standards and international numerical codes for bibliographic data identification (INID) concerning the IPO, namely:
- WIPO Standard ST.9 and ST.16 – for codes on bibliographic data relating to patents
- WIPO Standard ST.60-for codes on bibliographic data relating to marks
- WIPO Standard ST.17 – for codes on bibliographic data relating to plant varieties
- WIPO Standard ST.3 – on two letter codes for the representation of states, other entities and intergovernmental organizations.

Interlibrary lending, resource sharing, networks of patent libraries in the country

Based on bilateral agreements on exchange of information in the field of intellectual property, in the year 2012, AGEPI library distributed and shared particular periodicals with 12 local libraries placed within the main university educational institutions:
- Library of the Technical Univeristy of Moldova;
- Library of the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "N. Testemiţanu";
- Republican Tehnical-Scientifical Library of IEFS;
- Library of the Academy of Public Administration under the Presidency of Moldova;
- Library of the Academy of Transport, informatics and Communications;
- Library of the State University of Moldova ;
- Library of the Cooperatis-Commercial University of Moldova ;
- Library of the State University of Comrat;
- Library of the State University „A. Russo" ;
- Municipal Library “B.P.Hasdeu”;
- Scientific Library of the State Agraian University of Moldova;
- Library of the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova.

Information services available to the public (including computerized services and search files contained in libraries remote from your Office and patent information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web)

Visitors at the AGEPI Library have access to:
- descriptions of inventions and utility models protected in the Republic of Moldova and abroad, patent applications filed with the AGEPI and made available for public;
- official bulletins of industrial property from 33 countries and 4 international organizations;
- specialized databases on CD-ROM of WIPO, EPO, Austria, Germany, USA, Switzerland, Japan, Slovenia, Benelux, etc.

The selected documents are presented to the beneficiary electronically or on paper.

Also, during the period under review, AGEPI developed and implemented the following information products:
- information downloading, processing and loading programs for database “Eurasian Patents”;
- entry number and date generation program, integrated into the software for electronic submission of IPO protection applications.

URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of patent applications

http://e-servicii.agepi.gov.md/en/user

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide information on business procedures such as: filing, publication, examination and grant procedures related to patents; opposition and appeal procedures related to patents; etc.

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/inventions/

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide a description of information products and services offered by the Office (e.g., patent search service(s) and patent databases), as well as information on how to access and utilize them

http://www.agepi.gov.md/en/services/index.php

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of patent documentation and information

International or regional cooperation in the exchange of machine-readable information, e.g., bibliographic data, abstract and/or full text information

The AGEPI is sending, monthly, information to several destinations:
 European Patent Office (EPO)-(INPADOC), monthly:
• the bibliographic data and abstracts for published applications and issued patents and full patent information for granted patents, in XML, St.36;
• changes in legal status;
• images of bibliographic data for published applications and full patent information in national language for patents in bookmarked PDF (examples: published, granted)
Eurasian Patent Office, quarterly, bibliographic data in ACCESS database, abstracts, claims, images, in pdf files.
 Rospatent (CISPATENT), the bibliographic data and abstracts for published applications and issued patents and full patent information for granted patents, in both XML St.36 and MSWORD formats
 AGEPI furnished the MD patent documents and the official gazette (BOPI) on CD-ROM to 41 IP Offices and receives patent documentation and information from 35 countries and 2 regional patent organizations (EPO and EAPO).

Medium used for exchange of priority documents

On paper or on-line.

Medium allowed for filing applications

On paper, fax machine, e-mail, e-filling, floppy discs, CD (DVD)-ROMs

VIII. Other relevant matters concerning education and training in, and promotion of, the use of patent information, including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)

Training courses for national and foreign participants, use of audiovisual means

During the reporting period, with the support of EPO in Chisinau were organized 3 practical training seminars, moderated by experienced specialists from EPO, AGEPI, OSIM, as well patent attorneys from the Republic of Moldova:
• Practical Seminar „Search techniques and databases” , (October 10-11, 2012 at AGEPI Conference hall, Chisinau);
• Training on drafting official communications in examination procedure, (December 10-11, 2012, AGEPI Conference hall, Chisinau);
• Practical Seminar: Inventive Step, Problem Solution Approach and Industrial Applicability, (September 18-19, 2012, AGEPI Conference hall, Chisinau).
Also, during the year under review, AGEPI organized the Training Course “Protection of Intellectual Property” which brought together 14 students, who obtained the qualification “Counsellor in Intellectual Property”.

Assistance to developing countries (sending consultants and experts, receiving trainees from developing countries, etc.)

Keeping in mind the bilateral relations with WIPO, in the year under report, with the support of WIPO, AGEPI hosted the documentation and training Mission in the field of protection of inventions under the PCT (March 28 – 29, 2012). Mission agenda included various practical exercises and case studies in which all the participants were involved:
 Benefits of using the PCT system
 Practical aspects of the procedure for the submission and processing of international patent applications
 Role of PCT information resources
 New WIPO patent information projects (PATENTSCOPE, ARDI, ASPI)

Under the AGEPI- European Patent Office joint Action Program in the field of IP for 2012-2013, signed on April 17, 2012 in Munich, AGEPI befitted from EPO assistance in the training of national staff working in the field of patents, free access to the “Global patent Index-GPI”, a new search tool developed by the EPO.

With the assistance of the Office for harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) and WIPO, AGEPI Director general, Mrs. Lilia Bolocan represented Moldova at International Conference “Innovation and Creativity of Women for Economic Development”, held in Warsaw, Poland (March 22 to 23, 2012).

Within the SLING Project of EU, Mr. Gerard Giroud, SLING Project Consultant and Mr. Stephane Nauche, Head of Bioinformation Service, EPO, undertook a documentation visit to AGEPI aimed at assessment of the degree of advancement of the national system of protection of inventions in the context of Moldova’s commitments on providing an IP protection level similar to the European one.

It should be noted that on April 26, 2012 entered into force the denunciation by the Republic of Moldova of the Eurasian Patent Convention. In order to ensure continuity of cooperation relations between the Republic of Moldova and EAPO, and establishment of mechanism for maintenance in force of Eurasian patents in Moldova, on April 12, 2012, an official visit to Chisinau of the EAPO delegation led by Mr. Grigoriev Alexander, President of EAPO has been undertaken. During the visit it was signed the Agreement on the Legal Protection of Inventions in the Republic of Moldova after denunciation by the Republic of Moldova of the Eurasian Patent Convention.

With the view to increase the IP knowledge, professional background and undertake an exchange of information on various aspects of patent protection, AGEPI Experts participated at the following regional and international events:
- The 19th edition of the International Scientific Practical Conference “Actual Problems of intellectual Property (Yalta, Ukraine, from September 3 - 7, 2012);
- Study visit at the general headquarter of Eurasian Patent Office and ROSPATENT organized with the view to continue the works on the Project – Soft drafting for the implementation of the procedure regarding the online filling of IPO applications (June 18 - 22, 2012, in Moscow, Russian Federation);
- The 18th session of WIPO Standing Committe on the Law of Patents (May 21 - 25, 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland);
- Regional Seminar “The Role of Intellectual Property for Innovation Development: Developing National IP Strategies”, (June 5- 6, 2012, in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan);
- Practical training course on Industrial Property jointly organized by the WIPO Academy and the Center for International Industrial Property Studies (June 25 - July 6, 2012, in Starsbourg);
- Practical training course on Industrial Property jointly organized by the WIPO Academy and the Israel Patent Office (June 25 -29, 2012, in Jerusalem, Israel);
- Practical training course on Industrial Property jointly organized by the WIPO Academy and the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic (June 25 to July 6, 2012, in Prague, Czech Republic);
- “EPO Search Reports and Written Opinions” organized by the EPO Academy (April 17 - 19, 2012, Berlin)
- “Search and Examination of European patent Applications”, organized by the EPO Academy (June 4-8, 2012 Berlin)
- Seminar on Quality Control Management in the search and Examination Procedure” organized by the EPO Academy (July 3-5, 2012, Munich)

Promotional activities (seminars, exhibitions, visits, advertising, etc.)

1. In the period from April 10 to 11, 2012, the 14th edition of the Annual Scientific and Practical Symposium “AGEPI Readings-2012” was organized in Chisinau with participation of 25 specialists from Romanian State Office for Trademarks and Inventions (OSIM) and 4 experts from Romanian Copyright Office (ORDA).

2. Also, from July 2 to 5, 2012, in Chisinau took place the AGEPI-OSIM Bilateral Seminar, focused on current issues in the field of information technologies. The Seminar addressed the following practical issues:
- The new technologies available for modernization of the IPO examination/patenting/registration system, including the system for online submission of applications for protection;
- Exchange of information on IT development strategies at national, governmental and sectoral levels;
- Role and efficiency of IT systems used in IP Offices.

3. In 2012, AGEPI conducted ample activities on promotion of national intellectual property systems among economic agents trough national and international Exhibitions, actively participating in 16 - national and 10 – international. Thus, AGEP presented reports on national IP legislation, procedures for patent protection, IPO evaluation, role of patents in promoting goods and services, in 13 national exhibitions, the most important being:

- National Exhibition “Made in Moldova”, (January 31 – February 4, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 23th Edition of the International Specialized Exhibition of agricultural equipment, technologies and materials for agricultural complex “MOLDAGROTECH”,(February 15-18, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 20th edition of the International Specialized Exhibition of foodstuff and raw materials for their production “FOOD&DRINKS. Food TECHNOLOGY”, (May 16-17, 2012, Chisinau);
- The 15th edition of the International Specialized Exhibition-Fair of agricultural products, equipment and technologies “FARMER”(October 23-26, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The Universal Expo-Fair “CONSUM Expo” (October 5-7, 2012, in Balti);
- “Start&Grow” in Balti;
- “Martisor-2012”, (March 1-10, 2012, in Chisinau);
- “Ceadir Expo 2012”, (April 26, 2012, in Ceadilunga);
- “Kasim Expo”, (April 26, 2012, in CeadirLunga).

An ample information dissemination and consultancy activity was carried out in 5 other national exhibitions:
- The 16th edition of the International Specialized Exhibition of cosmetics, perfumery and equipment for beauty parlours “BEAUTY”, (March 1-4, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 17th International Specialized Exhibition of architecture, technologies, equipment, tools, installations and materials for construction „MOLDCONSTRUCT” (March 14-17, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 17th International Specialized Exhibition of power-saving technologies, gas-supply, heating and air conditioning systems „MOLDENERGY”, (March 14-17, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 17th International Specialized Exhibition of tourism, leisure and hotels „TOURISM, LEISURE, HOTELS”(April 5-8, 2012, in Chisinau);
- The 18th edition of the International Specialized Exhibition of medical technique and diagnosis devices, pharmaceuticals, stomatology equipment, instruments and consumables “MoldMedizin, MoldDent”, (September 11-14, 2012, in Chisinau);

In 2012, AGEPI promoted and stimulated innovative activity in the Republic of Moldova ensuring the presentation of 200 works of national inventors at 7 International Exhibitions, namely:
- “International Exhibition of Inventions”, in Geneva, Switzerland;
- “International Exhibition of Inventions, Research and New Technologies “Brussels Innova”, in Belgium;
- “International Exhibition of research, Innovation and Inventiveness “PROInvent”, in ClujNapoca, Romania;
- “European Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation “Euroinvent”, in Iasi, Romania;
- “International Exhibition of Innovations, Inventions and Technologies “Archimedes” in Moscow, Russian Federation.

4. The 5th edition of the National Contest aimed to support and stimulate creative and ingenious ideas of youth “The Best Innovative Pupil”, organized by AGEPI alongside of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer, in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

5. In the year under review, AGEPI also organized the Course “Protection of Intellectual Property” which brought together 14 students who obtained qualification “Counsellor in Intellectual Property”.

6. On 26 April, in the festive meeting dedicated to the World Intellectual Property Day, a WIPO Gold Medal For Creativity has been awarded to Mr. Spiridon Vangheli, Master of Arts and people’s Writer, and to Mr. Mihai Volontir, People’s Artist for outstanding achievements and personal contribution to the promotion and development of national literature for children, dramatic and cinematographic arts.

7. Also, in the year under review, AGEPI bestowed Mr. Nicolae Glazunov, patent attorney in industrial property with the AGEPI trophy “The Best Patent attorney of the Year 2011” considering the statistical data on the number of filed IPO protection applications and titles of protection granted in the period April 2011-April 2012.

Besides the above mentioned activities, with the view to inform the public on the evolution of the national IP system, of the special legislation nationally and internationally, events and actions, including in respect to patent protection aspects, during the year under review were organized 3 press conferences on occasion of the following events:
- Festive meeting dedicated to the World Intellectual Property Day-2012 “Promoting Visionary Innovators”;
- Launch of the Public Campaign “Stop Piracy and Counterfeiting” ;
- 20th anniversary from the foundation of AGEPI.

For the same purposes, AGEPI developed and distributed 15 press releases dispatched to the addresses of more than 45 information media.

Mass media representatives were invited to about 20 events organized by AGEPI or with the participation of the Agency, they being made available to various information and publications in the field of IP and provided consultations.

With the AGEPI specialist efforts were developed/published/broadcasted about 90 materials (articles, i8nterviews, communications) on:
-Radio Moldova
- TV
-“Journal TV”
- “Publika TV”

About 54 materials were disseminated by the replica press agencies, these being taken from the AGEPI website or realized with the contest of AGEPI specialists.

To increase the degree of public information, popularization of knowledge in the field of IP, in 2012 were used new thematic information dissemination tools: Internet, Facebook, etc. Also, AGEPI launced the new version of the web page www.agepi.gov.md.

Assistance furnished by offices to facilitate the changing over of receiving offices to electronic data carriers for the exchange of patent documents (see also fourth sub-item of item VI, above)

In the period from February 28 to March 1, 2012, with the support of the UK Intellectual Property Office, a study visit to the UK IP Office, Newport, has been made by 3 AGEPI specialists headed by Mr. Ion Tiganas, Deputy Director General. The purpose of visit: familiarizing with the British system of protection and enforcement of IPR, with the activity of the IP Observatory and other aspects of the development of national IPO protection systems, including for patents of inventions.

Visit of the AGEPI administration at the Eurasian Patent Office in Moscow for signing the Agreement between the Eurasian Patent Office and AGEPI (August 22 to 24, 2012), aimed at implementation of issues of cooperation of mutual interest:
- Exchange of information and experience in the field of protection of inventions,
- Mutual access to databases in the field,
- Training and retraining of specialists
- Implementation and use of information technology,
- Organization of seminars, conferences, other joint activities.

IX. Other general information related to the Office that is available on the Internet -- URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that:

provide information on legislation related to patents

http://agepi.gov.md/en/inventions/legislations.php

contain the Annual Report of the Office

http://agepi.gov.md/en/about/report.php

if necessary, provide further information related to the topics referred to in the current ATR

N/a

provide open source codes related to patent information systems

N/a

contain patent-related news regarding the Office

http://agepi.gov.md/en/index.php

X. Other relevant matters

N/a.