CWS.ATR.PI.2009.EA

Annual Technical Report 2009 on Patent Information Activities submitted by EAPO (CWS/ATR/PI/2009/EA)

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

In 2009 the number of filed applications has decreased by 9%, the number of granted Eurasian patents has increased by 6%.

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

The majority of applications were filed in the field of organic chemistry - 15% increase

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

http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/about/stat.html in Russian http://www.eapo.org/eng/ea/about/stat.html in English

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.)

EAPO issues the following publications in the field of patent information:
- EAPO Gazette (optical disc, Web-site)
- Descriptions to Eurasian Applications (optical disc)
- Descriptions to Eurasian Patents (optical disc)
- Legislative, normative-methodical and reference documentation of the EAPO (optical disc)
- Eurasian Applications and Patents, Summary index (optical disc)
- Annual Report (paper, Web-site)

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

EAPO issues the following procedural announcements in the field of patent information:

Applications:
Event code Event description
BZ2A Eurasian patent applications published with a search report (A1 publication)
BZ1A Eurasian patent applications published without a search report (A2 publication)
EZ2A Separate publication of a search report (A3 publication)
FA9A Withdrawal of a Eurasian application
NF9A Restoration of lapsed right to a Eurasian application
PD1A Registration of transfer of a Eurasian application by order of succession in title
PC1A Registration of transfer of a Eurasian application by force of assignment
HC1A (2A) Change in name of an applicant in a Eurasian application
HM1A (2A) Change in composition of inventors
PZ1A Registration of pledge of right to a Eurasian application
HK1A (2A) Corrections to the Gazette related to the published Eurasian Applications (bib. data, abstract)

Patents:
Code Event description
FG4A Eurasian patents (B1 publication)
ММ4А Lapse of a Eurasian patent in Contracting States due to non-payment within the time limit of renewal fees
PC4A Registration of transfer of a Eurasian patent by assignment
PD4A Registration of transfer of a Eurasian patent in accordance with the succession in title
NF4A Restoration of lapsed right to a Eurasian patent
MC4A Revocation of a Eurasian patent under opposition procedure (administrative revocation)
MF4A Revocation of a Eurasian patent in full
MA4A Revocation of a Eurasian patent at the owner's request filed with the EAPO
LD4A Reissued specification to Eurasian patent (B2 publication)
MH4A Revocation of a Eurasian patent in part
TB4A Correction of composition of inventors in a published Eurasian patent
TH4A Corrections of general character in a published Eurasian patent (full text)
TK4A Corrections in published Eurasian patent (bib. data, claims)
QB4A Registration of a license in a Contracting State
QC4A Termination of a registered license in a Contracting State
RH4A Grant of a duplicate of a Eurasian patent certificate
TC4A Change in name of a patent proprietor in a Eurasian patent
PZ4A Registration of pledge of right to a Eurasian patent
ND4A Extension of term of a Eurasian patent
QZ4A Registered alterations and amendments to the license agreement
RL4A Decisions of a court in respect to the Eurasian Patent
Announcements of the Office of procedural, legal and norm-setting kind are published in EAPO Gazette and reflected in the Web register of patents; more general announcements can be also found at Web-site of EAPO at: www.eapo.org

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

Patent information of the EAPO is provided on digital media only: optical discs (CD, DVD-ROMs) and online resources are used to distribute data

Type of announcement (Carrier Language)
EAPO Gazette CD-ROM (Russian) – available on-line
Descriptions in Eurasian Applications DVD-ROM or CD-ROM (Russian)
Descriptions in Eurasian Patents CD-ROM (Russian, Bibliographic Data and Abstracts in English)
Legislative, normative-methodical and reference documentation of the EAPO CD-ROM (Russian/English)
Eurasian Applications and Patents, Summary index DVD-ROM (Russian)
Annual Report Paper Russian/English)
Eurasian Patent Register - available on-line

Word processing and office automation

Microsoft Word 2003 text processor is used to process texts for publication (make-up, proofreading). As Microsoft Word can hardly be used for server automation, EAPO has changed to XML format for certain processing operations in 2008.
Automation in the area of own patent fund preparation, storage and publication is supported by IPDL HIVE2 system.

EAPO continues to use web-service technologies “Publication Server” and “Open Patent Services”.

(New) techniques used for the generation of patent information (printing, recording, photocomposing, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), etc.)

EAPO issues its official publications using own data processing and publishing facilities. The unified publication technology involves scanning, optical character recognition, editing, proofreading and make-up. All data used for publications (including bibliographic data in Russian and English, pages in facsimile mode, full-text descriptions, first pages, blueprints etc.) is stored in one database (IPDL HIVE2 system, outsourced for EAPO). Information is extracted from the database by client software in necessary formats, including PDF and XML. The client software also provides broad automation of everyday operations at every workplace of the publication divisions. More than 27000 Eurasian patent documents were stored in IPDL HIVE2 system's database by the end of 2009.
The main output data formats in IPDL HIVE2 system are ST.36 XML and PDF with embedded bookmarks.

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

Primary sources:
http://www.eapo.org/rus/reestr/start.php3 - Register of Eurasian Patents http://www.eapo.org/rus/bulletin/index.html.
http://www.eapatis.com/ - descriptions to Eurasian applications and patents
www.eapo.org/rus/eapatis/ - full descriptions of published applications and patents (numeric search only)

Secondary sources:
Espacenet:
http://l2.espacenet.com
http://ea.espacenet.com

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

Abstracting, reviewing, translating

Eurasian patent applications are filed at the EAPO in Russian only. When patent application is filed, an applicant or a representative provides abstract in required format in accordance with filing procedure. This abstract is published with bibliographic data of the application in the Gazette, at first pages of application and corresponding patent and on optical discs with full descriptions of inventions. Translation of bibliographic data and abstracts of Eurasian patents into English is carried out by the EAPO; translations are added to certain publications of the EAPO for non-official use.

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)

For classifying published Eurasian applications and Eurasian patents EAPO uses the advanced level of the IPC (8th edition). Information about published Eurasian patent documents including classifying indexes is sent to EPO to be included into the database of classified patent documents (MCD).
As changes into the advanced level of IPC are introduced EAPO within the framework of MCD support carries out reclassification of Eurasian patent documents in accordance with the list of documents which EAPO receives from WIPO.

Coordinate indexing (domestic deep indexing systems, keyword indexing)

EAPO does not use domestic keep indexing systems or keyword indexing

Hybrid system indexing

EAPO uses indexing schemes within the framework of advanced level of IPC (8th edition).

Bibliographic data and full-text processing

Bibliographic data for applications and patents and full texts of patents are stored in database storage of IPDL HIVE2 system. The system allows extracting data in required format for further loading to other external search systems. For example, this extracted data is used in EAPATIS and in Esp@cenet.
The data is stored in a structured way and contains extensive markup that allows production of XML data which can be used most effectively for data analysis and indexing.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

File building

EAPO has developed a virtual patent-information depository comprising of local and external databases (DB) of patent documentation and non-patent literature integrated with each other. Access to the BDs and search in them is realized on the basis of a "one-window principle" via the EAPATIS system. Since 2003 it has been in the open access via the Internet for EAPO member-states. In 2004-2005 access was provided also to patent offices of Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Georgia.
Local DBs are formed by downloading of information from CD/DVD discs containing patent documentation, data conversion and arranging it in a unique format, data indexing and loading of information into the DB.

Updating

EAPATIS contains over 40 constantly updating databases. The total number of loaded documents has increased up to 34 million. The local DBs contain retrospective and current patent documentation of international organizations and national patent offices of countries of PCT- minimum documentation, EAPO Member-States, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Local databases have been replenished with 1.8 million of descriptions to patent documents. The scope of databases reached over 150 GB.

Storage, including mass storage media

By the end of 2009 the EAPO patent-information depository contained 51 local DBs, incorporated into 26 clusters. Each cluster contains DB of one country (patent organization) or disc series. The total volume of loaded and kept in the DB information is near 3 TB. The peculiar feature of the Eurasian patent-information space is availability of a unified access to all DBs via a unique searching interface of EAPATIS System.

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

Much attention was paid to formation and loading of local DBs of national patent documentation of EAPO Member-States and their improvement. The available information is loaded into these DBs and the access is open via the EAPATIS system. Much was done for broadening access to external DB of patent and non-patent documentation in the Internet based on virtual access and means of metasearch.

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

In-house systems (online/offline)

IPDL HIVE2 system: The system supports publication process and own patent collection processing in EAPO. It offers reliable storage of all documents used for publication, automation of the most of publication procedures, structured access to the stored patent information via client software or Web interface, multiplex search in bibliographic data and full texts considering languages morphology (Russian and English) and provides statistics on documents stored and on publication process.
In 2008 EAPO has implemented the system of electronic filing ADEPT – Application Documents Electronically Performed transition, supporting secure exchange of application documents between the offices of patent attorneys and EAPO. Transmission of documents is performed via the Internet through the safe TLS protocol. At present EAPO is filing over 42% of applications electronically.
Eurasian Patent System (EAPATIS) is the main information and search system. In 2009 over 82 000 patent searches have been performed.


The automatic search report processing system (SRP) was commissioned in 2002. In 2009 the system has undergone updates and developments. SRP was created for aims of search and selection of reference patent documentation and non-patent literature quoted in international search reports and is systematized by technical fields. In 2009 search was conducted in respect of 2035 Eurasian applications. Out of 7584 reference documents, contained in applications, examiners were provided with 7378 documents in electronic form. Availability of reference documents for examination procedures was 97.3%.
Information support of EAPO activities was realized by means of maintenance and development of the EAPO corporate site. In 2009 the site was reorganized, restructured and redesigned.
In 2009 EAPO continued its work on development of production, issue and web-publication of the EAPO electronic bulletin. In 2009 the technology was implemented in the patent office of the Republic of Belarus.

External databases

EAPO examiners apart from EAPATIS are using the EPO search system EPOQUE, as well as open access systems and databases such as esp@cenet, , EPOLINE, Patent Scope, JOPAL and others.

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

EAPO uses "Toolbox-EPTOS" system.
EAPO keeps a Register of Eurasian patents accessible to the wide public in electronic form

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

IPDL HIVE-2 System: 2 Intel-based servers (CPU 2xXeon 3200MHz, RAM 4 GB); Windows 2000 Server (Russian version), IBM DB2, IBM WebSphere Portal, IBM Content Manager.


№ Title of server equipment Number
1 SunFire X2200 server M2 9
2 SunFire X2100 server 5
3 Sun Blade 6000 Gen2 Midplane Chassis 1
4 SunFire v280R server 1
5 Sun Blade X6270 server module 4
6 Sun Blade T6320 server module 1
7 Sun StorageTek 2510 Array 1
8 Sun StorageTek 2540 FC Array 1
Intel (EPTOS set) servers 5
SE3120 JBOD Array 1
Sun Storage D1000 Array 1
С2 LTO-3 Tape storage 1
9 Sun Ray 1g thin client 10
10 Sun Ray 2 thin client 20


№ Software number
1 IBM DB2 Content Manager Enterprise Edition Authorized User Annual SW Maintenance Renewal 20
2 IBM DB2 Universal Database Workgroup Edition Server Install Annual SW Maintenance Renewal 1
3 IBM DB2 Universal Database Workgroup Server Edition User Annual SW Maintenance Renewal 4
4 IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software Authorized User Annual SW Maintenance Renewal 1
5 IBM WebSphere Portal Server (20 User Pack) 1
6 IBM IBM WebSphere Portal 6 1
7 Solaris operating system 11
8 Open Enterprise Server with LDAP eDirectory (cluster configuration) (уровень сервиса 8С) 1
9 NetMail (100 User License) (уровень сервиса 8С) 1
10 Access Manager Prior (100 User License) (уровень сервиса 8С) 1
11 Secure Login 6, (100 User License), (уровень сервиса 8С) 1
12 Sun Java System Identity Manager 1
13 Novell Access Manager 20
14 Novell eDirectory 20
OS: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, Windows Server 2003 Standard и Web Edition, Windows Server 2000 Rus.

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

In 2008 EAPO created the system of electronic storage of documents. Two servers (main and backup) and disc arrays were acquired. In 2009 EAPO continued to form an array of CD/DVD disc images and a reserve array of CD/DVD disc images. The array is further used to provide access from EAPATIS to full descriptions of patent documents at a faster speed as well as safety of original media.
The volume of downloads is 16.2 TBT.

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)

Collecting, acquisitions, preparation

In 2009 EAPO lounged electronic library on the corporate site in experimental mode. The library contains subscriptions and publications of EAPO personnel.

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

In 2009 EAPO received specialized magazines, books, brochures covering various aspects of patent activity. The corporate site displays legal, referential and statistical information, documents covering office's activity (plans, orders, instructions, regulations, other); news and announcements, useful links to internet sources and other.
To provide examiners with reference materials EAPO cooperates with BEN (Library of Natural Sciences), VINITI (Library of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information), VPTB (All-Russian Patent and Technical Library).

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)

There are two ways to access EAPATIS (http://www.eapatis.com/): for payment and for free.
In a free access all kinds of searches (advanced, number, professional) may be conducted in EAPO DB as well as searching by number of a document in other patent DB. The search results are presented in the form of abstract and bibliographical descriptions of patent documents. Services of virtual access to full specifications of patent documents from external sources and search in IPC DB are rendered.
Access on a paid basis is open to all DB of the system in advanced, number and professional modes, as well as metasearch. Front pages and full specifications of Eurasian patents and published Eurasian applications are presented. Services of virtual access to full specifications of documents are available from external sources, subject search in EAPATIS DB using IPC DB, search in IPC DB.
Access on a paid basis will be provided after concluding an agreement on patent and information services on EAPATIS basis (http://www.eapatis.com/info/descript.htm#P4).
In 2009, EAPATIS responded to 710 thousand user requests. As for national patent offices, the largest number of queries came from the patent offices of Russia (over 90 thousand), Belarus (about 67 thousand), Kazakhstan (over 65 thousand), Ukraine (about 12 thousand), Uzbekistan (around 9 thousand). During the year under review, the number of free of charge search queries from third parties, visiting the system as guests, grew by roughly 30%. Free access to EAPATIS, based on agreements providing for reciprocity, is provided to the Office of Industrial property of the Czech Republic and to the Korean Intellectual property Office (KIPO). 19 companies were provided with access to EAPATIS for payment among them higher educational establishments, patent attorneys, enterprises, organizations and private entrepreneurs.

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

http://adept.eapo.org/

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.

In Russian
http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/inventors/001.html - general information about the Eurasian patent procedures
http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/getpatent/ - brochure "How to Get a Eurasian Patent"
http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/information/attorneys.php3 - database of Eurasian patent attorneys
http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/eapatis - database of full descriptions of published Eurasian applications and patents, transliteration table for common terms
http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/blancs/blancs.html - application forms
http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/documents/docs_norm.html - legal texts
In English
http://www.eapo.org/eng/ea/information/attorneys.php3 - Eurasian patent attorneys
http://www.eapo.org/pdf/HowToGet_ENG_2009-1.pdf - brochure "How to get a Eurasian Patent"
http://www.eapo.org/eng/ea/eapatis - database of full descriptions of published Eurasian applications and patents
http://www.eapo.org/eng/ea/documents/ - legal texts

http://www.eapo.org/rus/reestr/fees.php3 - on-line cross-currency rates for fees calculation

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

In Russian http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/index.html
In English http://www.eapo.org/eng/ea/
www.eapatis.com
http://ea.espacenet.com

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

In 2009 EAPO exchanged patent information on CD-ROM/DVD with WIPO, EPO, ARIPO, OAPI and 48 national patent offices. The following EAPO official publications were circulated: the Gazette, CD-ROM with descriptions of inventions to Eurasian applications and patents; CD-ROM with legislative, normative and methodical and reference documentation of EAPO, CD-ROM «Eurasian applications and patents, Summary index, Annual Index and Annual Report.
EAPO collection on CD/DVD has been replenished with over 1143 discs of current series.

Medium used for exchange of priority documents

Electronic form is used for receiving priority documents of international applications entering the regional phase at EAPO.
Paper form is used in other cases including preparation and sending certified copies of Eurasian applications.

Medium allowed for filing applications

Applications may be filed on paper and electronically

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

In 2009, the Eurasian patent Office continued to finance advanced studies of specialists from EAPO member-states at the Russian State Educational Institute of Intellectual Property (RGIIS). Thus, EAPO provided the possibilities for 7 specialists from national patent offices to study there under a retraining program, and 4 experts from national offices were provided with the possibility to study by correspondence and to do postgraduate studies.

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

In 2009 EAPO conducted training on EAPATIS and other information and search systems for examiners of the Office. Profound and individual training was organized and financed for newly employed examiners. Special training courses were organized for 28 representatives from national patent offices of EAPO Member-States for on-the-job training at EAPO. Consultative and methodical assistance has been rendered to examiners while conducting patent searches.
In April EAPO held a workshop on Legal Protection of Industrial Property. Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.

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

During the year under report EAPO took part in 17 international events where EAPO representatives participated as speakers.

Each year EAPO organizes seminars at EAPC Contracting States. In 2009 EAPO was a co-organizer of the following events:
- International Symposium on Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan Republic
- regional seminar on Automation of a Modern Patent Office and Electronic Filing, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan
- seminar on Promoting Innovations and Strengthening SMEs in CIS Countries, Republic of Armenia.

In March/April 2009 EAPO took part in the 12th Moscow International Salon of Industrial Property "Archimedes". The booth of the EAPO provided information about the Eurasian patent system, about EAPO activity and its information products.

A meeting with Eurasian patent attorneys, which is traditionally dedicated to the World Intellectual Property Day, took place on April 26, 2009 at EAPO.
Leading specialists of the Eurasian Patent Office informed the participants of the meeting about aspects of EAPO activity, which can be useful for their professional activity and development of cooperation with the Office.

Studies to identify trends in new technology, e.g., by the use of patent statistics and preparation of monographs

EAPO specialists wrote several articles to leading magazines in the field of industrial property.

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)

E-filing
Since 2008 EAPO started its own project ADEPT (Application Documents Electronically Performed Transmission). The project is aimed at secure exchange of application documents between EAPO and offices of patent attorneys. Exchange of documents is realized via the Internet and a safe TLS protocol.
At present 42% of applications are filed electronically
https://adept.eapo.org – production server of e-filing

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://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/documents/docs_norm.html in Russian
http://www.eapo.org/eng/ea/documents/ in English

contain the Annual Report of the Office

http://www.eapo.org/rus/ea/reports/index.html

contain patent-related news regarding the Office

http://www.eapo.org/eng/ea/news/

X. Other relevant matters

In 2009 EAPO elaborated a Concept of Information Security. The document covers main safety principles, evaluation of risks, main trends and tasks of EAPO information safety.