Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2014 submitted by State Intellectual Property Service of Ukraine
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PATENT INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of patent information activities and expected time frames for their realization
The main documents that determined directions for the development of patent information activities in 2014 are the Concept of the Development of the State System of Intellectual Property Legal Protection for 2009 - 2014, the Program of the Development of the State System of Intellectual Property Legal Protection for 2010 - 2014, the Basic directions of the State Enterprise "Ukrainian industrial property Institute" activities concerning realization of the Concept of the Development of the State System of Intellectual Property Legal Protection for 2009 - 2014, as well as annual plans of activities of the State Intellectual Property Service of Ukraine (hereinafter - SIPS) and the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Industrial Property Institute" (hereinafter – the SE "UIPI"). All these documents contain sections "Patent information support in the sphere of intellectual property and provision of wide public with access to the information related to intellectual property rights acquisition", which, in particular include:
- comprehensive development of the main directions of patent information support in the sphere of intellectual property;
- improvement of information support of the examination of industrial property rights applications in accordance with the worldwide trend of preferable use of information resources in a global Internet network, including access to the commercial databases;
- unification of the patent documentation international exchange procedure which is carried out with the purpose of acquisition of patent collections of the state system of intellectual property legal protection, taking into account the trends of transition of the intellectual property offices in many countries to the submission of patent information on the Internet only;
- implementation of series of actions aimed at ensuring the continued acquisition of patent information resources of Ukraine with the national patent documentation, improvement of this process by means of gradual transition to acquisition by the official publications exclusively on electronic carriers;
- development and realization of series of actions aimed at creating and development of the digital patent library;
- participation in the activities on unification and harmonization of the patent documentation of Ukraine with taking into account the world experience and in accordance with the international standards of the World Intellectual Property Organization and the current legislation of Ukraine;
- implementation of the activities for information safety improvement, including the international standard ISO/IEC 27001:2005 "Information technology – Security techniques – Information security management systems – Requirements" certification of the SE "UIPI".
Besides, the development of patent information activities is stipulated by the Concept of the development of information and technical support of the main activities of the SE "UIPI" for the years 2013 - 2015 and by schedules of the projects on expansion of the Inventions Automated System (INVENTIONS AS).
The trends planned for implementation within the 2013 - 2015 period are the following:
- improvement of the automated system for automation of means for quality control of the applications examination, search reports formation and expansion of the search tool functional possibilities;
- introduction of the automated systems for pending international applications in accordance with the status of International Searching and International Preliminary Examining Authorities (ISA/IPEA);
- improvement of the search portal;
- introduction of electronic state registers of the titles of protection for inventions and utility models;
- completion of conversion of applications collection on paper carriers into electronic form;
- introduction of a new version of electronic filing system.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
In 2014, in the framework of the project on modernization of the Inventions AS, a number of tasks on extension of functional capabilities of the automated system were realized.
Among the most important of them are:
- development of the new procedures and functions to prepare the official publications, registration and control of documents and archival files, calculation of statistical indicators;
- use of MS SQL Server 2012, implementation of the Unicode industry standard for lettered values;
- inventions database restructuring for storing information of legal entities and individuals.
Exchange of electronic documents via ePCT online service of the International Bureau of WIPO was also provided in 2014.
To ensure automatic generation of statistical reports for WIPO and on the requests of public authorities, specialized software tools were realized in the Inventions AS environment in 2014.
Integration of the Inventions AS with the general Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) was carried out. An integrated complex of systems provides processing of general and technological electronic documents. At the end of 2014, the integrated complex was put into trial operation.
In April 2014 Information Security Management System was implemented at the SE "UIPI" meeting the requirements of the international standard ISO/IEC 27001:2005. It's accordance with the new edition of the international standard – ISO/IEC 27001:2013 – was provided in September.
The works on the Digital Patent Library (DPL) were continued in the state system of intellectual property rights protection.
A new important step in this direction was the EU-funded TWINNING project "Strengthening the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Ukraine" which was launched in April 2014.
In May 2014 the first working visit of the European experts – representatives of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office to Ukraine took place as a part of subcomponent of the specified project "Improvement of the Digital Patent Library".
During the visit the EU experts were acquainted with presentations of the SE "UIPI" on the current status of the DPL and its development perspectives, in cooperation with the Ukrainian specialists analyzed the composition of resources and services of the DPL. By the results of the visit, the European experts prepared a description of the DPL, conducted a comparative analysis with the best European analogues and prepared recommendations for improving the existing system.
Another visit of the European experts – representatives of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office to the SE "UIPI" was held in July 2014. During the two working meetings consideration of issues associated with implementation of the TWINNING project subcomponent "Improvement of the Digital Patent Library" was continued, in particular, the issue of identifying ways of further development of the DPL in Ukraine as a part of the project. According to the results of the visit in August 2014 the EU experts prepared and provided to the SE "UIPI" report containing proposals and recommendations for the improvement of the DPL, based on the analysis of the comparison with the best samples of the EU.
Recommendations provided by the EU experts for the improvement of the DPL were thoroughly analyzed by the Ukrainian experts and became the basis for the necessary conceptual and strategic decisions, the results of which determined measures that should be implemented during 2015.
The DPL is available on the Internet at http://library.ukrpatent.org.
Main areas of patent information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
The main types of patent information activities include examination of applications for patents (utility models), formation of search databases for internal use in the examination body, publication of information about applications and registered patents (utility models) in the official bulletin, support of operation of the existing and creation of a new interactive databases and information and reference systems for information servicing of the wide range of users via the Internet. Publication of information on patents (utility models) is also performed on optical carriers.
Processing of applications for patents (utility models) is carried out by means of the Inventions AS which has full functionality of the text processing and record keeping at all stages, from filing of an application to completing examination and maintenance of the state registers of patents of Ukraine for inventions and utility models.
An automated workplace of the Editorial Department is used for formation of the information arrays, which are included to the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist".
In view of discontinuation of a paper edition of the official bulletin starting from 2015, special software was developed at the end of 2014 for the official bulletin preparation on optical carrier.
Data generation for updating corresponding databases on the Internet is carried out by means of special Inventions AS software. The software modules were implemented in the Inventions AS to support export of bibliographic data in the XML format in accordance with the WIPO standard ST.36.
In 2014, a number of measures were implemented in the direction of the development of the IT infrastructure:
- two HP DL380 Gen8 servers were put into operation where virtualization technology was implemented;
- HP 3PAR StoreServ 7200 data storage system with the storage capacity of 20 TB and HP MSA 2040 data storage system for database backups with the storage capacity of 40 TB were put into operation.
In 2014 network control software Intelligent Management Center (IMC) was put into operation. The HP IMC program is used for centralized local networks control. It provides for processing of crashes, network security and productivity control, backup copying and upgrade of network switches settings. The program enables complex control of the IT-infrastructure and system architecture scaling.
There was also commissioned the DPM system (Data Protection Manager), family of Microsoft System Center 2012 R2, for backup and recovery of servers in the event of accidents. It is used for centralized provision of continuous protection and reliable data recovery for all the servers (SQL Server, virtual servers, file servers) and support of desktops and laptops running Windows operating systems.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
Inventions
Applications filed:
in 2013 –5 418, in2014 – 4 813, i.e. 11,7 % decrease with respect to the previous year.
Patents granted:
in 2013 –3 635, in2014 – 3 319, i.e. 8,69% decrease with respect to the previous year.
From 01.02.2014 to 31.12.2014 within the framework of experimental tests of electronic filing system for industrial property rights (IPRs) 161 applications for inventions were received (4,73 % less than in the previous year).
In 2014, the highest percentage of filed applications for inventions was in the following technical areas: "Medical or veterinary science; hygiene" – IPC Class A61 (13,1 %); "Organic chemistry" – IPC Class C07 (9,9 %); "Agriculture: Forestry; Animal husbandry…" – IPC Class A01 (6,9 %); "Measuring; Testing" – IPC Class G01 (4,1 %); "Foods or foodstuffs …" – IPC Class A23 (3,6 %); "Biochemistry; Beer; Spirits; Wine; Vinegar; Microbiology; Enzymology; Mutation of Genetic Engineering" – IPC Class C12 (3,4%).
Utility models
Applications filed:
in 2013 –10 175, in2014 – 9 384, i.e. 7,77 % decrease with respect to the previous year.
Patents granted:
in 2013 –10 137, in2014 – 9 196, i.e. 9,28 % decrease with respect to the previous year.
From 01.01.2014 to 31.12.2014 within the framework of experimental tests of electronic filing system for IPRs 115 applications for utility models were received (14,18 % decrease with respect to the 2013 year).
In 2014, the highest percentage of the filed utility model applications was in the following technical areas: "Medical or veterinary science; Hygiene" – IPC Class A61 (19,8 %); "Measuring; Testing" – IPC Class G01 (8,7 %); "Agriculture; Forestry; Animal husbandry…" – IPC Class A01 (4,1 %); "Foods or foodstuffs …" – IPC Class A23 (3,8 %).
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
Annual Reports, statistical information, the Annual Technical Reports of the Office:
http://sips.gov.ua/ua/plans_reports.html
http://sips.gov.ua/en/plans_reports.html
News of the Office on the issues related to patents:
Information on patent legislation:
http://sips.gov.ua/ua/normative_acts.html
http://sips.gov.ua/en/normative_acts.html
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
Information for applicants on filing applications for inventions and utility models is available at the web-site of the SE "UIPI" (http://www.uipv.org).
Information and means for filing electronic applications are posted at the Electronic filing of applications web-page (http://base.uipv.org/efiling/).
The software product "Applicant Off-line Module" was developed and put into operation in the SE "UIPI" for preparation of application materials on paper. It can be downloaded from the web-site of the SE "UIPI" (http://base.uipv.org/off-line/).
Access to on-line publications containing information on inventions and utility models is provided through the web pages of SIPS and the SE "UIPI":
http://www.uipv.org/ua/bases.html;
http://www.sips.gov.ua/ua/info_resurses.html.
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
There operates an automated technological system which ensures implementation of the procedures for examination of applications for inventions and utility models, as well as for maintaining the state registers of the mentioned titles in the SE "UIPI". Applications filed on paper are converted into electronic form and loaded into the electronic document archive. Applications filed through the electronic filing application system are entered into the electronic archive in an automatic mode. Thus, the electronic archive contains all application materials in electronic form ("electronic application dossiers").
Classification1, preclassification2 (if applicable), reclassification3 activities; classification systems used (e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC)); matters concerning indexing of patent information
The Ukrainian version of the International Patent Classification (IPC-2014.01) was used for classifying patent documents of Ukraine in 2014.
Within the Inventions AS the software system for checking the classification symbols is operative. It includes classification guides and specialized software for checking the allotted classification symbols and reclassifying.
In 2014 the whole collection of applications for inventions and utility models was reclassified according to the current Ukrainian version of the IPC-2014.01.
Abstracting, reviewing, and translation of the information contained in patent documents
Abstracts and bibliographic data are formed routinely in three languages (Ukrainian, Russian and English) for publication in the National CD-ROM "Invention in Ukraine" and on the Internet in the specialized database "Inventions (Utility Models) in Ukraine".
Other activities
III. SOURCES OF PATENT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Main types of publications of the Office (patent applications, full text, first pages, abstracts, bibliographic data, granted patents, etc.), medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
Information of the Office concerning patents (utility models) is provided in the following publications (printed editions, patent information products on optical carriers, free electronic databases (DB) and information and reference systems (IRS)):
The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (Industrial Property) – printed periodical edition;
The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on DVD with search system;
The National CD-ROM "Inventions in Ukraine";
DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (http://base.uipv.org/searchBul/);
Specialized DB "Inventions (Utility Models) in Ukraine" (http://base.uipv.org/searchINV/);
Shared DB "Information on Invention Applications Accepted for Examination" (http://base.uipv.org/searchbul/search.php?dbname=appinvc);
IRS "Invention and Utility Model Applications Prosecution Status" (http://base.uipv.org/searchInvStat/);
IRS "Information on Patents of Ukraine for Inventions (Utility Models) Deemed to be Invalid or Expired" (http://base.uipv.org/searchInvRevoke/);
IRS "International Patent Classification. Ukrainian Version (2014.01)" (http://base.uipv.org/mpk2009/index.html?level=c).
Information concerning inventions and utility models is published in Book 1 of the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" in paper format in the following sections: "Information on Invention Applications Accepted for Examination", "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Inventions", "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Utility Models", in the Indexes to each section and in the Notices section.
Printed publications of the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" contain:
- for section "Information on Invention Applications Accepted for Examination" – bibliographic data;
- for sections "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Inventions", "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Utility Models" – bibliographic data and claims.
The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" was issued both on paper and electronic (DVD) carriers twice a month – 24 issues of the bulletin were issued during 2014. The Annual Index to the paper edition of the Official Bulletin for the previous, 2013, year was also published.
Ukrainian patent (utility model) specifications on electronic carrier were issued with the same frequency – the National CD-ROM "Invention in Ukraine".
Publications in electronic information resources contain:
- DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" – information concerning inventions and utility models in the same scope as in printed edition. Moreover, information concerning legal status of patents (as an extra operational element) is provided in the sections "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Inventions", "Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Utility Models";
- Specialized DB "Inventions (Utility Models) in Ukraine" – bibliographic data, claims, abstracts, specifications and information concerning legal status of patents.
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
In the section "Notices" of the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (printed and electronic publications) with the periodicity of its release announcements in respect of registered inventions (utility models) (to the extent provided by the respective applicable Law of Ukraine) are published including information:
- on renewal of patents of Ukraine for inventions, the object of which is drug, means of animals protection, means of plants protection, the use of which requires approval of the competent authority; changes in the information entered into the State register of patents of Ukraine for inventions, information on issue of the patents duplicates, information about correction of obvious errors in specifications to patents of Ukraine for inventions, modifications due to the correction of errors and other information relating to registration of patents of Ukraine for inventions;
- changes in the information entered into the State register of patents of Ukraine for utility models, information on issue of the patents duplicates, information about correction of obvious errors in the specifications to patents of Ukraine for utility models, modifications due to the correction of errors and other information relating to the registration of patents of Ukraine for utility models.
The said information is available at www.sips.gov.ua and www.uipv.org.
Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external collections and databases
The search collection (Patent Information Base – PIB) for carrying out patent information searches for the state of the art in the course of the substantive examination of patent applications has been in operation since July 1, 1997.
The PIB contains national and foreign patent collections on electronic carriers (CD-ROM and DVD-ROM), first of all of international and regional intellectual property organizations (WIPO, the EPO and the EAPO), leading Offices falling within the PCT Minimum Documentation. Documentation available in the search collection has sufficiently deep retrospective. The PIB collection on optical carriers was updated in 2014 by 400 discs and as of December 31, 2014 was more than 6 700 discs. The gradual decrease of the number of discs with foreign patent documents received by PIB (as compared with previous years) was caused by the discontinuation of traditional ways of publishing patent documents on physical carriers and making them accessible through the Internet by some foreign offices.
The search collection of the national patent documentation, which is used in the local mode, includes Inventions AS database (bibliographic data) and the Central Electronic Documents Archive (CEDA).
During 2014, the examination Reference and Information Collection (RIC) – the PIB constituent – increased with encyclopedias, reference books, legal and instructional and methodological literature, periodicals (including on electronic carriers).
As a search collection of non-patent literature, in addition to foreign commercial databases (the list is given in below), the following resources were also used in 2014:
- collection of the State Scientific and Technical Library of Russian Federation (under the Agreement on receiving electronic copies of the necessary sources of information from its collection);
- free national and foreign Internet resources, in particular, electronic digital libraries, as well as accessible collections of more than 70 largest national and specialized libraries of Ukraine.
Updating of the PIB was implemented by current acquisition of patent documentation, in particular:
- updating of the Inventions AS database and CEDA was implemented routinely by scanning incoming documents, converting them into electronic format and loading to the appropriate databases which are accessible from the web-portal of SIPS and the web-site of the SE "UIPI";
- electronic documents filed through electronic filing application system are loaded to the databases in the automation mode;
- foreign patent documents on electronic carriers, which were received by the SE "UIPI" in the framework of international exchange, were loaded into the electronic database of the Search Portal.
Foreign patent documentation on optical carriers of those countries which sent it to the SE "UIPI" in the framework of the exchange of patent documentation and which, above all, is a part of the PIB was processed in 2014.
Therefore, the available search collection of foreign patent documentation which was used for carrying out examination of applications for inventions and utility models at the SE "UIPI" in local mode includes patent collections of the EPO, WIPO and foreign patent Offices on CD/DVD converted into the Search Portal database.
Moreover, to provide effective and qualitative search in the course of patent applications examination, 11 foreign commercial databases (including one new resource) which provided access to the PCT Minimum Documentation (patent documentation and non-patent literature) were used during 2014. These include the following databases: the EPO search system EPOQUE Net; Chemical Abstracts Service (via STN); Reaxys; Derwent World Patent Index; ScienceDirect® ArticleChoice™; web-portal of the WIPO ARDI Program; products of the American Chemical Society (ACS); IEEE Xplore digital library; digital library Wiley Online Library of the Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., the databank of the All-Union Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of the Russian Academy of Sciences; All Encyclopedias of Rubricon databsase as well as patent information product "Utility Models Specifications of the Russian Federation Titles of Protection" on DVD for the years 2000-2013.
The EPOQUE Net system proved to be the main search tool among foreign commercial Internet resources as it provided access of examiners to the patent documentation of the PCT Minimum Documentation to the full extent.
In 2014 activities on providing access of the SE "UIPI" examiners to foreign commercial databases that contain the PCT Minimum Documentation (patent documentation and non-patent literature) became particularly important in the context of appointing SIPS as an ISA/IPEA under the PCT and providing patent information support of the mentioned International Authorities functions.
Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to external users, conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
For information support of the wide range of public free access to the information concerning patents is provided through the web-portal of SIPS and the web-site of the SE "UIPI" – see the List of DBs and IRSs above.
Annual reports of the Office (in Ukrainian and English), Annual Technical Reports of the Office in Ukrainian, quarterly review "Industrial Property in Figures" which includes basic indicators of the activities of SIPS and the SE "UIPI" are also accessible for free on the web-portal of SIPS and web-site of the SE "UIPI".
External users could also purchase the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on DVD with a search system and the National CD-ROM "Inventions in Ukraine".
The Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on paper carrier and DVD is distributed for free in the framework of updating patent collections of certain organizations of Ukraine by national patent documentation according to the Registries of free-of-charge distribution approved by SIPS.
See also Part 1 of Section 5 concerning the PPDC.
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
Information concerning legal status of the registered patents of Ukraine for inventions (utility models) to the extent prescribed by the applicable law of Ukraine is published in the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit" in section "Notices" both on paper and in electronic form (DVD "Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit" and DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit").
In addition, such information is provided in the IRS "Information on Patents of Ukraine for Inventions (Utility Models) Deemed to be Invalid or Expired" and (as an extra operational component) in the relevant sections of the DB "Electronic Version of the Cumulative Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnit" and specialized DB "Inventions (Utility Models) in Ukraine".
Other sources
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
Business procedures in the process of pending patent applications and maintenance of the State Register of titles of protection for inventions are supported by the Invention AS. Invention AS software is designed under the technology Client-Server. The structure of the Invention AS database ensures storage of all bibliographic data and provides wide opportunities for search purposes.
Internal computerized systems for inventions and utility models include Incoming Documents AS, Fees Accounting AS, the CEDA, Output Documents AS.
In 2014, the integration of the Invention AS with several new internal computerized systems was performed:
General Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) provides a full cycle of passing the document from its formation (or registration in case of receipt by mail) till execution;
Global Catalogue of Correspondents is designed for maintenance of the SE "UIPI" numerators (for generating the registration numbers of documents), records of persons - correspondents and different classifiers of general use. Procedures for maintenance documents classifier and other classifier were implemented.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
Hardware is integrated in the Local Area Network (LAN). The network infrastructure consists of the WatchGuard XTM-520 device which contains the VPN and Firewall modules for connection with the Internet and the internal router (designed on the Unix server) to support the internal network. Having two firewalls enhance overall security.
The Cisco and HP equipment is used as network switches.
The internal network is divided into ten virtual networks (Vlan).
The network uses the following technical means:
- HP (DL380G5, DL380G7, DL380Gen8), Intel (SE7520JR2, SE7501WV2) and Supermicro (6025B-8) servers;
- HP (3Par StoreServ 7200, P2000, MSA2324fc, MSA1000), IBM (ProFibre Storage Array) and Infortrend (EonStor A16F-G2430, EonStor S12F-R1420, EonStor S16F-R1430) information storages;
- equipment for the SAN network (Qlogic SANbox 5600, HP SAN Switch 8/24, HP SN3000B);
- equipment for the LAN HP (Procurve 2910aI-24G, Procurve 2510-48, Procurve 2530-48).
Operating systems and software:
- on physical servers – operating systems Windows Server 2012R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Unix;
- virtualized servers on VMware ESXi and Hyper-V (Microsoft);
- DBMS – MS SQL 2008R2, MS SQL 2005.
Domain structure of the Active Directory (AD), which allows central managing of all Enterprise's information resources, including users, computers, files, peripherals, and access to the services, network resources, web-sites, databases etc. was designed.
Multiple domain controllers are used for organization of the domain structure fault tolerance.
The WSUS server provides updating of the servers and client computers operational systems.
The anti-virus server "Kaspersky Anti-Virus" provides control of all anti-viruses on the users computers, updating of the anti-virus databases, report generation on updating databases and existing threats.
The Microsoft software product – System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) –which provides continuous data protection for reliable recovery of Windows servers is used for backup data reproduction. The plan of all servers and services upgrading after a failure was adjusted.
Measures for the IT infrastructure improvement were aimed at building a fault-tolerant core of the computer network, increase of its capacity, security and manageability, replacement of obsolete hardware infrastructure components, consolidation and virtualization of servers. Virtualization servers are combined into clusters providing high availability of all systems.
Measures were introduced to ensure compliance of the IT infrastructure with requirements of the complex information security system. Security feature is enabled at the network switch ports, making it impossible to connect unauthorized devices to the corporate network. Changes are introduced to the passwords policies that meet safety requirements. Two-factor user authentication system was implemented and is based on hardware-software device for generation and verification of digital signatures. To manage network equipment, information storages and SAN switches a secure HTTPS protocol and the SSH application layer network protocol were introduced.
In general, the corporate network consists of 600 PCs, 30 servers and other equipment.
Connection to the Internet for search and view of information was implemented for information systems users.
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
To ensure business processes, the following databases are used in the Office:
- database of the Central Electronic Documents Archive which provides storage of documents and their attributes in electronic form;
- technological database which ensures execution of record-keeping procedures on the examination and maintenance of the state registers of inventions and utility models;
- special database for ensuring the functions of electronic filing of applications for inventions and utility models;
- the Search Portal database which provides possibility for experts to carry out search in many collections of patent and patent-associated literature.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
The Search Portal was created to access and search the patent documentation sources and non-patent information in the process of examination of patent applications.
In 2014, in the framework of international exchange of patent documentation the SE "UIPI" received optical discs with patent documents from foreign patent offices. Loading of data from 469 optical carriers to the active information storage and its accessibility for search through the Search Portal was provided.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
Functions of the administrative management were implemented in the environment of the Inventions AS by separate software subsystems and software modules.
So, the multi-functional subsystem for maintenance of registries and legal status of titles of protection for inventions and utility models operates in the Inventions AS. Information from this system is channeled to the appropriate database for publications and statistical reports formation.
Statistics subsystem "Indexes" is characterized by the possibility of multiple reports formation with implementation of the indicators calculation tools for objects that have multiple credentials, namely:
- indicators on receipt of applications by "IPC", "applicants";
- indicators on registration of titles of protection by "IPC", "owners";
The possibility to expand the list of indicators was laid down in the subsystem. The function of conducting automated analysis of the calculated data and forecasting was performed in this subsystem. The possibility to enter data on the main economic indicators of the state development and other external factors that directly affect the status of the inventive activity of the applicants was also foreseen.
Other matters
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF PATENT INFORMATION
Patent library: equipment, collection management, network of patent libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign patent libraries
In order to satisfy public needs for patent information in Ukraine the Public Patent Documentation Collection (PPDC) functions within the structure of the SE “UIPI” branch "Ukrainian Centre of Innovatics and Patent Information Services" (hereinafter – the Branch). The PPDC is the most comprehensive patent library in Ukraine available to the public (intellectual property office library).
International cooperation with WIPO, the EPO and patent documentation international exchange with foreign patent offices has been the main source of foreign patent documentation over extended periods. Such international cooperation allowed accumulating a considerable amount of current and retrospective foreign patent documentation of 4 international and regional intellectual property organizations and 65 countries, first of all on optical carriers, in the State system of intellectual property rights protection.
During 2014 the PPDC was updated by 69 copies of official bulletins on paper, over 11 thousand patent specifications on paper, about 700 optical discs with current patent documentation and over 5.5 thousand optical discs with backdated patent documentation. As of 31.12.2014 the PPDC numbered about 21 thousand copies of official bulletins and over 428 thousand copies of patent specifications on paper and the collection of patent documentation on optical discs exceeded 27.7 thousand items.
Proper storage of the PPDC documents meeting specified requirements and guaranteeing their safety was ensured during 2014.
In particular, visual control of unauthorized persons access to the PPDC premises was carried out constantly which made their access to the documents repositories impossible and the documents were provided to the users solely in the reading room. Modern technologies for ensuring protection of library collections from theft and damage (video surveillance) were also used. The fire safety (fire alarm, alert, fire fighting) was assured; checking of the fire and protection alarm, alarm systems in emergency situations is carried out every year; proper ventilation and air conditioning is ensured.
The PPDC is located in the premises of the Branch in the three specially adapted and equipped areas (two depositaries with the total area of 81 sq. m. and a reading room of 40 sq. m.). The PPDC is equipped with 12 up-to-date computers with appropriate licensed software, as well as scanners, printers and xerographic copying machines.
Consultations concerning better ways to carry out information search, qualified making retrieval schedule, search on CD-ROMs and in the remote free databases of patent documentation via the Internet etc were provided on free of charge basis.
In particular, 364 consultations concerning verification of correctness of compilation of application materials, including 140 for patents for invention/utility models, were provided in 2014.
Consultations on the most common issues were provided on a day-to-day basis:
- concerning the finding out of the object of invention or utility model in the materials presented by the applicant (in total for the year – about 40 consultations);
- detection and cessation of unlawful use of IPOs.
A separate services on drawing up responses to the requests of the expert body under the applications for inventions and utility models are provided (two in the reporting year).
Within the fulfillment of users requests the employees of the Branch provided appropriate services, including carrying out different types of search of patent information and documentation.
In particular, 785 information searches were carried out during the 2014: 154 title searches were made by all IPRs on the requests of arbitration managers and liquidators of bankrupt enterprises; 37 title searches by all IPRs ordered under the contracts; 7 searches of patent families; 25 thematic searches ordered according IPRs in different countries (26 countries), in particular Russia, USA; 64 information searches regarding inventions and 409 searches regarding utility models to conduct a preliminary evaluation of compliance of the declared object with conditions of legal protection; 81 searches according to specialized database "Inventions (Utility Models) in Ukraine" in sections A and C; 3 thematic information searches regarding inventions (utility models); 5 requested monitorings of owners or customers.
A service that allows to obtain quick information on the protected industrial property objects and to analyze the violations of the corresponding rights provides for the opportunity to respond to the market situation.
To prevent the third parties rights violations and to promote fair competition, specialists of the Branch carried out 3 patent researches according to DSTU 3575-97 and composed 3 patent patterns ordered by the customers. These services are in demand by customers, including the tender procurements.
In 2014 the PPDC was attended by nearly 92 users, 1`% of which were legal entities and 99% – individuals.
Promotion of the PPDC was carried out during the year through its presentations at the relevant public events, informative meetings with students. Numerous consultations were rendered by the Branch staff to their visitors and participants during such meetings, over 20,000 copies of information materials (brochures, booklets, publicity releases and business cards) were distributed.
Information concerning the contents of the PPDC and its quarterly updating was published in the "Information resources" section on the web-portal of SIPS (http://www.sips.gov.ua), web-sites of the SE "UIPI" (http://www.uipv.org) and the Branch (http://www.iii.ua).
Publications related to different business procedures and patent information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
Office's initiatives on providing foreign patent information in the local language(s) (e.g., machine translation tools, translation of abstracts)
Cooperation with universities, research centers, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
During the reporting year with the purpose of updating patent collections of certain state and national libraries, bodies of national system of scientific and technical information and universities, departments of which are entrusted with the appropriate information functions, the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" (on paper carrier and DVD) and the National CD-ROM "Inventions in Ukraine" which contains specifications to the patents of Ukraine for inventions and utility models was sent free of charge to the specified and some other organizations of Ukraine.
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
SIPS pays great attention to the skills upgrading of experts involved in the state IP protection system.
As part of exchange of experience, training and skills upgrading, officials of the state IP rights protection system took part in a few events arranged by international organizations, governments and foreign IP offices during the past year.
In 2014, within the TWINNING Project, SIPS hosted working meetings with European experts, as well as training sessions and courses for SIPS and the SE "UIPI" experts, patent attorneys, officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Office of General Prosecutor of Ukraine, customs authorities of Ukraine, judges of the economic and administrative courts, and local courts of general jurisdiction, attorneys, Internet providers and other professionals involved in IP.
As part of the subcomponent "Professional Development of UIPI examiners", European experts, along with Ukrainian colleagues, prepared a program in the form of a paper, which was distributed among examiners and will allow them choosing those training modules they are interested in. In October, the first of five training sessions was held titled "Let Train a Tutor", it was aimed at training mentor examiners who would elaborate training programs for introductory courses and act as tutors. The event welcomed, inter alia, examiners of the department of examination of applications for inventions, utility models and topographies of integrated circuits.
The SE "UIPI" organized a number of events aimed at improving the quality of examination of applications for industrial property rights, namely training workshops on Examination of Patent Applications in Engineering, on Aspects of Examination of Technically Groundless Inventions in Thermodynamics, on Identifying the Patentable Subject Matters, and on Patenting in Certain Technical Fields – Focus on Chemistry.
In 2014, SIPS received 29 requests for certification from patent attorney candidates. The Certification Commission certified 21 person as patent attorneys. As of December 31, 2014 there were 445 registered patent attorneys in Ukraine, who render IP services in 41 cities and 24 regions of Ukraine.
In 2014, SIPS held international research-to-practice conferences, workshops, webinars, social activities, topical lectures, round-table meetings, etc.
On September 9-11, 2014, Kyiv hosted the XXII International Research-to-Practice Conference "Topical Issues of Intellectual Property", organized by SIPS, the SE "UIPI" and WIPO. This year organizers extended the range of issues under discussion at the Conference, namely, besides standard matters of legal protection of copyright and related rights, and examination of industrial property rights, the issues of IP rights enforcement on the Internet and IP litigation were addressed considerably. Thus, a workshop on IP rights enforcement on the Internet, arranged under the auspices of WIPO, became an effective forum for discussion of problematic and topical issues for judges, lawyers, officials of prosecution and customs authorities. Topics for other sections of the Conference were sorted out in view of the European integration path of Ukraine, which allowed not only to discuss the matters raised in the light of signing of the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement, but to draft respective guidelines for government agencies and national business section as well. Therefore, participants of the Conference took an active part in all sessions, in particular on Acquisition and Protection of Industrial Property Rights Under the Adaptation of National Regulatory and Legal Framework to the EU Standards, on Problematic Issues Relating to the "Private Copy" Fee in Ukraine, and on the Methods of Improvement of Judicial System as Part of Harmonization of Legislation of Ukraine with the EU Law.
Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, under the auspices of WIPO, hosted the International Research-to-Practice Conference "Current Challenges and Pressing Issues of IP in Ukraine and Europe". Program of the Conference covered the issues of state control in IP and innovation activities, control over contractual relations in IP, management of innovation projects and IP system of companies, legal protection of individualization means. The event was attended by the officials of the IP rights protection system of Ukraine.
SIPS and WIPO arranged webinars dedicated to the Advantages of Patent Classification as a Search Tool, and the Basics of Patent Search in Databases.
In 2014, state IP inspectors of SIPS conducted a few outreach campaigns in various regions of the country and took part in thematic meetings on IP organized by other organizations and institutions.
In the reporting year, the SE "UIPI" hosted a few workshops for applicants: "Specifics of Examination of Applications for Inventions, Utility Models and Topographies of Integrated Circuits", seminar on consideration of objections by the Appeals Chamber of SIPS and "Information and Analytical IP Support for Companies".
Other activities
An important aspect of SIPS activity as to the training of IP experts is the International Summer School on Intellectual Property under the auspices of WIPO, SIPS and the National University "Odesa Law Academy". In the reporting year, from July 21, 2014 to July 27, the 6th International Summer School was held only for the Ukrainian students and young professionals at the premises of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Summer School stirred great interest in the Ukrainian youth showing clearly the rise of awareness of IP significance for the progress of the country and economic advancement in the oncoming generation.
In 2014 the Branch ensured the functioning of the Industrial Property Internet Exchange the aim of which is to promote domestic inventions to the market, to encourage the development of inventive and innovative activities, to increase the level of public awareness of the intellectual property importance, to inform the wide range of interested public.
Services provided to the clients of Industrial Property Internet Exchange in the framework of the agreements are:
- compilation, coordination, translation, posting on the web-site and accompaniment the customers information about the IPRs;
- work with individuals that have expressed an interest in the IPRs, represented on the Internet Exchange (over 2000 consultations on the matters of functional activity of the Industrial Property Internet Exchange and Branch);
- 19 contracts on placing the information about IPOs on the Internet Exchange were concluded.
During 2014, 21 projects regarding inventions and utility models were placed in the Internet Exchange.
To promote development of the talented and creative youth of Ukraine, the Branch created a useful resource – the Factory of Ideas – that unites young people not indifferent to the science seeking to develop the scientific potential of our state, to promote inventive activity and to implement their own ideas and developments in life.
The purpose of its functioning is to identify, support and promote the development of the gifted pupils and students, young scientists, inventors, researchers and innovators.
The users of the resource placed their best practices and ideas on the pages of the Factory of Ideas free of charge.
In 2014 the Factory of Ideas had about 180 projects.
Detailed information on other activities of SIPS, the SE "UIPI" and the Branch in 2014 is contained in the 2014 Annual Report, section 6.2. Research-to-Practice Conferences, Workshops and Outreach Campaigns and section 6.3. Creativity Encouragement (http://sips.gov.ua/i_upload/file/zvit2014eng-WEB.pdf).
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION
International exchange and sharing of patent information in machine-readable form, e.g., priority documents, bibliographic data, abstracts, search reports, full text information
The functions of patent documentation international exchange are performed by the SE "UIPI", recognized in 2003 by the law as the Centre of international exchange of publications according to the Convention on International Exchange of Publications, adopted on December 3, 1958 by the UN General Conference on the matters of education, science and culture.
In the framework of international exchange of patent documentation in 2014 the SE "UIPI" sent the Official Bulletin "Promyslova Vlasnist" on DVD to 16 foreign patent offices and organizations. The National CD-ROM "Inventions in Ukraine" was sent to 7 offices in 2014.
In 2014 the SE "UIPI" also stopped documentation exchange on material carriers with Rospatent and mutual documentation exchange via FTP-servers of the Offices was started.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to patent information
Since2002 inthe framework of the relevant interdepartmental agreement Ukraine has been involved in the release of a joint regional patent information product of the CIS countries CISPATENT on CD-ROM the technical executor and coordinator of which is the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) of Rospatent.
In the reporting period 16 monthly information arrays of Ukrainian patent data were generated within the framework of the common information array of CIS countries patent data and transferred to the FIPS through the ftp-server. Monthly disks are made available on the ftp-server in the form of an archived file. Current discs contain the following information in respect of patent documents of Ukraine:
- bibliographic data and abstracts in Ukrainian, Russian and English;
- claims, specifications with drawings in Ukrainian.
In total, in 2014, information on 8 000 documents from Ukraine was included in the current editions of CISPATENT that amounts 17% of the total volume of the published documents.
In 2014 the SE "UIPI" was receiving 1 copy of the disc.
In the framework of continuing cooperation with the EPO on data exchange aimed at providing representation of retrospective and current Ukrainian patent documentation in the EPO Internet resource Еsp@cenet (since 2008) and with the aim to fulfill the obligations of the SE "UIPI" under the relevant Agreements on access to the EPO EPOQUE Net search system, in the reporting year according to the defined procedure the SE "UIPI" loaded to the permanent EPO FTP-server data on patent documents of Ukraine (bibliographic data, abstracts in Ukrainian and English) which ensured a solid foundation for successful bilateral cooperation with the leading office.
During 2014 the SE "UIPI" completed loading the national patent documentation for 2013 and current 2014 (partially without translations of abstracts into English) to the FTP-server.
Each loading is accompanied with sending an appropriate message to the specified address at the EPO.
In2014 in the framework of international cooperation the SE "UIPI" experts took part in the work of the Committee on WIPO Standards Task Forces on carrying out the following tasks:
- preparing amendments to the WIPO Standard ST.14;
- development of a new WIPO Standard for data exchange concerning the legal status of patents.
Assistance to developing countries
Other activities
One of the priority objectives of SIPS is to ensure effective functioning of the quality management system of the examination procedure for industrial property rights applications introduced in 2012 (International Certificate № 321012076 of 17.10.2012).
According to the results of the supervisory audit of the quality management system carried out by the Dekra Certification Company in 2013 the examination body confirmed that the implemented quality management system complies with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2008.
VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
1.Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application.
2. Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner). Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office.
3. Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC). The new symbols are available on patent databases.