Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2022 submitted by

Please provide links to your website where the requested information can be found in English, French, or Spanish.  Alternately, you may provide text responses instead of URLs if desired.  If the information is not available on your website in an ATR language, then please provide text.

URLs in responses should meet the following requirements:

• Link to pages with information in English, Spanish, or French
• The URL will remain stable over time (at least three years, preferably more)
• Goes to the specific information requested, not to a general homepage
• If the URL goes to a long PDF document such as an annual report, please indicate which sections or pages contain relevant information.
• Provide additional instructions for using the URL if needed. For instance, if the page requires the user to login first, or if the requested information requires selecting certain options or filters on the page that can not be included in the URL. 

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

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of trademark information activities and expected time frames for their realization: Conducted several user seminars and advertising
2. New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks: Seminars for users for informative reasons - Partners EUIPO (to create awareness). Advertising to the public via media - Partners EUIPO (to promote IP rights)
3. Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year: Conducted webinars to users regarding the new trademark law and the implementation of EUTM Directive
4. Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes: 2022 applications: 951 - 11% decrease compared to previous year - 2022 registrations: 976 - 8% decrease compared to previous year
5. Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.: CY IPO website https://intellectualproperty.gov.cy

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

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs: Conducted webinars regarding Trademark procedures
2. Availability of the application dossier in electronic form: Application dossier is considered to be confidential data. As a result, a register is created containing the valid data of the trademark application and all changes related to the trademark. The online register is available through the tool TMView and our section's online trademark register available on our website.
3. Matters concerning classifying
   1. Classification and reclassification activities; classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification
   2. Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied: No reclassification activities. We follow Nice classification and we use the tool TMClass. Regarding the coding of the figurative elements, we follow Vienna classification which is used in our search tool and Ascepto (back office system)
4. Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, color mark, etc.): With the enforcement of the new Trademark Law in 2020 Cyprus now can accept all types of non-traditional marks
5. Other activities

III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

CY IPO went through various seminars related to Trademark information

1. Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs): Publication of trademark information is mostly available online on our website while some information is still available on paper on the Governmental Printing Office. Our website also contains other informative material
2. Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.: Announcements regarding trademark application data and changes are published on our website. The frequency of publication is irregular depending on various matters. Some announcements are still published on the Governmental Printing Office once a month
3. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases: Online tools like TMView and national register search tool are available for the public and examiners. Examiners also use the back office system and databases provided by EUIPO
4. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.): Online tools like TMView and national register search tool are available for the public and examiners. Examiners also use the back  office system and databases provided by EUIPO. For online applications it is mandatory for the user to be registered in the governmental portal. Search in our register can also be performed on our premises after paying a prescribed fee
5. Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.): Information provided to the users and the public is limited to trademark data and procedures.
6. Other sources

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

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements: We use a back office system to file applications and data and execute all workflows. A new back office system is planned to be developed which will be a common platform for all the sections of the office and will be more flexible, modern and paperless
2. Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office: Personal computers (PCs)
3. Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources: We use the database of our back office system which is linked with other systems (TMView etc). We also use other databases such as databases provided by EUIPO and WIPO
4. Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file: Online tools are updated daily with the insertion of new data and changes of the existing ones
5. Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support): No administrative management electronic systems are available. Administration rights exist in our back office system providing advanced statistical reports for the management.
6. Other matters

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

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. Office's library (if deals with trademark information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries: Office's library in our website
2. Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.: An annual report is issued once a year containing several information regarding the Department. Any other information or specific procedures are available online through our website
3. Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.: Not available for the year 2022
4. Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.: Seminars are performed on the context of the law changes and other Trademark procedures
5. Other activities

VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

1. International exchange of trademark information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes): )Not available
2. Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information: Participation in activities organized by EUIPO and WIPO assembly
3. Assistance to developing countries: Not available
4. Other activities

VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS