SCIT.ATR.PI.2006.UA

Annual Technical Report 2006 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Ukraine (SCIT/ATR/PI/2006/UA)

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

Inventions
Applications filed:
in 2005 – 5,592, in 2006 – 5,930, i.e. 6 % more than the previous year.
Patents granted:
in 2005 – 3,719, in 2006 – 3,705, less by 0,4% than the previous year.
On February 17, 2006 patent No. 75,000 of Ukraine was registered.
Utility models:
Applications filed:
in 2005 – 7,286, in 2006 – 8,171, i.e. 12 % more than the previous year.
Patents granted:
in 2005 – 7,467, in 2006 – 8,268, i.e. 10,7% more than the previous year.
On June 15, 2006 utility model patent No. 15,000 of Ukraine was registered.

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

Class A61- “Medical or Veterinary Science; Hygiene” (12,3% of filings), Class C07 – “Organic Chemistry” (10,6%), Class A01 – “Agriculture; Forestry; Animal Husbandry…” (6,3%), Class G01 – “Measuring; Testing” (4,6%).

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

http://www.sdip.gov.ua/ukr/about/statistic/potochna/
http://www.ukrpatent.org/ua/statistics.html
http://www.ukrpatent.org/en/statistics.html

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.)

The main publications of the State Department of Intellectual Property (the State Department) on inventions and utility models are the normative documents, the Official Bulletin “Promyslova Vlasnist’” (“Industrial Property”), patent specifications of Ukraine for inventions and utility models, methodical literature.
During the year under review 12 issues of the Official Bulletin “Promyslova Vlasnist’” and the Annual Index thereto for the year 2005 appeared. The changes in the form and contents of the announcements published in the Official Bulletin and the Annual Index thereto are caused by the changes in the legal framework. During the year 11,972 patent specifications of Ukraine were published.
Besides the printed publications, the Official Bulletin “Promyslova Vlasnist’” and the patent specifications were also published on electronic media: 12 issues of “The Official Bulletin “Promyslova Vlasnist’” CD-ROM and 12 issues of the national CD-ROM “Inventions in Ukraine” appeared in 2006.
During the year the Official Bulletin and the patent specifications, both on paper and on CD-ROM, were provided free of charge to 20 organizations of the system of scientific and technological information in Ukraine.
The publication of the data of the Ukrainian patent documents was also continued on the joint regional CD-ROM “CISPATENT”.
In 2006 a methodical handbook “Patent Documentation of Ukraine”, the methodical recommendations “The Filing of an International Application” and “The Methodical Recommendations on Drafting and Filing an Appeal to the Appeals Board of the State Department of Intellectual Property” were prepared by the specialists of the State Enterprise “The Ukrainian Industrial Property Institute” (hereinafter referred to as “the Institute”) and published.

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

Information on inventions and utility models is published in the Official Bulletin “Promyslova Vlasnist’”, in the following parts of Book 1 of the Bulletin: “Information on the Applications for Inventions Accepted for Examination”, “Information on the Grant of Patents of Ukraine for Inventions”, “Information on the Grant of Declaration Patents of Ukraine for Utility Models”, in the Indexes for each part and in the “Notifications” part.
The layout of the Bulletin is prepared automatically by the software tools of the “Vynakhody” (“Inventions”) automated system.

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

The mass storage media used for storage of information on inventions and utility models at the Institute are the servers of the electronic databases and DVD discs.

Word processing and office automation

The complete set of procedures concerning word processing, automation of the clerical work in respect of applications for inventions and utility models is supported by the automated system (AS) “Vynakhody” (“Inventions”).
In 2006, a technology for scanning and conversion into the electronic form of application documents was introduced at the division responsible for receiving and recording of the applications filed. The digitized data are immediately loaded into the database of the central electronic documents archive and become available to the examiners.
During 2006 a complex of works aimed at the development of the technological document circulation was completed. The system for the electronic technological document circulation was put in pilot operation. A concept of an electronic application file and the central electronic document archive was put in practice and will form a basis for the implementation of a paperless technology of applications processing.

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

The data arrays for publication are formed by a specialized workstation at the editorial division. The prepared layout of the publication is forwarded to the printing office for replication.

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

The on-line publications of patent documents are accessible from the web pages of the State Department of Intellectual Property and the Institute”
http://www.ukrpatent.org/ua/bases.html;
http://www.ukrpatent.org/en/bases.html

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

Abstracting, reviewing, translating

In 2006 the following measures for updating the patent databases with the back file data were implemented:
- formation of various lists of documents (availability or absence in the database, language of presentation, etc.);
- scanning of complete specifications;
- conversion of data formats;
- formation and downloading of various arrays of patent documents from the database;
- drafting of abstracts;
- preparation of patent documents data in three languages (translation);
- uploading patent documents to the data sources: the database of the AS “Vynakhody” and the electronic archive (E-Archive).

Classification and reclassification 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)

Within the AS “Vynakhody” a software system for checking of classifications is operative. It includes classification guides and specialized software for checking the allotted classifications.
In 2006 the complete collection of applications for inventions and utility models was reclassified according to IPC-8.
In the year under review the automated system “Management of the Ukrainian Version of the IPC” was designed and implemented at the Institute. The introduction of this system enables the Institute to maintain the Ukrainian version of the IPC by means of:
- uploading the IPC data to the database;
- forming the files for the translation of the IPC into Ukrainian;
- generating an XML-file of the Ukrainian version of the IPC;
- forming the layout for printing on paper;
- creating a Ukrainian HTML-version of the IPC for posting on the web-site.
The titles of the classification places of the current edition of the IPC defined by the “List of the Technical Areas where the Ukrainian Patent Documents are Classified According to the Advanced Level of the 8th Edition of the IPC” approved by the State Department on October 14, 2005, were translated from English into Ukrainian. A Concordance table between the advanced level classification symbols used for the classification of Ukrainian patent documents and the respective core level classification symbols was prepared and posted on the web-site of the Institute (http://www.ukrpatent.org/en/mijn_klasif.html).
The patent documents requiring intellectual reclassification according to the current edition of the IPC were selected and reclassified by the examination staff of the Institute. The results of the reclassification of the body of the patent documents have undergone a preliminary analysis. Despite the implementation of the advanced level in certain areas there is still too many documents relating to each classification symbol. An investigation as to the possible introduction of additional coding schemes in such places was carried out.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

File building

The database of the AS “Vynakhody” is used for performing the searching in the national collection of inventions and utility models.
The search database “Inventions of Foreign Countries” was formed to enable the examiners to conduct search in the collections of patent documents published by other patent offices. Foreign databases are also used via the Internet.
In 2006 preparatory works were accomplished for the test access to the patent information system of the EPO – EPOQUE Net as from the year 2007.
In order to enhance the productivity and quality of patent searching works a search portal integrated with the system supporting decision-making and a dynamic knowledge base was established at the Institute in 2006. The integrated search portal of the Institute provides a comprehensive access to patent information in accordance with the requirements of the examiners enabling a search using a single user interface for access to various sources of patent and non-patent information, both local and remote, including access to patent information systems via the Internet (esp@cenet, USPTO, JPO etc.). The system for support of decision-making enables an automation of the process of preparation of a search report.

Updating

Updating of the search database “Inventions of Foreign Countries” is performed by uploading the data from the optical media received by the Institute in the framework of international exchange of patent documentation.
In order to update the technological database of the automated system “Vynakhody” and the central electronic archive of documents a technology of creating and loading the national retrospective patent documents was developed: complete patent specifications for inventions in the image format, claims and abstracts.
In the second half of 2006 over 11,000 claims of inventions for the period after the year 1993 were loaded that had not been available before. Also in the second half-year 6,000 abstracts of inventions and utility models were prepared and loaded into the database.

Storage, including mass storage media

The means used at the Institute for mass storage of data on inventions and utility models are the servers of the electronic databases and DVD discs.

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

The foreign patent documentation on optical media received by the Institute in the framework of international co-operation and exchange of patent documentation: the publications of WIPO, the EPO, the USPTO, the Russian Patent Office, the former SU Patent Office, the JPO.

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

In-house systems (online/offline)

The in-house computerized search systems for inventions and utility models comprise the search systems of the automated system “Vynakhody” (“Inventions”), “Input Applications Register”, the search database “Inventions of Foreign Countries”, the automated system “Pokaznyky” (“Indicators”).

External databases

For information supply of the public at large the following interactive databases accessible via the Internet (http://www.ukrpatent.org/ua/bases2.html) are used:
- Specialized database “Inventions (Utility Models) in Ukraine”;
- Database “Electronic Version of the Official Bulletin “Promyslova Vlasnist’”;
- Information and reference systems (IRS) “Processing Status of Applications for Inventions” and “International Patent Classification. Eighth Edition. Core Level”.
- Databases on optical media (CD-ROM): “The Official Bulletin “Promyslova Vlasnist’” and the national CD-ROM “Inventions in Ukraine”.

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

Administrative support and maintenance of the State Register are realized by the registry database and the specialized workstation of the State Registry functioning in the environment of the automated system “Vynakhody”. The legal status data are captured in the said database. The statistical indicators are collected by the special software.

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

The automated system “Vynakhody” is functioning in the LAN environment under the operating system Windows 2000 Server. Up-to-date personal computers with operating system Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional are used as workstations. During 2006 30% of the computer hardware stock was renovated. The examiners’ workstations were equipped with new liquid-crystal displays (TFT).

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

In order to accelerate searching, to avoid errors when forming search requests and to provide reference information electronic dictionaries are integrated into the automated system “Vynakhody”. They include: information about patent attorneys, tables of the valid symbols of the IPC, reference lists of the classification titles, classifiers of the input and output documents (letters, requests, demands etc.), classifiers of the kinds of fees, normative, reference and additional information.

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)

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)

The Public Patent Documentation Collection (PPDC) is the most comprehensive public patent library in Ukraine. It contains patent documentation of 65 countries and 4 international and regional organizations.
As of the end of 2006 the PPDC contained over 18,200 copies of official bulletins and 227,700 patent specifications on paper. Patent specifications of foreign countries are mostly on optical carriers. The overall collection on optical discs increased by 1,200 items during the year and as of December 31, 2006 amounted to 11,500 discs. Information on the content of the PPDC and its quarterly updates is posted on the web-sites of the State Department (http://www/sdip.gov.ua),, the State Enterprise “The Ukrainian Industrial Property Institute” (http://www.ukrpatent.org) and its branch “The Ukrainian Centre for Innovatics and Patent Information Services” – UkrCIPIS (http://www.ip-centr.kiev.ua).

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.ukrpatent.org/ua/inventions.html
http://www.ukrpatent.org/ua/zayavka.html

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), patent databases, etc.), as well as information on how to access and utilize them

http://www.ukrpatent.org/ua/publications.html, http://www.ukrpatent.org/en/publications.html,
http://www.sdip.gov.ua/ukr/information (Ukrainian only),
http://www.ukrpatent.org/ua/bases2.html, http://www.ukrpatent.org/en/bases.html

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of patent documentation and information

Implementation of the Statement of Principles Concerning the Changeover to Electronic Data Carriers for the Exchange of Patent Documents (please provide a status report on the extent to which your Office has changed over to electronic data carriers for the exchange of patent documents)

In the framework of the international exchange of patent documentation the Institute that is appointed by the law as the centre of international exchange of publications is sending the national patent documentation to 46 foreign patent offices and receives it from 41 offices.
Beginning with the year 2005, the national patent documentation in the framework of international exchange is provided to the foreign patent offices only on CD-ROM.
Besides, machine-readable data of the patents of Ukraine (bibliographic data, abstracts in English) are provided for inclusion to the EPO databases under the international co-operation arrangement since the end of 2003.
Applications for inventions are filed on paper carrier; when filed together with an electronic copy, the filing fee is reduced by 10%.

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 2006 the State Department held over 20 seminars and conferences on the current problems related to the acquisition, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights targeted at IP specialists from the big industry, research and development institutions, higher educational institutions, small and medium-sized businesses, representatives in the IP matters, law firms located in Kyiv and all over Ukraine.

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

In the second decade of April a Week of Industrial Technologies was held at the Kyiv Expo Plaza Exhibition Centre, including the 2nd International exhibition “Inventions and Innovations”.
On September 11 through 15, 2006 the Tenth International Scientific and Practical Conference “Current Problems of Intellectual Property” was held in Alushta, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC). The Conference was organized by the State Department in co-operation with WIPO and the Council of Ministers of the ARC. Among its participants were representatives of Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia, Republic of Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Romania, the USA, France, Czech Republic and of 3 international organizations: WIPO, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), representatives of the European Commission in Ukraine – nearly 300 participants in total. The main attention was focused on the strategic issues of the development of intellectual property and exploitation of IP rights: achievements and prospects of the State system of intellectual property, the topical issues and further development of the IP law, problems of examination of applications for industrial property rights, modern information technologies and patent information support. During the conference a presentation of the electronic filing system, round tables on examination of applications for IP rights and strategy of exploitation of IP rights were held, including a WIPO regional seminar for judges on the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
In 2006 the UkrCIPIS acted as co-organizer and informational sponsor of the 2nd International Salon of Inventions and New Technologies “New Times” held in Sebastopol, supported the initiative of the Internet project “Information Union of Small and Medium-Sized Business in Ukraine” and the periodical “MM. Money and Technologies“ in organizing the All-Ukrainian competition “Domestic Applied Scientific and Technical Developments for Small and Medium-Sized Business”, participated in the 5th national exhibition of high technologies and competitive products “Ukrtechnology-2006” held on December 6 through 8, 2006.
As every year, the All-Ukrainian Competition of inventive activities “Invention of the Year” and a competition for the WIPO award for SMEs with innovative activity were held. The WIPO awards were handed over during the celebrations of the Inventor and Rationalizer Day in September 2006.

Assistance furnished by offices to facilitate the changing over of receiving offices to electronic data carriers for the exchange of patent documents (see also sub-item 4 of item VI, above)

The Internet Exchange of industrial property operating on the web site of the UkrCIPIS continued its activities of providing information on the patented inventions proposed for introduction or sale, requests for the development of new products and technologies. A special Internet resource for the creative young people “The Factory of Ideas” was established at www.fabrika.kiev.ua.
Within the framework of co-operation between the State Department and the EPO the specialists of the EPO conducted in Kyiv during the year 2006 4 seminars for the examiners of the Institute in chemistry and biotechnology.

Main patent and industrial property information magazines/journals published in the country or region of the Office

During 2006 the publication of the monthly scientific and practical journal “Intelectualna Vlasnist’” (“Intellectual Property”) continued. The journal deals with the theoretical and practical problems of the legal protection of intellectual property rights, in particular, of inventions and utility models. Current information on the news in the sphere of intellectual property, the contents of the coming issue of the journal etc. are posted on the web-site of the journal at http://www.intelvlas.com.ua.

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

http://www.sdip.gov.ua/ukr/laws/, http://www.sdip.gov.ua/eng/laws/
http://www.ukrpatent.org/ua/legistation.html
http://www.ukrpatent.org/en/legistation.html
http://www.sdip.gov.ua/ukr/about/statistic/zvit/ http://www.sdip.gov.ua/eng/about/Stateng/zvit3/
http://www.sdip.gov.ua/ukr/news/, http://www.sdip.gov.ua/eng/, http://www.ukrpatent.org/en/index.html
http://www.ip-centr.kiev.ua

X. Other relevant matters