SCIT.ATR.PI.2008.BR

Annual Technical Report 2008 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Brazil (SCIT/ATR/PI/2008/BR)

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

Applications for national BR patents increased from 23.221 in 2007, to 26.232 in 2008 (+13,0%), although the data for 2008 are not final because of PCT numbers. Patents granted increased from 1.855 to 2.824 from 2007 to 2008 (+52,0%).

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

Statistics related to Brazilian patents applications are available at
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/instituto/estatisticas-new-version.

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

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

(1) Paper Patents Documents
The published patent applications documents are prepared by the Dissemination, Documentation and Technological Information Center (CEDIN), a Division of the Directorate of Institutional Partnerships and Technological Information (DART) that is responsible for the dissemination of the technological information. The patent applications documents are published with a letter code “A”, the utility models are published with a letter code “U” and the Addition Certificates are published with a letter code “E”. Letter codes “B”, “Y” and “F” refers to, respectively, granted patents of invention, utility models and Addition Certificates. Copies of all published applications are sent to the search files, and all the bibliographic data is available to consultation at an internal database (SINPI) and at internet (www.inpi.gov.br). The first page of Brazilian patent documents contains bibliographic data, according to WIPO standards.

(2) Industrial Property Gazette
Since April 2005, official notices and selected bibliographic data relating to BR patent applications and granted patents are internally generated and published in the official weekly electronic Brazilian Official Gazette (Revista da Propriedade Industrial - RPI). Some officials gazettes are available on the Brazilian Patent Office website in PDF and TXT format, at http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-superior/revistas, and all the published officials gazettes are stored in the library and are available to the public.

(3) ESPACENET
Brazil sends to the European Patent Office the bibliographic data and electronic copies of the whole patent invention and patent utility model applications, as soon as the domestic publication was done (18 months after the application date or the oldest priority date, when there is a priority date, or before this period if required by the applicant), to be part of EPOQUE database and of the searchable website at Espacenet. In 2008, approximately 1,2 milion pages of patent documents were digitalized and sent to EPO, which corresponds to about 32.000 patent documents.

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

INPI's website (www.inpi.gov.br) plays an increasingly important part in the dissemination of notices regarding to patents, as well as it informs the public and the community of users all the information concerning training activities, events and legal information concerning intellectual property.

Besides that, the official gazette weekly provides to the users the information concerning INPI's decisions on patent matters.

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

The Office has DVD and CD-ROM collection containing published or granted US, WO, EP, DE, ES, FR, JP, OA and CH patent documents, and paper copies of the whole documents can be provided for internal or external demands.

The Office has also a paper collection of BR, US, WO, EP, AU, CA, NL, DE, CH, GB and FR patent documents classified according to the IPC, and they are used in search activities.

INPI has also the microforms patent document collections from BR, ES, US, FR, GB, DE and CH. This collection has been frozen since the implementation of the search systems: CD-ROM, DVD, Epoque, Dialog, Internet, SINPI etc, (internal users); and CD-ROM, DVD, Internet (external users).

Word processing and office automation

The Patent Office uses Microsoft Windows and BROffice, which provides an integrated and extensive network of applications that are available to all staff. All personal have their own workstation on which numerous applications are available. Word processing can be carried out using Microsoft Word and BROffice Writer; PowerPoint, Excel, BROffice Impress and BROffice Calc are also available; IPC 8 has been translated to Portuguese and is available through Internet at http://pesquisa.inpi.gov.br/ipc/index.php.

Search tools, including online access to commercial databases, are available to technical staff, patent examiners and technical personal performing patent information activities to external users. There is also a corporate mainframe database (Integrated System of Industrial Property - SINPI), for processing the life of a BR patent application, where searches can also be performed. The Office's intranet contains a very large collection of essential information for the INPI staff.

Copies of the documents cited in the search reports are produced in-house to supply the applicants. All the staff access the Internet and the Office’s intranet and has their own official e-mail addresses.

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

The Office's website provides online access to the patent applications documents and the patent gazettes can be accessed in http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-superior/revistas. Brazilian patent applications database is available through Internet at http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-superior/pesquisas.

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

Abstracting, reviewing, translating

No service of translation, abstracting and reviewing is conducted by INPI.

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)

Patent applications are classified by INPI staff according to the 8th edition of the International Patent Classification (advanced classification). If it is necessary, some documents are reclassified.

Bibliographic data and full-text processing

Bibliographic data are used for search using the internal system (SINPI) and through Internet (http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-superior/pesquisas).

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

File building

File building and updating of search files, classified under the IPC is centralized. BR patent documents collection is arranged according to the IPC, as well as in numerical order. Collections of US, EP, WO, FR, GB, DE etc. patent documents are available in paper, in CD-ROM or DVD and in microforms, within certain date ranges.

In 2008 the collection of patent documents increased 22.567 paper documents and 134.300 documents contained in DVD or CD-ROM.

Updating

Administrative staff carries out updating of search files centrally.

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

Paper collection contains US, WO, EP, AU, CA, NL, DE, CH, GB and FR patent documents.

CD-ROM and DVD collection contains US, WO, EP, DE, ES, FR, JP, OA and CH patent documents.

Either paper or digital documents are available through search techniques, for internal patent examiners and external users.

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

In-house systems (online/offline)

The SINPI (Integrated System of Industrial Property) database is the in-house system available for searching. Technical searching can be carried out using the IPC code or indexing terms, combinations of terms from the same or different headings for searching patent documents, legal status or other parameters. Brazilian patent applications database is available through Internet at http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-superior/pesquisas.

External databases

Since 2005 the patent examiners from INPI/BR have the access to performing searches at the system EPOQUE (European Patent Office Query). The patent examiners job is now facilitated with this tool.

Besides EPOQUE they also have the access to the databank DIALOG, and other specialized databases (chemical, biotech, etc.) in order to carry out searches in patent documents or other publications. The INPI staff access these databases using a number of online hosts that the Office subscribes to. The official policy is that a worldwide online search should be carried out as whole or part of every patent search or examination done in this Office. Workstations with CD or DVD drivers are used by the technical staff for information purposes and also by the external searchers.

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

Register, legal status and administrative support information is stored on the SINPI database.

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

Servers IBM and HP are used to support Internet, Internal Databases, E-mail and Intranet. The internal network uses a client-server arrangement on an Ethernet LAN running Informix Netware. The PCs used by all staff performing patent and information activities are Pentium 4, 2.8 GHz, machines with 17" and 21" screens and DVD drivers.

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

INPI does not use online thesauri.

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

Planning, administration, automation, security, buildings

INPI has an internal library that is conducted by the Dissemination, Documentation and Technological Information Center (CEDIN). The library collection contains technical books, pamphlets, manuals, some legal reports, name and subject-matter indexing books, periodicals and official gazettes from many different countries. The collection is located in the office’s main building in a securely manner, and the consultation can be done via intranet (INPI staff) or locally (INPI staff and external users).

Collecting, acquisitions, preparation

All INPI staff is free to suggest additional material for inclusion in the library collection, and the administrative manager periodically asks for suggestions.

In 2008 the library staff received approximately 2.813 requests from researchers and 3.423 copies of articles or technical information were demanded by the internal and external researchers. The library was updated with 646 new books, pamphlets etc.

In 2008 the library published 18 Bibliographic Alerts, that list new publications available in the library and help to divulgate matters concerned to intelectual property.

Collection management, preservation

The Dissemination, Documentation and Technological Information Center (CEDIN) are in charge of maintaining the library.

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

The library provides external services to customers. They provide copies of articles, technical searchers, and have a close contact with other specialized libraries from over Brazil and abroad. It can be accessed through the e-mail biblioteca@inpi.gov.br.

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 Patent Office's Search and Advisory Service continues to promote its activities in providing priced patent investigations. In 2008, 1.143 patent searches were processed.

INPI has developed a service (Central Enquiry Unit) to provide answers to customers’ doubts, available at INPI's homepage (http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/pasta_ouvidoria).

INPI sends to the European Patent Office the bibliographic data and electronic copies of the whole patent invention and patent utility model applications, as soon as the domestic publication was done, to be part of the searchable website at Espacenet.

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.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/patente, http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/patente/copy_of_patentes, http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/patente/pasta_manual.

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

Patent search services:
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/informacao/pasta_manual

Patent databases:
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/informacao/pata_bases

Patent application copy service:
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/informacao/pasta_copia

Patent grant copy service:
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/patente/pasta_servicos/fotocopia_html

Other services relating to a patent document
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/patente/pasta_servicos

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

INPI makes use of all relevant WIPO standards. In 2008, 56.814 published brazilian patents applications were sent to foreign patent offices in a cooperation exchange. In 2008, INPI has sent the brazilian patents applications (PI – patent invention, MU- utility model, C- additional certificate) and/or industrial designs documents (DI) in paper to OAPI (PI, MU, C, DI, with BR priority); RU (PI, C, with BR priority); GB, CU, DE (PI, MU, C, with BR priority) and PY (PI, MU, C, all the documents applied in Brazil). Also, INPI has sent to EPO the digitalized Brazilian documents by ftp.

Medium used for exchange of priority documents

In 2008, paper and ftp were the medium used for exchange the Brazilian patent documents.

Medium allowed for filing applications

Patent applications are accepted only on paper form. There is a project to accept online patent applications and the equipaments and programs required for the system are been purchased.

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 accordance with the Brazilian Innovation Law, INPI has began an extensive training program, including seminars and courses, aiming to prepare managers and technicians staff in different aspects of intellectual property.

By the end of 2008, INPI has trained over 3.000 people. Managers and technicians from Universities, Institutions of Research and Development, Secretaries of Science and Technology and institutions supporting small and medium-sized enterprises were trained.

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

The Brazilian Patent Office has an active bilateral and cooperation programs with different countries, including a number of developing countries. In 2008, the Search and Advisory Service carried out 7 free patent searches to WIPO under the Program of Patent Information Services for Developing Countries, and 42 free patent searches to Paraguay under a bilateral cooperation.

INPI also delivers seminars and lectures in different places including developing countries. In 2008, in partnership with WIPO and Indecopi, experts from INPI performed the first module of the Training Program to Patent Examiners of Latin America at Indecopi’s headquarters in Lima, Peru. Patents examiners from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Peru were trained.

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

The Directorate of Institutional Partnerships and Technological Information (DART) continued to promote, in 2008, INPI's presence at many exhibitions or seminars, and conducted visitors to the Office.

In 2008 INPI organized and took part in 22 seminars and 95 lectures in different places around Brazil and 2.398 people attended the seminars and 4.784 attended the lectures. Besides this, several courses was given in the country in order to promote de importance of the intellectual property.

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

Programs and Studies Division (DIESPRO), a Division of the Dissemination, Documentation and Technological Information Center (CEDIN), is in charge of preparing programs and studies with the aim of performing studies using the technological information available in patent documents in order to provide statistical information to monitor the trends in patent activity.

In 2008 INPI published the study “Technological Mapping of Biodiesel and Correlate Technologies under the Focus of Patent Applications” divided into three volumes as follows: Volume I (World), Volume II (Brazil) and Volume III (United States of America, China European Union). All the published studies, including the old ones, are available at http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/informacao/estudos_html.

In 2008 INPI started to publish a series of Technological Alerts consisting of a survey of the technology published worldwide on strategic affairs of the Federal Government. For each subject there will be a semiannual publication. In november the publication was about technologies concerned with Hearing Impairment and in december the publication was about Biodiesel. All the published Technological Alerts are available at http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/informacao/alerta-tecnologico-1.

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

Information on legislation related to patents is available at http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/patente/pasta_legislacao.

contain the Annual Report of the Office

The Annual Report of INPI is available at
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-esquerdo/instituto/copy_of_relatorios-de-gestao-new-version-new-version.

contain patent-related news regarding the Office

Patent-related news regarding to the Office is available at
http://www.inpi.gov.br/menu-superior/imprensa.

X. Other relevant matters

After being accepted in 2007 as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA), INPI started to prepare all the administrative and technical needs for the execution of this new task. In 2008 technicians from Directorate of Patents (DIRPA) and Directorate of Institutional Partnerships and Technological Information (DART) were trained on the Guidelines and Regulations of the Treaty. A working group responsible for the Quality Control System was created.

INPI implemented in 2007 the Innovation and Intellectual Property Academy. The Professional Master in Intellectual Property and Innovation received students from different areas (lawyers, engineers, managers etc) in the first and second classes of the course (2007 and 2008). In 2008 INPI started the selection process for the third class of the Professional Master (2009).

The Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and the National Institute of Metrology (INMETRO) are working in close collaboration in order to establish the Brazilian Center of Biological Material. The final objective of this project is not only to provide the necessary infrastructure for accepting patent applications in the biotechnological field with the biological material, but also to contribute for the organization of services, which will allow the offering of certificates for research and development, according to international requirements of safety. The Center will be located at Xerém, in Rio de Janeiro, and will be divided in two sections: one for materials in secrecy conditions and another for materials capable of being used in research. In 2008 the contract with company in charge of elaborating the projects for the construction of the Center was signed.

In 2008 the Program of Automatic Supplying of Technological Information (PROFINT) gave support to 58 institutions. INPI sent to these institutions 79.638 front pages of patent documents in 2008. These documents are selected in the IPC fields that the institutions have chosen. INPI has a signed contract with each one of these institutions.

In 2008 the Directorate of Patents (DIRPA) developed the guidelines for the technical examination of patent applications for products and processes implemented in computer. Guidelines were also developed for the drug field.

INPI developed in 2008 a methodology to evaluate and distribute the efforts done by patent examiners in order to obtain a final decision on the requests in the shortest time possible without harming the quality of service or overloading the system.

INPI is developing a project to execute quickly and make more efficient the filing and examination of patent applications in biotechnology. INPI is engaged also in the working group established by the National Committee of Biotechnology, with the aim of proposing improvements to the legal framework of intellectual property relating to products of biological origin.

INPI completed in 2008 the granted brazilian patent database. The database should be made available to the external public in 2009.