Annual Technical Report 2012 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by Croatia (CWS/ATR/TM/2012/HR)
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.
I. Evolution of registration activities
Changes experienced in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to the previous year
Year 2011 2012
National Applications 2292 2219
National Registrations 2471 1724
International Applications (designation HR) 5463 5323
International Registrations (designation HR) 5203 5340
International Registrations (office of origin HR) 180 151
Total number of active national registrations 27551 (Residents: 12360; Non/Residents 15191)
Total number of active international registrations 106140
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
The number of trademark applications filed by national route shows minor decrease of 3.2 % in comparison with the previous year. The significant number of trademark applicants renounced the application in the final phase of payment for the maintenance for the first ten years and for the publication of the trademark registration i.e. about 12% of applications in comparison with the total number of applications in 2012.
The legal institute of reinstatements of rights as a relief measure was used by 15% of those applicants who missed the time limits for the payments of maintenance fees.
The number of national registrations decreased significantly 30% partly due to the lack of substantive examiners and partly due to the frequent omissions of maintenance fee payments by the applicants.
The number of international application (designation HR) shows minor decrease in comparison with the previous year.
About 56 % of the national applications originated from the Croatian commercial entities showing minor decrease of 5% in comparison with the 2011,
In 2012 the majority of applications were filed in the class 35 and 41 followed by the classes 09, 05, 16.
The number of international registrations (office of origin HR) decreased 16%
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to trademarks
The statistics are provided at the SIPO Croatia web-page (http://www.dziv.hr/en/about-sipo/ip-statistics/), as well as a part of the monthly official Gazette published on the same web page (http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/the-croatian-intellectual/ )
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of secondary sources of trademark information, i.e., trademark gazettes
Publishing, printing, copying techniques
Since the 2006 Official Gazette of the SIPO is published monthly, and starting with the issue No. 05/2009 of May 2009 the Office discontinued publishing the Gazette in printed version and publishes it only as an electronic publication. The frequency of publication remained unchanged. It is fully available free of charge in the PDF-format at the official Office's web site (www.dziv.hr), including the archive of the earlier editions since the beginning of the electronic publication only. The gazette is also published on CD-ROM as an annual collection or individual publication at the request of a user (against the payment).
Official Gazette contains the following published information on trademarks: Publication of Trademark Applications, Trademark application Indexes by Numbers, Classification Symbols and Applicants, Publication of Record of Changes to the Register of Trademark Applications, Publication of Information on International Registrations of Marks for which Protection has been requested in the Republic of Croatia, Publication of Trademarks, Trademark Indexes by Numbers, Classification Symbols and Owners, Publication of Changes Entered into the Trademark Register, Publication of Trademark Extensions and Publication of Trademarks Expirations.
The information regarding published trademark applications and registrations is also available in the Office database containing public data from the Trademarks register, accessible through the Office website, free of charge. A range of search options is available including: Application Date, Registration Data, Proprietor, Attorney, Mark, Nice Class, Vienna class, Appearance, Register number.
Data are updated monthly, upon the issue of the Official Gazette.
Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of trademark information
Office notices on trademarks are published in the Official Gazette of the Office, as well as on the Office's web site within the Data base on published application and registrations of Industrial property rights in the Republic of Croatia.
Mass storage media and microforms used
The bibliographic data are stored in Ingres 10.0.1 database and trademark images are stored in a LINUX network file directory.
The Office maintains a complete history of its trademark files in paper form (except files that are filed electronically/through e-filling) and all information for trademarks applied electronically from 2000 to the latest.
Word processing and office automation
All staff uses MS-Word 2003 for word-processing that is operating in a Windows XP Professional environment.
Outgoing letters and SIPO’s gazette are fully automated and generated in MS Word
Techniques used for the generation of trademark information (printing, recording, photocomposing, etc.)
The bibliographic data are stored in the SIPO’s database via the application “Trademark’s Register” (which is developed in INGRES OpenROAD application development tool). Trademark images are stored on network discs (which are LINUX file directories).
Output documents and SIPO’s gazette are produced from automated MS Word templates.
Almost each outgoing letter is a MS Word template that consists of permanent text. Data, which are changeable and depend on application/publication number, are retrieved from the SIPO’s database via ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity). A trademark’s image is imported from the network disc.
All publishing data in SIPO's Gazette are formatted and followed by the INID codes according to the WIPO standard ST.60.
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide access to online trademark gazettes and to other sources of trademark information, including download of bulk trademark data
http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/the-croatian-intellectual/
http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/on-line-database-search/trademarks/
http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/on-line-database-search/international-trademarks-hr/
III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of trademark information
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 (please indicate whether goods and services for the registration of marks and whether the figurative elements of marks are classified by your Office and, if so, which classification(s) is (are) used)
The Nice Classification Systems of Goods and Services 10th edition, is used for the registration of marks. The classification specialist of the Office checks if the correct classification and wording is used.
For figurative marks Vienna classification (5th edition) is applied by office staff at the time of application. Marks are scanned and the Vienna classification allocated.
Use of electronic classification systems to check the classification symbols furnished by an applicant and which are contained in the lists of goods and/or services
No electronic classification systems are used to check the lists of goods and services provided by applicants. Classification is checked only manually by the Office specialists.
Obligation for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification applied
The applicants are not obliged to use pre-defined terms of the classification system.
Bibliographic data and processing
Bibliographic data elements and classifications are searchable. The images are displayed together with these data elements.
This search is available in-house and via Internet.
IV. Trademark manual search file establishment and upkeep
File Building
Trademark applications are filed either in paper using forms available at the Office web site and at the receiving office, or since June 2011 electronically by the system of e-filing.
All applications are built into electronic files (e-filed) and paper case files and kept in the office area until the procedure for registration is finished. Afterwards they are stored in the archive area in the same building, whereas for the e-filed applications the electronic archiving system is under development.
Updating
The search files contain HR domestic marks; designations to the HR under the Madrid system are updated monthly. All searches performed by examiners are completed using an automated search system.
V. Activities in the field of computerized trademark search systems
In-house systems (online/offline)
Trademark search is executed by electronic means. The database of the search system includes active national trademarks and international trademarks in Croatia.
External databases
Access to the database ROMARIN is available and also used for information services.
Administrative management systems (e.g., register, legal status, statistics and administrative support)
Applications are developed in INGRES OpenROAD. SIPO uses an INGRES database. An application “Trademark’s Register” is used for filing all bibliographic data concerning the particular trademark. All trademark changes (change of ownership, change of name, address, licence, etc.) are recorded and are maintained by Trademark Register user interface.
Since year 2000 SIPO has developed its own document management system in electronic form that covers office needs (all incoming and outgoing documents have been scanned in Adobe Acrobat).
International trademark data in XML format are weekly loaded from the WIPO’s ftp site. After processing data are available through the application “MECA”. Those data are used for examination and publication purposes.
Web application for substantial examination of the international trademark registrations enables rendering XML and PDF files that are uploaded to the WIPO ftp site through the MECA input system. Also, the same system enables rendering and uploading Grant of protection data in XML format.
MS Word is used for automatic generation of output documents. MS Excel is used for (automatic) generation of specific reports, which are used, for annual SIPO’s report, WIPO statistics and for other purposes (improving trademark processes).
Published trademark data (applications/grants) can be searched at the SIPO’s Internet site
http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/on-line-database-search/trademarks/ through the SIPO's web-server application (MS Windows 2003 server and mySQL database).
Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), carriers used
- 20Mbit/s leased line used for Internet connection,
-CISCO Network Equipment (LAN based on Fast Ethernet - 1000/100/10 Mbit/s).
- MICROSOFT environment:
- Servers: Fujitsu Siemens-Primergy RX 300/ OS - Win SERVER 2003 St. Ed. ;
IBM System x 3650 / OS - Win SERVER 2008 ;
- Workstations: Desktop-PC Pentium IV with WIN XP PROF or WIN 7., Notebooks – OS – MS WIN 7.
-Mail Server
- MS Exchange 2010 Server Enterprise,
- Fujitsu RX300 S5 / OS Win SERVER 2008 R2 Enterprise
-VMware vSphere 5 Essentials Plus Kit for 3 hosts
-Server: Dell PowerEdge R610
Database:
-Ingres 10.0
- OS - Linux (Red Hat 5 Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform)
-Storage
- SAN
-two FiberCAT CX500 (EMC ) devices. Each of them has two-service processor and 10 disks in
RAID-5 system (9 x 146 Gb FC disks + 1 x 146 Gb FC hotspare disk).
-NAS
- IBM N3400 A21 (NetApp)
- Backup software
- SYMC BACKUP EXEC 2012 Server Win Per Server Bndl
- SYMC BACKUP EXEC 2012 Option Ndmp Win Per Server
- Backup device
- Dell PowerVault TL2000
VI. Administration of trademark information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, registering trademarks, assisting clients with search procedures, obtaining official publications and registry extracts)
Planning, administration, automation, security
SIPO Croatia offers free information services on general legal matters, registration procedures, and status of registered trademarks (national as well as international). The inquires can be made by phone, at the SIPO premises or by e-mail. Registry extracts are available upon request and payment. Copies of the file contents are available upon written request and payment.
Collection management, preservation
The trademark search collection is managed in electronic form. Data are updated monthly (upon the publication of the Official Gazette). A structured backup regime is in place to ensure preservation of the information.
Information services available to the public (including computerized services and search files contained in libraries remote from your Office and trademark information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web)
Trademark information services for the public are provided through the Office's Intellectual Property Information Centre (called INCENTIV, member of the EPO’s Patlib centres network) providing (among others) information concerning trademark applications filing, procedure information etc. It is possible to get help either by phone, e-mail (info@dziv.hr) or personal visit. Since 2008, when INCENTIV started its activities the number of contacts is growing which is visible in SIPO annual reports.
The Office's new website provides a wide range of information on IP, including basic information on IP rights, filing and registration instructions, fee information and full texts of legal documents. There are also FAQ which have been updated and amended as required.
The Office provides a wide range of brochures and guides free of charge. They can be downloaded in PDF format from the Office's web site, picked up in the Information centre or sent upon request.
Concerning search services customers can search public (free of charge) trademark databases in the library's reading room, where INCENTIV staff is available for support.
Commercial trademark search services, which are done by Office specialists, are also available upon order and against payment. The search tool Acsepto is being used for trademark searches.
The following trademark services are offered by SIPO:
- trademark similarity search
- search by trademark owner
- trademark monitoring
- competition watch
- domain name search
- printout of bibliographic data
- excerpt from the register
- CETMOS search
State Intellectual Office of the Republic of Croatia is a partner in the CETMOS service offering trade mark search in the national and international trade mark registers of 9 countries, i.e. Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as in the register of Community trade marks valid in the territory of the European Union. CETMOS service is available upon a single order, covering all the participating states, and operated under short deadlines and a favorable schedule of fees.
The SIPO library operates within the Information Centre. The collections contain over 1200 books, 70 Croatian and foreign periodicals available to the readers, all specialized in IP. The library is open to the public Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, except Thursday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.
A multifunctional public reading room is an integral part of the Information Centre.
Navigation:
Homepage: http://www.dziv.hr
Information on Commercial Search Services:
http://www.dziv.hr/en/sipo-information-services/
Searchable free of charge Database:
http://www.dziv.hr/DigitalLibrary/default.asp?izb=en
General information on trademarks and related services:
INCENTIV - Intellectual Property Information Centre
Phone: +385 1 610 98 25; fax: +385 1 611 20 17; e-mail: info@dziv.hr
http://www.dziv.hr/webcontent/file_library/inf_usluge/Incentiv.htm
URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of trademark applications
http://www.dziv.hr/hr/e-usluge/e-prijava/ (Croatian version)
http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/e-filing/
(English version is for information purpose only)
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide information on business procedures such as: filing, publication, examination and registration procedures related to trademarks; opposition and appeal procedures related to trademarks; etc.
http://www.dziv.hr/en/intellectual-property-protection/trademarks/ (in English)
http://www.dziv.hr/hr/intelektualno-vlasnistvo/zigovi/najcesca-pitanja/ (in Croatian)
FAQ:
http://www.dziv.hr/hr/intelektualno-vlasnistvo/zigovi/najcesca-pitanja/ (in Croatian)
Trademark examination guidelines:
http://www.dziv.hr/prirucnici/hr_guidelines/hr/guidelines-mrk-en.pdf (in Croatian, in English)
URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide a description of information products and services offered by the Office (e.g., trademark search service(s) and trademark databases), as well as information on how to access and utilize them
Information on Commercial Search Services:
http://www.dziv.hr/en/sipo-information-services/
Searchable free of charge Database:
http://www.dziv.hr/DigitalLibrary/default.asp?izb=en
Navigation:
Homepage: http://www.dziv.hr
General information in industrial design and related services:
INCENTIV - Intellectual Property Information Centre
Phone: +385 1 610 98 25 +385 1 610 98 25 FREE ; fax: +385 1 611 20 17; e-mail: info@dziv.hr
http://www.dziv.hr/webcontent/file_library/inf_usluge/Incentiv.htm
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of trademark documentation and information
International or regional cooperation in the exchange of trademark information, e.g., in the form of official gazettes
Since 2007 SIPO Croatia participates in providing CETMOS service that offers trade mark search in the national and international trade mark registers of 9 countries, i.e. Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as in the register of Community trade marks valid in the territory of the European Union. CETMOS service is available upon a single order, covering all the participating states, and operated under short deadlines and a favorable schedule of fees.
VIII. Matters concerning education and training, including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)
Promotional activities (seminars, exhibitions, visits, advertising, etc.)
SIPO organizes different promotional activities according to the annual plans. Among others, it provides lectures and workshops to increase general IP knowledge in order to facilitate an efficient use of industrial property rights in business. SIPO also organizes information stands at major fairs and exhibitions of innovations. In cooperation with different partners it also organizes public exhibitions aimed at promoting inventiveness and creativity.
In 2012 within its overall promotional activities Office organized informational and promotional activities on all IP issues (including trademarks) at four public events in Croatia (AGRO ARCA 2012 – Exhibition of innovations, new ideas, products and technology in agriculture, Slatina, 4-6.05. 2012; ARCA 2012 – Exhibition of innovations, Zagreb, 10-13.10.2012; SASO2012 – International trade fair, Split, 19-23 10. 2012);
By Innovations to Competitiveness, Third Public Conference, Zagreb 11.-12.10.2012.
Training courses for national and foreign participants
The Office organizes educational and training activities through the Section for Education and Development of Use of Intellectual Property (IP Academy). Through its programs the Academy organizes the internal education for the Office employees, and develops public educational programs in the intellectual property field, in cooperation with its partners.
Education organized and delivered to external users in 2012:
Seminar Intellectual property, Law Faculty, University of Zagreb, 23. 01. 2012; Seminar Introduction to Intellectual Property, for small and medium entrepreneurs, Karlovac Polytechnics, 31.01. 2012; Seminar Managing and Commercialization of Intellectual Property rights, for small and medium entrepreneurs, Karlovac Polytechnics, 07.02. 2012; Workshop Retrieval and use of IP information, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, 20. 02. 2012;
Seminar Intellectual Property for scientists, University of Rijeka, 29.02. - 01.03. 2012; Intellectual Property and business information, Vern Polytechnics, Zagreb, 15.05.2012; Seminar Intellectual Property and Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 31.05. 2012; Fifth WIPO Summer School on Intellectual Property, Dubrovnik, 28. 05.-08. 06. 2012. collaboration of WIPO, State Intellectual Property Office and University of Dubrovnik.; Seminar Industrial Property in the light of Republic of Croatia accession to European Union, for Pharmaceutical Industry entrepreneurs, Zagreb, 24.10. 2012; Seminar Introduction to Intellectual Property, for small and medium entrepreneurs, Tera tehnopolis, Osijek, 16.10.2012.
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 trademarks
http://www.dziv.hr/en/ip-legislation/national-legislation/trademarks/
contain the Annual Report of the Office
http://www.dziv.hr/en/about-sipo/annual-report/archive/
Office's web-site: http://www.dziv.hr/
contain trademark-related news regarding the Office
News are available at the Office web site on the "news and notifications page" http://www.dziv.hr/en/news/
X. Other relevant matters