Annual Technical Report 2011 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Croatia (CWS/ATR/ID/2011/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.

The expression "industrial designs" covers industrial designs and models. Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in this series of Annual Technical Reports.

I. Evolution of registration activities

Changes experienced in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to the previous year

Number of industrial design applications (inc. multiple applications)
Number of designs contained in industrial design applications
Industrial designs in force (according to number of industrial design applications)
Industrial designs in force (according to number of industrial designs contained in industrial design applications)
Number of industrial design applications (inc. multiple applications)

Year 2010 2011
Application filed by national route 315 317
Application filed by international route (Hague Agreement) 463 458
Total number 778 771

Number of designs contained in industrial design applications

Year 2010 2011
Number of designs contained in nationally filed applications 846 695
Number of designs contained in internationally filed applications 2168 2036
Total number 3014 2731

Industrial designs in force (according to number of industrial design applications)
Date December 31, 2011
Registered nationally 1513
Registered under the Hague Agreement 2990
Total number 4503

Industrial designs in force (according to number of industrial designs contained in industrial design applications)
Date December 31, 2011
Registered nationally 3628
Registered under the Hague Agreement 12276
Total number 15904

Changesexperiencedintermsofapplicationfilingsandgrants

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

In the year 2011, the number of industrial designs applications filed by national route with the SIPO remains at the same level, whereas the number of designs contained in industrial designs applications decreased by 17,8 % compared to the previous year.

The number of application filed by international route (Hague Agreement) remains at the same level, whereas the number of designs contained in internationally filed application decreased 6% compared to the previous year.

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

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 industrial design documents and of secondary sources of industrial design information, i.e., official gazettes

Publishing, including printing, copying techniques and electronic printing

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 following information on industrial design: Publication of Changes Entered in the Industrial Design Register, Publication of Industrial Design, Industrial Design Indexes by Numbers, Classification Symbols and Owners, Publication of Changes Entered into the Industrial Design Register, Publication of Corrections of Data to Published, Industrial Design Registrations, Publication of the Granted Industrial Designs Extensions Publication of Industrial Design Expirations, Publication of Information on International Registrations of Industrial Designs with effect in the Republic of Croatia

The information regarding published industrial design registrations is also available in the Office database containing public data from the Industrial designs register, accessible through the Office website, free of charge. A range of search options is available, including: Date of Application, Proprietor, Image, Locarno Class.

Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of industrial design information

Office notices on industrial design 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 9.3.1 database and industrial design images are stored in a LINUX network file directory.
The Office maintains a complete history of its industrial design files in paper form and all information for industrial design applied from 2000 up to date in electronic form.

Databases and office automation

All staff in the SIPO 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.

The bibliographic data are stored in the SIPO's database via the application "Industrial design's Register" (which is developed in INGRES OpenROAD application development tool). Industrial design 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 that are changeable and depend on application/publication number are retrieved from the SIPO's database via ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity). An industrial design'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 industrial design gazettes and to other sources of industrial design information, including download of bulk industrial design data

http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/the-croatian-intellectual/

http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/on-line-database-search/industrial-design/

http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/on-line-database-search/international-designes-hr/

III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of industrial design information according to the classification systems applied

Classification and reclassification activities; Classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification (please indicate whether industrial designs are classified by your Office and, if so, which classification is used)

9th edition of the Locarno Classification is currently used for the classification of industrial designs. Designs are scanned and Locarno classification allocated.

Bibliographic data and processing

No ex officio search on novelty is carried out.
Free of charge public access to a database containing published information about registered industrial designs is available.
There is a possibility to file search request to the Office based on one (or more) of 4 criteria (name of holder, name of product, Locarno Class and Subclass, appearance of design). Such an information service is payable.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

All searches performed by examiners are completed using an automated search system.

File building

Design 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.

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 designs updated daily, designations to the HR under the Hague system are updated monthly. All searches performed by examiners are completed using an automated search system.

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

No documentation from other offices is maintained or considered part of any search file.

V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs

In-house systems (online/offline)

Industrial design search is executed by electronic means. The database of the search system includes active national trademarks and international industrial designs in Croatia.

External databases

Access to the database Hague express is available and also used for information services.

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

Applications that have been used in SIPO are developed in INGRES OpenROAD. SIPO uses an INGRES database. An application "Industrial design's Register" is used for filing all bibliographic data concerning the particular industrial design. All industrial design changes (change of ownership, change of name, address, license, etc.) are recorded and are maintained by Industrial design Register user interface.
Since year 2000 SIPO has developed its own document management system in electronic form that is meeting Office needs (all incoming and outgoing documents have been scanned in Adobe Acrobat).
International industrial design data in XML format are monthly loaded from the WIPO's ftp site. After processing data are available through the application "HAGUE". Those data are used for examination and publication purposes.
MS Word is used for automatic generation of output documents. MS Excel is used for (automatic) generation of specific reports that are used for annual SIPO's report, WIPO statistics and for other purposes (improving industrial design processes).
Published industrial design data (applications/grants) can be searched at the SIPO's internet site http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/on-line-database-search/industrial-design/ 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), data carriers used

- 10Mbit/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 ; Fujitsu RX300 S5 / OS Win SERVER 2008 R2 Enterprise.
- Workstations: Desktop-PC Pentium IV with WIN XP PROF., Notebooks - OS - MS WIN 7.
- MS Exchange 2010 Server Enterprise, ISA 2004 (proxy).

- Linux (Red Hat 5 Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform) - two cluster application: database and file sharing. Two server nodes (type of cluster is fail over) on Fujitsu Siemens-Primergy RX 600 Servers.
- SAN (storage area network) connected with fiber channel switches to server nodes and backup device. SAN is
consists of 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).
- Backup software is Backbone NetVault 7.1. Backup device is a MTC - 9084-221 FC (tape library) with two LTO 2 tape drives and 21 slot tape robot connected to fiber channel switch. Also the library offers a mail slot for
exchanging offsite/onsite tapes. Total capacity installed on MTC library is 4 Tb of uncompressed data.

VI. Administration of industrial design information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, registering designs, assisting clients with search procedures, obtaining official publications and registry extracts)

All searches performed by examiners are completed using an automated search system.

Planning, administration, automation, security

SIPO Croatia offers free information services on general legal matters, registration procedures, and status of registered designs (national as well as international).The inquires can be made by phone, at the SIPO premises or by e-mail( infor@dziv.hr). Registry extracts are available upon request and payment. Copies of the file contents and commercial industrial design search services are available upon written request and payment.

Collection management, preservation

The industrial design 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 industrial design information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web)

Industrial design information services for the public are provided through the Office's Intellectual Property Information Centre (INCENTIV, member of the EPO's Patlib centers network) providing (among others) information concerning design 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 SIPO library operates within the IP Information Centre-INCENTIV. The collections contain over 1050 books, 72 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 INCENTIV.

Concerning search services customers can search public (free of charge) industrial design databases in the library's reading room, where INCENTIV staff is available for support.
Commercial industrial design search services, which are done by Office specialists, are also available upon order and against payment.
The following industrial design services are offered by SIPO:

- industrial design search based on one search criteria (applicant/owner, class, subclass
and/or
the name of the product according to the Locarno Classification
- industrial design search according to its appearance
- storage of documents retrieved by searching on CD-ROM
- printout of bibliographic data
- excerpt from the register.

There is also IP pre-diagnostic service for SMEs which provides a kind of IP audit of the innovative operations of an SME with potential for IP protection.

The Office's 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 FAQs 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.

URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of industrial design 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 industrial designs; opposition and appeal procedures related to industrial designs; etc.

http://www.dziv.hr/en/intellectual-property-protection/industrial-designs/the-registration-process0/ (in English)

http://www.dziv.hr/hr/intelektualno-vlasnistvo/industrijski-dizajn/postupak-zastite-u-hrvatskoj/ (in Croatian)

FAQ:
http://www.dziv.hr/hr/intelektualno-vlasnistvo/industrijski-dizajn/najcesca-pitanja/ (in Croatian)

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide a description of information products and services offered by the Office (e.g., industrial design search service(s) and industrial design 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/search-services/

http://www.dziv.hr/files/File/eng/Letak_dizajn_EN_2010.pdf

Online form:
http://www.dziv.hr/files/File/eng/pretrazivanje_dizajna_EN.pdf

Searchable free of charge Database:
http://www.dziv.hr/en/e-services/on-line-database-search/

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; 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 industrial design documentation and information

International or regional cooperation in the exchange of industrial design information, e.g., in the form of official gazettes

There is no formal exchange of industrial design information. The Official Gazette is available as an electronic publication at the Office web-site (free of charge).

Exchange of machine-readable information, e.g., data contained on CD-ROM or magnetic tape

Not applicable.

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 2011 within its overall promotional activities Office organized informational and promotional activities on all IP issues (including designs) at four public events in Croatia. (AGRO ARCA 2011 – Exhibition of innovations, new ideas, products and technology in agriculture, Slatina, 6-8 05 2011; ARCA 2011 – Exhibition of innovations, Zagreb, 12-15 10 2011; CROPAK2011 – Trends in packaging industry, Zagreb, 5-6 05, 2011; SASO2011 – International trade fair, Split, 19-23 10 2011).

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 2011:

Seminar Intellectual property – visit to State Intellectual property Office, for the students of Law Faculty, University of Zagreb, 17. 01. 2011.
Plenary lecture Intellectual property – jet another business tool of small ship building, Association of small ship building, Zagreb, 23. 02. 2011.
Presentation Intellectual property – why to protect and how to use? Economic forum of Histria 2011, Pula, 27. 04. 2011., Histrian Development Agency
Seminar Intellectual property in small and medium size enterprises, for entrepreneurs, BICRO, Zagreb, 24. 05. 2011. Seminar has been held in the framework of collaboration of State Intellectual Property Office with members of Enterprise Europe Network.
WIPO Croatia Summer School, Dubrovnik, 30. 05.-10. 06. 2011., collaboration of WIPO, State Intellectual Property Office and University of Dubrovnik.
Seminar Basics of intellectual property for scientists, for students and staff of the University of Osijek, Tera tehnopolis, 27. 09. 2011. Seminar has been held in the framework of collaboration of State Intellectual Property Office with members of Enterprise Europe Network.

Seminar Basics of intellectual property for small and medium size entrepreneurs, Tera tehnopolis, Osijek, 16. 12. 2011. Seminar has been held in the framework of collaboration of State Intellectual Property Office with members of Enterprise Europe Network.
Education for Intellectual Property Office staff in 2011:

WIPO-UNISA Intellectual Property Specialization Program, 2010-2011
Seminar Searching industrial design, Zagreb, 10.11. 2011.
Distance learning course DL-101 General Course on Intellectual Property, WIPO, 2011

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 industrial designs

http://www.dziv.hr/en/ip-legislation/national-legislation/industrial-designs/
Office's web-site: http://www.dziv.hr/

contain the Annual Report of the Office

http://www.dziv.hr/en/about-sipo/annual-report/archive/

contain industrial design-related news regarding the Office

News are available at the Office web site on the "news page" http://www.dziv.hr/

X. Other relevant matters