Annual Technical Report 2007 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Uzbekistan (SCIT/ATR/PI/2007/UZ)

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

In 2007 procedure of filing of applications, carrying out of examination and granting of patents for inventions and utility models have remained constant.

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

Inventions

In 2007 in SPO 522 applications for granting of patents for inventions have filed, that it is more (2,4%) in comparison with 2006. Activity of foreign applicants has increased the quantity applications for 6,5 %, including the applications submitted on the international procedure - on 12,5 %. The greatest quantity of applications for inventions from national applicants has been filed on section A "Satisfaction of vital needs of the person" of the International Patent Classification (IPC), from foreign applicants - on section C "Chemistry, metallurgy" of IPC.
In accounting year the total of the registered inventions wasd 312, which is more than 14,7% in comparison with 2006.

Utility models

In 2007 increased the quantity of the applications, submitted to SPO for patents on utility models. . Growth was 61 % in relation to 2006. National applicants submit 114 applications (91,9 %), for a share of foreign applicants - 8,1 % from the general number of the submitted applications. The greatest number of applications is submitted on sections D (Textiles and a paper) - 31 application, to section A (Satisfaction of vital needs of the person) - 30 applications, to section B (Various technological processes) - 26 applications, the share of the submitted applications according to sections makes 70,2 %.

The total of the registered utility models in 2007 was 70, that exceeds twice the indication of 2006.

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

The address of the web-page on which statistical data on inventions and utility models is contained: http://www.patent.uz/statistics.htm. Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section « About office » - Statistics.

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.)

With a view of the further development of system of official publications of SPO has made a number organizational-technological meetings on reduction of terms of release of the official bulletin «Rasmiy Ahborotnoma » which since 2007 began to publish every month, i.e. terms of release were reduced twice.
In 2007 official publications of the office included following editions:
• Official bulletin «Rasmiy Ahborotnoma» - 12 issues (on CD-ROM);
• Descriptions of inventions to patents - 261 descriptions (on a paper);
• Descriptions of utility models to patents - 51 descriptions (on a paper);
• Collection of annual indexes to the official bulletin «Rasmiy Ahborotnoma» for 2007 (sections of indexes under inventions and utility models) on the electronic carrier.
Data on the registered inventions and utility models are published in sections "Inventions" and "Utility models" of the official bulletin «Rasmiy Ahborotnoma» which from 2004 is issued on CD-ROM. Data on inventions includes bibliographic data and formula, on utility models - bibliographic data and abstract; all data are published in Russian and Uzbek languages. In accounting year in bulletins data on 318 inventions and about 68 utility models are published.


SPO participates also in issuing of CISPATENT - joint regional patent-information product on CD-ROM disks, being the collection of official publications of patent offices of the states-participants CIS and Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO). In 2007 it is prepared 11 issues with the information on patents of the Republic of Uzbekistan on inventions and utility models, including 301 abstracts in three languages (English, Russian, and Uzbek) and to them full descriptions of inventions and utility models in Russian, the processed document files send in FIPS of the Rospatent.

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

The most important announcements, concerning patent-information activity of the office are placed in section "Communiques" of the bulletin «Rasmiy Ahborotnoma» and on the website of the office (www.patent.uz).

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

SPO has a full collection of patent documents of Uzbekistan (originals) on a paper. Furthemore all patent documents are stored in bibliographic databases and in electronic storehouses.

Word processing and office automation

Databases and office automation
During processing applications all the documents, concerning industrial designs, are scanned and kept as facsimile form in format TIFF. Assembly of the chapter of the official bulletin on industrial designs is carried out in the automated mode on a workplace of the employee of the office of publication division. By specialized inquiry bibliographic data from a database (SUBD MS SQL Server 2000) are selected and sorted. The subsequent operations (page makeup, replication) are made by means of programs Word and Adobe Acrobat.

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

Descriptions and the list of essential attributes are recognized by system OCR and kept in format MS-Word. Images of industrial designs are entered in format JPG, by means of program Adobe PhotoShop.

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

Address of the web-page on which the official bulletin is placed: http://www.patent.uz/bul.htm. Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section « Electronic publication ».

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

Abstracting, reviewing, translating

Published patent documents on inventions and utility models join abstracts in Russian and Uzbek languages; abstracts are published in the official bulletin on utility models also in two languages.

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)

Applications for inventions and utility models are classified according to the International Patent Classification of corresponding edition, since January 1, 2006 8-th edition of IPC - a base level is used.

Coordinate indexing (domestic deep indexing systems, keyword indexing)

Coordinate indexing of national patent documents is not carried out.

Hybrid system indexing

The hybrid system of indexation of national patent documents is not carried out.

Bibliographic data and full-text processing

Bibliographic data are kept in the form of dynamic XML-documents in internal database which are supported and updated during a life of the application by all departments involved in process. Changes in base will be authorized. Interfaces of access to base are constructed on the basis of Intranet-technologies. Search on contents of text files of documents is essentially possible, but now is inaccessible.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

File building

The search file on a paper and optical disks is formed on the basis of collection of the State Fund of the Patent Documentation which structure includes current and retrospective files of the national patent documentation, the foreign patent documentation entering into the list of the countries - PCT minimum. Besides there is patent associated literature including the scientific, technical literature in the form of books and periodicals, reference books, and also bibliographic search disks JOPAL.
The Fund of national patent documents on a paper is presented: descriptions of inventions to patent both preliminary patents and descriptions of utility models to certificates and patents (from 1993) systematized on classification indexes of IPC and on numbers of protection documents. Bibliographic databases and electronic file (text) storehouses for internal use are conducted.
The collection of patent documents on CD/DVD-ROM is systematized by the countries and years.

Updating

Search files on paper and a part on CD/DVD-ROM are updated monthly, some CD/DVD-ROM are updated annually.
Bibliographic data and files of documents in electronic storehouse can replenish and-or be corrected in process of the reference.

Storage, including mass storage media

Conditions of storage of fund depend mostly on kinds of data carriers: patent documents on paper are stored in folders on metal racks, on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM in stores in wall cases.
Bases of bibliographic, office work data and file storehouse are stored on specialized file-servers (the magnetic disks organized in the form of a RAID-file) on which with a view of preservation of data reserve copying on an additional server is carried out.

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

In 2007 the State Fund of the Patent Documentation has replenished with patent-information publications of 27 countries of the world, WIPO, EPO and EAPO. Among new receipts of the patent documentation on CD-ROM disks in report year began to receive official the patent bulletins from Turkmenistan and regional organization of EAPO.

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

In-house systems (online/offline)

In a stage of pre-production operation there is Internal portal of the SPO which realizes functions of the patent-information search system, regulated statistics and is integrated with operating system of document circulation and office-work SATOZ («Through automated technology of processing of applications»).

External databases

Access of examiners of the office to patent and not patent databases in on-line mode is provided. Databases of the European Patent Office, Rospatent, USA, and WIPO concern to popular patent databases most widely used by examiners on the Internet. Among databases containing not patent literature, being an easy approach, the greatest quantity of references was to the following: Science Direct, Scirus, PubMed, Google, Rambler, Yahoo, and Yandex.

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

The full-function system of administration is in SATOZ, providing authorization, access to the information, safety, and management of the rights of users, groups and options of system.

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

The equipment: Server group, network infrastructure (cable communications, routers), workstations (from P-II, up to P-V), periphery (printers, scanners).
Operational system: Windows 2003 (servers SQL Server 2000/2003, Excange 2003, ISA, IIS, server of reserve copying/restoration of the information), Windows 2000/XP (workstations).
The applied software: SATOZ/Landocs, external site www.patent.uz, internal site (PIPS), System of testing of knowledge.
Applied systems: "LAW", system of machine translation Promt 10, system of dictionaries Lingvo 10, ORT-system Fine Reader, office system MS Office (professional), MS Visio, MS Project.

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

The State Fund of the Patent Documentation (SFPD) is structural division of SPO and practically unique full collection of the patent documentation in territory of Uzbekistan. On the basis of SFPD patent-information service both examination staff of SPO, and the broad audience of the public are carried out, i.e. functions of public library are carried out.
The total area of fund, including office accommodations, reading rooms and storehouses of patent and other information, makes 952,64 sq. m.

Collecting, acquisitions, preparation

Collection of SFPD is presented by the domestic and foreign patent documentation, official and abstract editions of patent offices, patent-legal, patent associated literature, normative-methodical and reference books, periodicals. The volume of fund on the end of 2007 made more than 66,1 million copies of patent documents on various kinds of carriers.
The basic sources of acquisition of fund are: official publications of SPO; the patent documentation received on the international exchange which is carried out on the basis of two-way deals and agreements with patent offices of 27 countries and three international organizations; subscription to periodic and specialized editions and purchase of the special literature through news agencies-subscription. All received documentation is registered, classified and grouped for the purposes of storage.
In 2007 about 2,7 million copies of patent documents were made on optical disks. Receipts on paper, except for periodicals, normative-methodical literature and patent bulletins of some countries at the same time have practically stopped. The collection of fund on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM makes more than 15,1 thousand disks containing full descriptions of inventions to applications, patents, utility models, official and abstract editions of patent offices.

Collection management, preservation

The collection of fund is placed on geographical-systematic-numerical principle. Conditions of storage of collection are defined by kinds of data carriers: patent documents on a paper are stored in folders on metal racks, on microfilms - in boxes in metal cases, and on CD/DVD-ROM disks - in stores in wall cases.

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

SFPD in 2007 cooperated on an interlibrary exchange with National library named after A. Navoiy, Main library of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, State Scientific Medical Library; it has been executed about 200 applications and given out on an interlibrary exchange more than 1000 documents, books and brochures.

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)

SFPD carries out library-information and reference-bibliographic service of experts of various areas of science, manufacture, business. Granting of patent documents is carried out directly in reading rooms of fund, including electronic fund, and also under the interlibrary subscription. Visiting SFPD and library-bibliographic service of all categories of users is carried out free of charge.
The quantity of visitors to SFPD in 2007 was more than 4,7 thousand; more than 425 thousand patent documents were given out, from which above 194 thousand on CD/DVD - ROM disks. It is rendered nearby 4, 4 thousand consultations on various questions. It is executed over five thousand copies of descriptions of inventions.
With the purpose of expansion of patent-information service SFPD carries out a lot of services under orders of the consumers including automated patent search on CD/DVD - ROM, and also patent search with use of the removed databases. Besides it renders services on a traditional mode - thematic selection, selective distribution of the patent information by inquiries, copying, selection and delivery of documents by inquiries of readers, classification on IPC, NCI, to consultation of users. In 2007, 170 orders for patent-information services have been executed.

URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of patent applications

The address of web-page on which the information on filing and consideration of applications for inventions contains: http://www.patent.uz/pravizob .htm

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.

The address of web-page on which the information on the order of granting of patents is contained: http://www.patent.uz/vedomakts.htm. Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section « Legislation / Office acts ».
The address of web-page on which the information on official publications of SPO is contained: http://www.patent.uz/pravsovet.htm. Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section « Adjudication validity » .

The address of web-page on which the information on appeal procedure is contained: http://www.patent.uz/pravsovet.htm

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

The address of web-page on which the form of application for carrying out of the patent-information services which are carried out by SPO in on-line mode is contained: http://www.patent.uz/vremenie/htm (http://www.patent.uz/uslugs.htm). Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section « Patent fee and tariffs / Tariffs for SPO services».

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

SFPD carries out the international exchange of the patent documentation with patent offices of 27 countries, also international organizations WIPO, EPO and regional organization EAPO.

Medium used for exchange of priority documents

In 2007 proceeded an exchange of the patent documentation for various carriers on which in SPO official bulletins on a paper from 11 countries have acted, on optical disks - from nine countries, WIPO and EAPO. Patent documents on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks have been received from 15 countries, WIPO, EPO and EAPO. Official bulletin of SPO «Rasmiy Ahborotnoma» with data on the registered inventions and utility models on CD-ROM disks by way of bilateral exchange is sent in patent offices of 27 countries, EPO, WIPO and EAPO.

Medium allowed for filing applications

In 2007 works on reception of applications on machine-readable carriers (as the third copy) are continued. 224 applications on the electronic carrier are accepted. Conditions of granting of materials of applications in an electronic form on machine-readable carriers are defined by the requirements approved by order of SPO.

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

Experts of the office read lectures concerning intellectual property in higher educational institutions of the Republic; in 2007 lecture and practical employment have visited about 400 listeners.

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

Republican competition on the best object of the intellectual property, devoted to 15 anniversary of SPO is organized and held. Competition was held on four subjects: invention, industrial sample, selection achievement and electronic product. Winners were awarded by diplomas and money premiums, the most active participants were awarded by certificates.
Within the limits of the actions, devoted to the International Intellectual Property Day (on April 26, 2007) by the office:

• participated in the international conference "Intellectual property under the law protection", organized by Committee on a science, education, culture and sports of Legislative Chamber "Oliy Majlis", Uzbek Republican Copyrights Agency together with UNDP (the Project of the Program of development of the United Nations in the Republic of Uzbekistan "Perfection legislative and institutional potential of Parliament"), in which by the responsible experts of SPO made a doclad on the theme "Realization of the legislation in the field of a legal protection of industrial property of objects" ;
• for staff of SPO a quiz the "Intellectual property", consisting of three competitions: patent knowledge, fast typing, knowledge of English language.


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

In accounting year experts of SPO prepare a number of survey and information materials for the publication in a specialized heading "Management of intellectual property" of the magazine "Chemical technology. Quality and management", one of which founders is Patent Office.
Work on rendering assistance in creation of conditions for development of scientific and technical creativity among youth proceeded. Together with the Republican center of technical creativity of pupils republican competition of scientific and technical creativity of pupils of average educational schools is led; republican review-competition on the best head of a circle of technical creativity on republic.
Employees of SPO accepted also participation as judges of various competitions for the studying youth, spent in republic in 2007.

Information reflecting activities, held by SPO on various problem legal protection of intellectual property was regular published in mass media. Employees of SPO took part in transfers of a radio channel "Uzbekistan" and a teleradio channel "Toshkent".
Representatives of SPO active participated in the various actions, held by the republic foreign organizations.

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

The address of web-page on which the information under the legislation on inventions and utility models contains: http://www.patent.uz/zakons.htm.Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section " Legislation / Office acts ".

contain the Annual Report of the Office

Addresses of web-pages on which Annual Reports of SPO contain:. http://www.patent.uz/bul.htm. Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section " Electronic publication ".

contain patent-related news regarding the Office

Addresses of web-pages which contain patent-related news regarding the Office:. http://www.patent.uz/bul.htm. Access on the given page is carried out through the main page web-site SPO from section " Electronic publication ".

X. Other relevant matters


1.Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application.

2.Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner).  Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office.

3.Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC).  The new symbols are available on patent databases.