SCIT.ATR.PI.2008.AM

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

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 in terms of application filing and decision making as compared with previous year

The average duration of the examination of applications on invention from filing date of applications to the conclusion date in 2008 was 7,3 months (in 2007 –5,4 months).
The average duration of the examination of utility models from filing date of applications to the conclusion in 2008 was 2,6 months (in 2007 was 1.56 months).

- Areas or fields where rapid changes took place as compared with the previous year

As a whole there is a decrease in the number of applications for inventions and utility models in 2008, which is about 62,6 % as compared with 2007.
The breakdown of filed applications received in 2008 on inventions and utility models (applications received in 2007 are brought in brackets for comparison) are distributed by Sections of the International Patent Classification (IPC) as follows:

Section A. 48 (38)
Section B. 28 (17)
Section C. 76 (31)
Section D. 0 (1)
Section E. 17 (14)
Section F. 26 (18)
Section G. 27 (14)
Section H. 17 (14)


- The statistical data on filed applications and granted patents on inventions are given on the following site http://www.aipa.am of the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Armenia.

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

In 2008, four numbers of the Official Bulletin “Industrial Property” were published: No 1-3 (45-47), No 12 (56), on CD-ROM. The bulletins are published in two languages: Armenian and Russian and contain official data that are published on patents for 127 inventions and 11 utility models. The schemes of descriptions of 127 inventions and 11 utility models and have been input, the electronic version of “Fist page”, “Full description” and formula has been made for their transfer to the patent owners and libraries, for their inner use in the computer network of the Agency and their insert on the Internet site and CISPATENT disk for public use.
The annual reports of 2008 were prepared and published in Armenian, Russian and English. The electronic versions were worked out and inserted on the Internet site.
Twelve issues of Official Bulletin “Applications on Inventions” were published and have been also put on the Internet page for public inspection.
Technical and Statistic reports on inventions for the year of 2008 have been made to be presented to the World Intellectual Property Organization.

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

- The Agency issues monthly Official Bulletin “Applications on Inventions” in which essays on inventions in Armenian for inspection by public are published, and quarterly official bulletins “Industrial Property” in which abstracts on inventions and utility models in Armenian and Russian are published.
- Classification and reclassification of applications on inventions or utility models filed with the Agency was realized with International Patent application of IPC (2006) 8th edition (Core Level).
- Coordinate indexing is carried out under the standards of WIPO. ST.9 (Annex 1. INID codes), ST.3 (two-letter codes for indication of country). ST.12/A (instructions for preparation of patent documents abstracts) ST.16 (standard codes for identification of various types of patent documents) etc.
- The Agency experts use hybrid system indexing during carrying out examination on certain subject matters.
- The Agency uses electronic database on inventions and utility models, which contains bibliographic data, abstracts and sketches with reporting opportunity in three languages: Armenian, Russian, English, as well as with transmission opportunity of bibliographic data for publishing in Official Bulletins, issued by the Agency, and transmission of information for optical CD-ROMs production under series CISPATENT (CISPATENT CD-ROM series), which contain full description of patent documents, including bibliography and abstracts in national language, Russian and English in well-known “MIMOSA” environment.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

The Agency continued works on update of the funds of Armenian Scientific and Technical Information Centre. Information received from foreign patent agencies was handled to the Centre.

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

In the reporting period the information-search system on the Internet site of the Intellectual Property Agency has been enlarged with database search system on inventions, which are registered at EAPO and valid on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. According to the new Law on Trade Names, which entered into force on January 1, 2009., the applicants have been granted opportunity of electronic filing of applications.
During the reporting period automation and technical re-equipment of the Agency has been continued. The Agency has been re-equipped with computers of Intel (R) Core(TM) 2 DUO type, computer supplementary devices and equipments as well as with sources of uninterrupted power supply units. Shortcomings and omissions in the information system of the Agency revealed in the course of its exploitation have been eliminated.
A series of changes and supplements have been made with the aim of coping with the tasks having been raised as a result of improvement of works carried out in the Agency information system.
Microsoft XP, Windows Vista Office and Microsoft Office system and have been installed, service of operation system, installation of software, diagnostics of infected computers and programs have been carried out, and operation failures have been removed, databases of inventions, utility models, trademarks, trade names have been installed.

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)

Official Bulletins “Industrial Property”, “Applications on Inventions” and annual reports of the Intellectual Property Agency for 2008 are inserted on the following Internet site http://www.aipa.am for public awareness.
Official Bulletins are sent free of charge to the Armenian Scientific-Technical Information Centre, Main Library of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Libraries of Yerevan State University, State Engineering University of RA, Armenian Agricultural Academy and National House of Books of Armenia and National Library of RA. They are as well sent to Marzes of Armenia free of charge.

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of patent documentation and information

According to the preliminary arrangement within the framework of exchange of patent information, 21 copies of the Official Bulletin of Intellectual Property Agency were sent to the Patent Offices of foreign countries as well as to WIPO, EPO and EAPO.
For realization of the international agreement “On joint publication of the regional patent – informational product on optical discs CD – ROM”, members of which are 9 CIS countries, 12 compact discs “CISPATENT” are produced 4 issues of which contain bibliographical data in Armenian, Russian and English on 127 inventions and 11 utility models granted patent in the Republic of Armenia.
The Intellectual Property Agency receives patent information from European Patent Office as well as USA, Austrian, French and Canadian patent offices within the framework of information exchange by “CISPATENT” compact discs.
In 2008 the IPA continued experiments of information search system, created in cooperation with the EAPO.
The Agency continues to receive the inventions search system “ESPACE World” from WIPO as well as inventions search system “BREF” and “COSMOS” from France.

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)

1. "Genetic Resources and Intellectual property rights" Sweden, May 7-28, 2008 (1 participant).
2. Phase II of "Genetic Resources and Intellectual property rights" Bangkok, November 16-23, 2008 (1 participant).
3. " Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Technology" USA, Alexandria, May 12-16, 2008 (1 participant).
4. WTO Workshop on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, Geneva, Switzerland, December 4-6, 2008 (1 participant).
5. EAPO, Raising the level of IP skill, November 3-17,2008, Moscow (1 participant).

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

Patent information of the Agency is available to the wide public as well as via Internet (http//www.aipa.am). The page contains the following information sections:
Statistic data
Annual report
Patent attorneys
Contact information
Links
Laws
Official Publications

Well-known Trademarks
Appellation of Origin
Information-search system
Trade Names
Inventions and Utility Models
- Registered under the national procedure
- Patents registered at EAPO and protected on the territory of the Republic of Armenia
Database of Trademarks
- Registered under the national procedure
- Granted legal protection under international procedure

The information is available in three languages (Armenian, Russian, English).

X. Other relevant matters