Annual Technical Report 2003 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by BOIP (SCIT/ATR/TM/2003/BX)
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
The number of applications rose by 2,2% in comparison with the previous year.
The backlog of registrations has been reduced. As consequence of this, the number of published trademarks was 20% higher in regards to the previous year.
Electronic filing represents nearly half of the filings.
Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year
Electronic filing represents nearly half of the filings.
BMBConnect_percentage - Evolution of electronic filing chart (PDF)
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of secondary sources of trademark information, i.e., trademark gazettes
Publishing, printing, copying techniques
The Benelux Trademarks Gazette is published on CD-ROM since April 2000.
The register is available on Internet, with limited search functions.
A CD-ROM, based on the GTITM technology is available too, containing all the registered trademarks, and providing facilities to search automatically non published applications on the web, based on the same query.
Techniques used for the generation of trademark information (printing, recording, photocomposing, etc.)
The gazette is published as a PDF file on CD-ROM.
The technique to retrieve the information from the database in order to set up the publication is based on Framemaker, using Miramo for automatic generation of the output files.
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 state 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 Benelux Trademarks office uses the official classifications of Nice and Vienna
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
The electronic filing system contains a search function on Nice classification, providing the possibility to build up the list of goods and services automatically, based on terms occuring in the Classification book.
Obligation for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification applied
Predefined terms are not an obligation.
IV. Trademark manual search file establishment and upkeep
we don't manage any manual search file
V. Activities in the field of computerized trademark search systems
In-house systems (online/offline)
The BTO has acquired the Sword Acsepto search system for trademarks searches.
Administrative management systems (e.g., register, legal status, statistics, administrative support, etc.)
The system is in-house built.
Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), carriers used
Main system is IBM iSeries. This system hosts the trademark database and accounting system.
VI. Administration of trademark 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)
Electronic filing and register on line
Planning, administration, automation, security
electronic filing through Shttp
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of trademark documentation and information
VIII. Matters concerning education and training including technical assistance to developing countries
IX. Other relevant matters