Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2016 submitted by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Please fill in your items before submitting your report
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. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of trademark information activities and expected time frames for their realization
In 2016 the official activities of HIPO were characterized by user-friendly administration, as well as by further efforts to reduce and stabilise pendency times of the proceedings and to process the stock of pending cases. The Office performed its tasks in compliance with international and national regulations, and its professional activities were characterized by a strong strategic and quality-oriented vision.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
The conclusion of the legislative process to reform the European Union trade mark system represented a real milestone: the European Parliament and the Council adopted the recast and amended texts of the so-called Trade Mark Regulation (Council Regulation 207/2009/EC on the Community trade mark) and the so-called Trade Mark Directive (the new Directive (EU) 2015/2436 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks). Most amendments of the Trade Mark Directive entered into force on 23 March 2016, while other provisions will enter into force on 1 October 2017. Certain provisions of the Trade Mark Directive must be transposed by the Member States into their national laws by 14 January 2019, while other provisions by 14 January 2023. It is essential to do all the preparatory work for the transposition of the Directive and the implementation of the Regulation.
Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
The Office operates in accordance with the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management, the ISO/IEC 20000-1:2013 IT Services Management and the ISO/IEC 27001:2014 Information Security standards. The high quality of the Office’s work was confirmed by the annual ISO audits conducted since 2010 by an independent international certification body and by our international and domestic partners.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
Trade mark applications filed via the national route exceeded by 16% the number of those filed during the previous year. Over and above certain favourable economic circumstances, the promotion campaign entitled TradeMarker could also have contributed to this result. The Office concluded 3823 cases, an increase of 6% over 2015. The gross average pendency time of applications for registration as a national trade mark was 27.5 weeks (6.3 months). This time frame includes the 3 months period before the publication and the one month period from the sending of the search report.
Clients showed an interest in so-called accelerated and particularly accelerated procedures. The latter’s attraction continues to be its very short, 45 days’ pendency time.
Main figures of trade mark applications aiming at Hungary under international cooperations and filed via the national route
| 2015 | 2016 | 2016/2015 % | |
International trade mark applications |
| |||
International trade mark applications (under the Madrid system) | 1 633 | 1297 | -20% | |
European Union trade mark applications | 130 437 | 135 293 | +4% | |
National trade mark applications |
| |||
Domestic trade mark applications | 3 178 | 3 671 | +16% | |
Foreign trade mark applications | 313 | 393 | +26% | |
Total number of applications filed via the national route | 3 491 | 4 064 | +16% | |
Average pendency time of applications for trade mark registration
The number of valid national trade marks in Hungary was 55 242 at the end of 2016, a number that corresponds to the previous year’s figure. In addition, the number of valid international trade marks (under the Madrid Agreement) was 94.5 thousand, and the total number of European Union trade marks, the territorial scope of which extends to Hungary as well, exceeded one million.
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
Annual report of the Office : https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/mivel-fordulhatok-a-hivatalhoz/tajekoztatas/kiadvanyok/a-hivatal-eves-jelentesei-0
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) – URLs
Detailed information and support is accessible on the website of HIPO, eg.:
e-Filing: https://ugyintezes.sztnh.gov.hu/eBej2/step1
Forms and fees: https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/urlapok-dijak
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
The e-dossier gives inspection and communication platform providing online administration.
E-dossier: http://epub.hpo.hu/e-aktabetekintes/?lang=HU
Matters concerning classifying
(i) 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
(ii) Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied
Nice Classification and Vienna Classification systems are used.
Nice Classification: https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-tajekozodhatok-a-honlapon/adatbazisok/iparjogvedelmi-osztalyozasi-rendszerek/nizzai
Vienna Classification: http://classifications.mszh.hu/vienna/index.htm
Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, color mark, etc.)
Different types of non-traditional marks should be filed as some photos taken in different positions of the mark.
Other activities
III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
E-SEARCH for external use: http://epub.hpo.hu/e-kutatas/?lang=HU
Web-based GAZETTE, published twice a month: http://www.hipo.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/szabadalmi-kozlony-es-vedjegyertesito
How can I protect my trademark?: https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-vedjem-a-szellemi-tulajdonomat/hogyan-vedjem-a-megjelolesemet
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online (URL), etc.
Web-based GAZETTE, published twice a month: http://www.hipo.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/szabadalmi-kozlony-es-vedjegyertesito
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.
Web-based GAZETTE, published twice a month: http://www.hipo.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/szabadalmi-kozlony-es-vedjegyertesito
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
E-SEARCH for internal use, covering the public and non-public data.
E-SEARCH (for the public): http://epub.hpo.hu/e-kutatas/?lang=HU
GAZETTE: http://www.hipo.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/szabadalmi-kozlony-es-vedjegyertesito
Nice Classification: https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-tajekozodhatok-a-honlapon/adatbazisok/iparjogvedelmi-osztalyozasi-rendszerek/nizzai
Vienna Classification: http://classifications.mszh.hu/vienna/index.htm
TMview: https://www.tmdn.org/tmview/welcome
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
E-SEARCH (for the public): http://epub.hpo.hu/e-kutatas/?lang=HU
GAZETTE: http://www.hipo.gov.hu/hu/szakmai-oldalak/szabadalmi-kozlony-es-vedjegyertesito
Nice Classification: https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-tajekozodhatok-a-honlapon/adatbazisok/iparjogvedelmi-osztalyozasi-rendszerek/nizzai
Vienna Classification: http://classifications.mszh.hu/vienna/index.htm
TMview: https://www.tmdn.org/tmview/welcome
How can I protect my trademark?: https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/hogyan-vedjem-a-szellemi-tulajdonomat/hogyan-vedjem-a-megjelolesemet
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
E-Dossier: http://epub.hpo.hu/e-aktabetekintes/?lang=HU just for information purposes.
Certified statement on the validity of protection can be received by paying a certaun fee.
Other sources
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
The IT system has provided the necessary background for the Office’s official and service activity, and supported its tasks related to e-administration. The system supports 135 different services or service families altogether. Out of those, 69 service families provide direct support for the performance of the Office’s official and central tasks, and an additional 66 systems support the operational, service management, information security and ISO certification objectives of the previously mentioned functions. Clients can make use of the following services online: e-search, e-file inspection, e-filing, e-register, TM e-Filing, TMView, and DesignView.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
- Linux server
- Netware server
- MS Windows server
- VMware ESX
- Oracle VM/RAC
- ASA VPN
- ZORP
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
The Unified Administrative System of the Office is used for file building, which covers all industrial property titles of protection. It is a real-time updated system and has a daily backup storage.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
The Unified Administrative System of the Office comprise the bibliographic and image data, the documents and the official letters that belong to the different intellectual property rights.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
Unified Administrative System
Other matters
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
Office's library (if deals with trademark information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
Services of Industrial Property Special Library: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/en/services/industrial-property-special-library
Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
The partners and customers of HIPO, who are interested in intellectual property, can choose from a variety of services or programs of customer service, information provision and education, eg.: AIDA, IP-Panorama, Start-up guide, Partner Search, Tenders, IP-Valuation, etc.: http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/hu/vallalkozoknak/hogyan-kezdjek-hozza
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
The enhancement of knowledge on industrial property and copyright, as well as the improvement of awareness of intellectual property rights of small and medium-sized enterprises are objectives of high importance. For entrepreneurs it is essential that they be able to have personal consultation at information points or events close to them, in their regions, where they can be given information. In 2016 HIPO maintained information points in cooperation with 23 different organisations, with 16 chambers of commerce and industry in counties and towns, 6 regional innovation agencies and one professional organisation. In addition, the Office cooperates with 6 PATLIB (Patent Library) centres linked to institutions of higher education in the countryside.
Intellectual property protection information network
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
The intermediate and advanced level industrial property courses, the basic and intermediate level copyright courses as well as the special purpose courses organised by the Office were important fora for knowledge transfer and awareness raising in Hungary. Industrial property as a separate subject was taught in 9 institutions of higher education, and at 11 other universities intellectual property protection was taught linked with other subjects.
Other activities
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
International exchange of trademark information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
HU Trade Marks can be searched via TM-VIEW.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information
The central customer service received nearly 18 thousand enquiries. Most enquiries aimed at trade mark information, but requests for patent information, copyright information and for R&D assessment related information represented also a significant share.
Breakdown of enquiries received by the central customer service (%)
The website of the Office (www.sztnh.gov.hu) offers valuable information both for potential clients who are less well informed of intellectual property matters, and for professional users. In 2016 the website of HIPO was visited more than one million times by nearly 380 thousand individually identified users who downloaded more than 10 million pages. The website for raising IP awareness of the general public (www.szellemitulajdon.hu) had more than 60 thousand visitors. The National Board Against Counterfeiting has its separate website which was visited by 11 thousand persons.
The objective of the National Board Against Counterfeiting is to reduce the supply of counterfeit and pirated products, to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement action in the fight against the infringement of IP rights and to mitigate the unfavourable economic impact of counterfeiting and other infringements. In order to achieve the above objectives it drew up proposals and plans for regulation, organised trainings, events and information campaigns for awareness raising, conducted surveys, did research and brought about cooperation among domestic and international stakeholders and representatives of the media.
Assistance to developing countries
Other activities