Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2015 submitted by the State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova (AGEPI)
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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. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of industrial design information activities and expected time frames for their realization
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
Main areas of industrial design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
In 2015, AGEPI received a total of 352 applications for registration of 2172 industrial designs (ID). Under the national procedure were filed 109 applications (31%), which included 1274 ID (58.7%), and under The Hague Agreement procedure - 243 applications (75.8%) with 898 ID (41.3%). Compared to 2014, the number of filed applications increased by 34 (10.7%), and the number of ID embedded in these applications – by 957 (78.8%). In the reference period, national applicants filed 97 applications (27.6% of the total number) with 1207 ID (55.6%), being attested a increase by 38.6% in the number of applications and concomitantly, a increase by 289.3% in the number of ID, compared with the previous year. To foreign applicants appertain 255 applications with 965 ID (72.4% and, respectively, 44.4% of the total filed), which is a increase by 2.8% and, respectively, by 6.6% as compared with 2014. The absolute majority of applications proceeded from foreign applicants (95.3%) were filed under The Hague Agreement procedure.
Under the national procedure, most of applications were filed by applicants from the Republic of Moldova, AGEPI also received applications from foreign applicants from six countries – United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Ukraine, Italy, Russian Federation. Under the Hague Agreement came applications from applicants from 16 countries, most coming from Switzerland, Germany, Italy. During the reporting period were also filed 504 registration renewal applications for 1872 DMI, by 27.3% and, respectively, 67.3% more as compared with the previous year. Most renewal applications – 441 (87.5%) come from foreign applicants, of which 430 were filed under the Hague Agreement. Of the number of registrations, which term of validity was supposed to expire in 2015, the weight of renewed ones is quite high, constituting 53.8% (581 of 1079) in the case of international registrations and 51% (76 of 149) for national ones. On 31 December 2015, of the total number of 1551 ID registration certificates, issued by AGEPI, 593 were valid (38/2%), including 313 renewed (52.8% of the valid certificates). Of the total of 6935 international registration of ID, for which protection was acquired in the Republic of Moldova, 2793 (40.3 %) were valid, including 1918 renewed (68.7% of the valid international registrations).
During the year 2015, there were subjected to substantive examination:
86 applications with 779 ID, filed under the national procedure, of which 73 ID (9.4%) were rejected;
259 international applications with 920 ID, received under the Hague Agreement, being rejected 21 ID (2.3%).
In the year under review, 66 certificates of registration for 557 ID were issued, compared with 2014 being attested a decrease by 19.5% in the number of certificates, and 47% in the number of ID.
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
The most important office notices and news regarding the trademarks and other IP objects are provided directly on our website with free access www.agepi.gov.md. Detailed information on industrial designs could be found accessing the following link http://agepi.gov.md/en/design/presentation.
As regard the general information about IP objects, their protection and related events organized in the view to promote them on the national and international level, the statistics data and their impact to the national economy, could be found in the Annual Report, published by AGEPI every year and distributed on the official web page http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/50.
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN 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
Detailed information regarding filling an application, please follow the addresses mentioned below:
- http://agepi.gov.md/en/content/registration-ip-objects
- http://agepi.gov.md/en/node/6737
Detailed information regarding e-filing (including, user guide to electronic service for on-line filing of IPO applications, guide for completion) the information can be accessed at the following address: https://e-servicii.agepi.gov.md/en.
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification
The Republic of Moldova became a state party to the Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs (1968) on December 1, 1997. The Agency uses the International Classification for Industrial Designs since 1994. All the documents are classified according to the Locarno Classification. The classification symbols (the 10th edition of the Classification) of an application are allotted by the applicant. It is up to the Agency to afterwards check, and eventually to correct, the classification symbols.
Other activities
III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Main types of publications in the field of industrial design information, outline of the content (industrial design applications, design patents, registrations, etc.) and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
The most important publications in the field of industrial design documentation are the following:
- The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property Protection (BOPI) – monthly publication (PDF format);
- The National Industrial Designs Register;
- The National Industrial Designs Applications Register.
BOPI includes Sections V with information on industrial designs. Section V contains:
- BA1L Applications for registration (bibliographic data and graphic reproduction);
- List of industrial designs applications containing a request on publication delay;
- FF4L List of registered industrial designs;
- FG4L List of industrial design certificates,
- ND4L List of renewed industrial designs;
- FG4L List of industrial designs registered in the Republic of Moldova according to the Hague Agreement, ranged in the numerical order and in the order of the ICID;
- ND4L List of renewed industrial designs in the Republic of Moldova according to the Hague Agreement.
Section VI contains various types of notices referring to all amendments occurred to the legal status of the protected industrial property objects (List of amendments, List of cession contracts, Errata, FC9L List of rejected industrial designs, FA9L List of withdrawal industrial designs, MK4L List of industrial design registration certificates the term of validity of which has expired, etc), etc.
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
The Official Bulletin of Intellectual Property is a monthly publication, which includes official information on applications for patenting/registration of intellectual property objects (IPO) in the Republic of Moldova and titles of protection granted, to the changes occurred in the legal status of applications and titles of protection of IPO and the results of appeals examination in the Contestation Commission of AGEPI, court decisions on disputes over IPOs, general information. The BOPI is issued in Romanian, English, Russian languages on paper carrier (ISSN 1810-7095), CD-ROM (ISSN 1857-050X) and online on the AGEPI website http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/48
The Annual Report reflects the activity of the AGEPI during a whole year. It includes data on the registration / patenting of intellectual property objects, the most important events organized with the participation of the AGEPI as a partner, implemented projects and goals for the following year. The Publication is issued and distributed to regional IP Offices, national public authorities on paper carrier and is available online at the following address: http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/50
Intellectus"- is the journal of intellectual property which has been regularly published as a quarterly journal since 1995(ISSN 1810-7079 –on paper carrier and ISSN 1857-0496 – on CD-ROM). According to joint Decision of the Supreme Council for Science and Technological Development (CSSDT) of ASM and the National Council for Accreditation and Attestation (CNAA) No. 3 of 30 January 2014 "On the results of evaluation and classification of scientific journals in the field" , "Intellectus" journal was accredited to “B” classification category, law, technology, biology, chemistry and economics profiles. “Intellectus” journal pursues the competent and multilateral reflection of intellectual property aspects, elucidation of provisions of the national and international IP legislation, publication of scientific and methodological materials, providing the public with information on the country`s intellectual treasure etc. The journal also covers the procedures for acquiring intellectual property protection, reveals the mechanism of enforcement and observance of rights, exploitation of IP objects, publishes studies signed by researchers in various fields of science, economy and technology.
The journal is available on –line at the following address: http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/49
"AGEPI Info"- is a supplement to the “Intellectus” journal and deals with different aspects of IP protection quarterly, reproduces certain IP-related materials of the written and online press. The publication is distributed within the main IP promotion actions, seminars and exhibitions, training courses for employees organized by AGEPI. Through the heading “Stock of Inventions” the best domestic patented inventions proposed by inventors for implementation are promoted. The publication is available on paper carrier and on-line at the following address: http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/51
“AGEPI Expo” – supplement to the “Intellectus” journal. The publication is devoted to the results of each edition of the International Specialized Exhibition "INFOINVENT". It includes more interviews with participants from home and abroad in this forum of inventions. It reveals the mechanism of exploitation of intellectual property objects, provides business people with useful information on conclusion of assignment and license contracts in order to implement the latest scientific and technical achievements in production. The publication is issued on paper carrier and available on-line at the following address: http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/52
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
- RO – Bulletins in PDF monthly updated;
- RU – Internal database monthly updated;
- EUIPO, UA, HU, UK, FI, SI, CZ, PL, MK, EE, LT, GE, BY – Online databases;
- WIPO – internal database weekly updated.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
External users have access to public Industrial Designs Database http://www.db.agepi.md/DMI/Search.aspx and to IP Official Bulletin (BOPI) http://agepi.gov.md/en/publication/48. The access is free of charge and doesn’t require an authentication. To receive the Official Bulletin of Intellectual Property (BOPI) on paper subscription fee is required.
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
In the year under review were continued the actions on updating other special legislative acts in the field of protection of intellectual property, by promoting the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Legislative Acts (Law No. 38-XVI of 29.02.2008 on the Protection of Trademarks, Law No. 161-XVI of 12.07.2007 on the Protection of Industrial Designs, Law No. 39-XVI of 29.02.2008 on the Protection of Plant Varieties). These amendments aim at adjusting the legislation in the field to the rigors imposed by the current reality, taking into account the application of laws in question since their adoption.
Other sources
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
In the year under review were administered, updated and improved the databases and their management applications. Among major actions can be highlighted the following:
- optimization of DB “AGEPI Forms” and the program for management, verification, adjustment and integration of standardized documents in the IPO management programs;
- Web Services for data exchange between AGEPI DB and e-agepi system for online filing of applications;
- procedure for application of holograph signatures on documents created in the IPO management programs;
- improvement of the procedure for data exchange with WIPO by sending the total or partial refusals of “International ID”;
- modification of updating and search programs.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
At the disposal of examiners in their daily practice, there are following databases:
- National automated searchable database “Industrial Design”;
- Database “International applications”
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
- RO – Bulletins in PDF monthly updated;
- RU – Internal database monthly updated;
- EUIPO, UA, HU, UK, FI, SI, CZ, PL, MK, EE, LT, GE, BY – Online databases;
- WIPO – internal database weekly updated.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
Services rendered by AGEPI
http://agepi.gov.md/en/services/information-services-provided-agepi
Industrial designs. Databases
http://agepi.gov.md/en/design/presentation
Search in ID Databases
http://www.db.agepi.md/DMI/Search.aspx
Industrial Designs. Guides on filling in forms
http://agepi.gov.md/en/formulare/design
http://agepi.gov.md/sites/default/files/formulare/ghid/gh-2112.pdf
http://agepi.gov.md/sites/default/files/formulare/ghid/gh-2109.pdf
http://agepi.gov.md/sites/default/files/formulare/ghid/gh-2110.pdf
http://agepi.gov.md/sites/default/files/formulare/ghid/gh-2113.pdf
http://agepi.gov.md/sites/default/files/formulare/ghid/gh-2116.pdf
Other matters
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION
Office's library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
The Library is a subdivision in the AGEPI structure that provides information-library services in the field of intellectual property, including on industrial designs information to beneficiaries. The AGEPI Library is the depositary of the National Patent Collection of the Republic of Moldova. AGEPI readership covers inventors and innovators, researchers, managers and lawyers, patent attorneys, representatives in IP, experts and other collaborators of AGEPI. At their disposal, and also at other persons interested in the field of intellectual property were placed two reading rooms, of which one is computerized, and the electronic catalog of books and that of scientific articles in the field of IP. The reference fund and the collection of periodicals are in regime of open access to the shelf.
Beneficiaries of services provided by the library are experts and other AGEPI employees, and all interested persons outside the institution: counselors in intellectual property, researchers, inventors and rationalizers, teachers, students, etc.
At the Library, visitors have the possibility to:
- consult, subscribe to or purchase the official publications of AGEPI in the field of intellectual property - BOPI, “Intellectus”, “AGEPI INFO”, etc., collections of laws and methodical literature in the field of intellectual property, CDs edited by AGEPI all of which containing data on industrial designs information, including;
- obtain copies of the descriptions of inventions from patents for invention;
- get methodological assistance in searching for information in electronic DB;
library-bibliographic servicing in “request-offer”, “information-express” regime, by complying with the bibliographic, thematic and factual references;
- participate in IP information promotional activities at local and national levels.
Open hours for beneficiaries: from 9.00 to 16.00 Monday - Friday. Day without a program - Saturday and Sunday.
Based on bilateral agreements on exchange of information in the field of intellectual property, in the year 2015, AGEPI library has distributed free of charge the INTELLECTUS magazine and AGEPI-info, which also contains the data on industrial designs, to 37 local libraries placed within the main university educational institutions and 10 foreign libraries from Romania, Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Ukraine.
Publications related to different business procedures and industrial design information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
Education and training: training courses, e learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
AGEPI presented informational stands, including on industrial designs in 24 national and international exhibitions organized both in Chisinau municipality (17) and the territory (3), the most important being: “Made in Moldova”, “Moldagrotech”, “Food and Drinks. Food Technology. Packaging.Depot”, Farmer”, “B2B”, organized in Chisinau, “Agrotech”, “Procasa”- in Balti city.
Also, the AGEPI specialists participated in actions afferent to these exhibitions (seminars, round tables) with communications on national IP legislation, including the procedures for protection of industrial designs and trademarks, advantages of the protection thereof: Round table “Promoting innovation and creative products with marketing potential” and Round table “Success stories of creative business”.
Other activities
VI.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION
International exchange of industrial design information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information
During the 2015 year, AGEPI has actively participated in the following international and regional activities related to industrial designs:
- The 33rd session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, organized from March 16 to 20, 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland;
- The 34th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, organized from November 16 to 18, 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland;
- Seminar on the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs: Practical Approach and How to Use It, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 19 November 20154, in Geneva, Switzerland.
- The 5th session of WIPO Working Group on the Legal Development of the Hague System for international registration of industrial design, organized from December 14 to 16, 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Assistance to developing countries
Other activities