Annual Technical Report 2009 on Industrial Design Information Activities submitted by Georgia (CWS/ATR/ID/2009/GE)

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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. Evolution of registration activities

In 2009, 271 applications for industrial designs were filed with Sakpatenti under the national and international procedures, which is about 26% less as compared with the number of the applications filed in 2008. Of these, 67 applications (including 49 local and 18 foreign ones) were filed under the national procedure. It is also noteworthy that the number of foreign applications is the same as that of the applications filed in 2008, whereas the number of local applications is 30% more as compared with the number of applications filed in previous year.
The extension of protection to Georgia was requested only under the international procedures on the basis of 204 registrations, which is approximately 34% less as compared with 2008 and in fact included 1080 industrial designs to be considered.
It is evident from the dynamics of industrial designs filed with Sakpatenti for consideration under the national procedure and on the basis of the international registration in 2005-2009s that the increase of the total number of industrial designs received for consideration in 2006 as well as its decrease in 2005, 2007 and 2009 were due to the growth and decrease of the quantity of designs received under the international procedure.
The breakdown according to countries of the 17 applications filed by foreign applicants under the national procedure is as follows:
The analysis of the local applications filed with Sakpatenti in 2005-2009 shows that their majority are objects that belong to Class 9 (tare, packing, containers) and are used for transportation or handling of goods. However, there were also objects such as furnishing, means of transport and advertising equipment, etc. Priority objects of protection with the request of the extension of the rights to Georgia under the international procedure again were watches and their accessories, jewelry, means of transport and their parts. Applicants from Switzerland, Germany and France again were especially active.

II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of industrial design documents and of secondary sources of industrial design information, i.e., official gazettes

Preliminary processing of the documents is performed by automated system. Conducted works include: primary processing of applications; entering of bibliographic data, and images into the database; and record-keeping of received documents.
The Official Bulletins data bulk for publishing in the Georgian language is prepared by generating from the database and formatting them with MsWord text processors.
-The Official Bulletin of Industrial Property is published twice a month on paper, CD-ROM and on the WebSite of SAKPATENTI.
Every Official Bulletin contains colored images of published designs as well as bibliographic data of the international applications extended to the territory of Georgia.
Web pages of the Office's website are available that provide access to online publication of patent documents and gazettes:
http://www.sakpatenti.org.ge and

III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of industrial design information according to the classification systems applied

Documents are classified using the Locarno classification (8th edition). Other classifications are not in use.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

It is possible to conduct searches in design bibliographic data with the Office patent database.
Various Official Bulletins from other Intellectual Property Offices of the world are also kept in the library.
The library is also equipped with two workstations having access to the Office patent database and the Internet.

V. Activities in the field of computerized search systems for industrial designs

- Patent search in in-house databases are conducted online by means of LAN. Every examiner is given possibility to conduct searches in the in-house databases from his/her working place. External databases are accessible via the Internet.
- Automated system of SAKPATENTI is based on a powerful LAN. The LAN is a high speed network (100 MBps) of which core is built on three 24 port switches. The switches connect HUBs of individual local segments and 5 high-throughput servers. In the LAN, 168 computers, 116 printers, and 72 power supply units (UPS) are contained.

Data flow processing, monitoring and control
Entering primary information of domestic applications on Industrial Designs, bibliographic data, abstracts, and design views into the database.
-processing Industrial Designs registered in the International Bureau in accordance with the Hague agreement;
.
An integrated automated workflow management system is based on the last generation information technologies and software means (ORACLE system).
The system algorithm is completely based on legislative articles being currently in force in SAKPATENTI. Each application which is filed goes through certain technological cycle
and appropriated actions are conducted in accordance with the procedure. The objective of the functional complex is to administer the following actions:
receiving documents, registration and making modifications in them;
control of time limits;
communication with an applicant with established forms;
formation of databases;
conducting searches in the databases;
creation of reference systems and their use;
registry upkeep;
preparation of materials to be published in Official Bulletins;
providing the statistical and other data to the management staff.

For further upgrading the automated system some efforts were made objectives of which were as follows:
- increase the speed of information processing;
- improvement of operation reliability;
- provision of full automation of the technological cycle;
- formation of electronic Bulletin in real time;
- possibility of conducting searches with keywords and in bibliographic data;
- secure storage of accumulated data;
- extensive use of the Internet for information exchange;
- capability of online filing of applications;
- control of time limits according to the rules of international agreements and protocols;
- control of meeting the requirements of the laws in force, normative acts, rules etc.

VI. Administration of industrial design information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, registering designs, assisting clients with search procedures, obtaining official publications and registry extracts)

The Office industrial property library is located in separate premises and is equipped with every necessary documentation as well as computers for assisting public on searching procedures, for obtaining official publications, for providing consultations as concerns applications drafting, novelty searches as well as information concerning the innovation.
A set of documents is available in the library specifically designed for young businessmen, being updated on a regular basis. The set of documents includes all necessary materials concerning the innovation problems.

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of industrial design documentation and information

All Official Bulletins stored on CD discs (trilingual versions) are exchanged with various Intellectual Property Offices worldwide. These bulletins are stored in MS Word format and published on the Office Website in PDF format.

VIII. Matters concerning education and training, including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)

The Office is well equipped with audiovisual means for conducting seminars and training courses. Power Point presentations were mainly used as visual means for training purposes.
The Office continues to publish journal "Intellectual Property". It is published both on paper and on the Website in PDF format (full texts). The authors of the papers are mainly the Office staff members.

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
• contain the Annual Report of the Office
• contain patent-related news regarding the Office

http://www.sakpatenti.org.ge ; http://www.sakpatenti.org.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=20 ; http://www.sakpatenti.org.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=19

X. Other relevant matters