Annual Technical Report 2005 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by Turkey (SCIT/ATR/TM/2005/TR)

 

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I. Evolution of registration activities

Changes experienced in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to the previous year

Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year are as follows;

The number of trademark applications received in 2005 was 59100, which is increased 27.2 % with respect to the year 2004.

The number of trademark registrations issued in 2005 is 33229, which is increased 22 % with respect to 2004.

The number of the applications applied by foreigners in 2005, including international applications filed through Madrid Protocol, is 10133, which is increased 6 % with respect to the year 2004.

In 2005, the number of applications of the first three classes, which were applied mostly,

· Class 35 (in 2005): 10.447, (in 2004): 14.527 decrease: 28 %
· Class 25 (in 2005): 9.248, (in 2004): 8.970 increase: 3 %
· Class 29 (in 2005): 8.202, (in 2004): 6.454 increase: 27 %

II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, and distribution of secondary sources of trademark information, i.e., trademark gazettes

Publishing, printing, copying techniques

Turkish Patent Institute (TPI) publishes Official Trademark Bulletins monthly and informs the public about the trademarks which will be registered in case of no objection. All trademark applications are published on the Trademark Bulletin before registration;

Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of trademark information

TPI also publishes Official Trademark Gazette bi-monthly. All trademark applications for which the last decision is taken and the decision is registration, are published on Official Trademark Gazette.

Word processing and office automation

TPI publishes two kinds of information guides about trademark applications, one for domestic applications and one for international applications. These documents include necessary information (like fees, list and class of goods and services, sample of application form etc.) to file a trademark application.

Techniques used for the generation of trademark information (printing, recording, photocomposing, etc.)

All these documents about trademarks are printed. TPI has its own web site, (http://www.turkpatent.gov.tr and http://www.tpe.gov.tr) containing basic information about all types of industrial property issues.

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 indicate 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)

Since January 1, 2002, TPI has been using 8th edition of the Nice Classification (International Classification of Goods and Services For The Purposes of The Registration of Marks) which contains new additional service classes (no 43 to 45). The other classification system which TPI applies is Vienna Classification (International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks).

In examination procedures, TPI uses sub-class system, which is prepared in accordance with Nice Classification.

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

There is no use of electronic classification systems in TPI currently.

Obligation for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification applied

There is no obligation for applicants to use pre-defined terms of the classification.

Bibliographic data and processing for search purposes

Bibliographic data of the registered and applied trademarks are recorded into the trademark database. Similarity search process for the word marks can be done by using this database. But the similarity search for the figurative part of the trademarks is done manually.

IV. Trademark manual search file establishment and upkeep

File Building

All applications are collected in files, as well in electronic database. All changes after registration are recorded not only on database but also on the files.

Storage, including mass storage media

Paper files are kept in the archives. There are two kinds of archives, one is for applications and the other is for registrations.

Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file

Romarin CD’s and WIPO Gazette of International Marks are received periodically.

V. Activities in the field of computerized trademark search systems

In-house systems (online/offline)

Currently, trademark similarity search system is a computerized in-house system. This trademark database, which is used for search purpose, has been opened to public since December 2005.

Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), carriers used

The in-house database system of TPI is based on the UNIX server and PCs serving as workstations. The computer network is based on TCP/IP protocol and built up by Ethernet Twisted Pare network. Java is used for administration and examination procedures.

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)

Planning, administration, automation, security

All kinds of information about trademark registration can be received from TPI. Trademark registry is open to the public and registry extracts are available in paper form by payment of the relevant fees.

Information services available to the public (including computerized services and search files contained in libraries remote from your Office and trademark information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web)

It is also possible to make similarity search before filing an application. Official publications of TPI (Official Trademark Bulletins and Official Trademark Gazettes) are also available to the public. Information documents are free of charge.

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of trademark documentation and information

International or regional cooperation in the exchange of trademark information, e.g., in the form of official gazettes

There is an exchange of trademark statistics related to the number of the applications and registrations between TPI – WIPO and TPI - OHIM.

Exchange of machine-readable information

There is also mutual exchange of Official Trademark Gazette between TPI and about 50 different countries.

VIII. Matters concerning education and training including technical assistance to developing countries

Promotional activities (seminars, exhibitions, visits, advertising, etc.)

TPI had offered a number of seminars, exhibitions and workshops on trademarks and geographical indications in 2005.

IX. Other relevant matters