Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2014 submitted by Egyptian Patent Office

I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PATENT INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of patent information activities and expected time frames for their realization

Work Plan for the Activities of the Egyptian IP Academy

This work plan was established the following activities are included:

1. The Egyptian Customized Version of DL101 General Course on IP
2. Scholarships to WIPO Advanced Distance Learning Programs
3. Scholarships to Master’s Programs
4. Scholarships to Professional Development Programs
5. Future Professional Development Program in Egypt
6. Establishment of ongoing IP Training Programs
7. The National Institute of Intellectual Property
8. Supporting Technology Transfer Offices in Universities
9. Cooperation with relevant organizations in other countries
10. Grant for the Annual conference of the International Association for the Advancement of Teaching and Research in Intellectual Property
11. Basic bibliography for training programs
12. Other suggested Activities

 Arabpat and exchange patent

1. we exchange 5000 for grant patent to EPO & WIPO  on arabpat ftp server as back file
2. we send 1000 for grant patent to EPO & WIPO  on arabpat ftp server as front file from eg 026000 to eg 027000
3. we send all the abstracts for  Egyptian applications in Arabic and English for machine language

Main areas of patent information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year

Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year. 

• In 2014 the granted patents form IPC section
• A   human  necessities have been 16%
• B performing operations; transporting   .15%
• C   chemistry  31%
• D textiles 1.2 % 
• E fixed constructions 11.8 % 
• F mechanical engineering, lighting heating weapons blasting 9.3%
• G physics 9.2 %
• H Electricity 4.5%
• 7 %  less granted patent than 2013 

Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes

Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants

Applications filing

PCT applications

Patents granted

Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

Annual report link: http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=17

New guide link: http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=21

Magazine link: http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=18

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT 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

• There are applications form for registration  on EGYPO website        
•  Applicant can follow the status  of his application throw  mail office patinfo@egy.gov.eg
• Arab world country can send application for international search authority (ISA) and international permanently examination authority (IPEA) on ftp server through our website www.egypo.gov.eg

Availability of the application dossier in electronic form

Applicant can download application from our website:

 http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=21   

in word format and fill it after that copy  the application on  CD or DVD and registration at EGYPO  receiving office  

Classification¹, preclassification² (if applicable), reclassification³ activities; classification systems used (e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC)); matters concerning indexing of patent information

Patent applications are classified into the latest edition of the International Patent Classification. As of 1 January 2006, the examiners implemented the use of IPC 8 (reformed).

Classification¹, preclassification² (if applicable), reclassification³ activities; classification systems used (e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC)); matters concerning indexing of patent information

• The Examiners request applicants to redraft the applications when are not fulfilled the requirements for searching.
• Patent applications are classified into the latest edition of the International Patent Classification. As of 1 January 2006, the examiners implemented the use of IPC 8 (reformed).

Abstracting, reviewing, and translation of the information contained in patent documents

Bibliographic data, abstracts and full text of Egyptian national application (checked by examiners) can be searched on the Egyptian Patent Office database and all the other relevant databases.

Other activities

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III. SOURCES OF PATENT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Main types of publications of the Office (patent applications, full text, first pages, abstracts, bibliographic data, granted patents, etc.), medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)

we have searchable database for Egyptian granted patent with two language Arabic and English on our website on this two links for Arabic search http://www.egypo.gov.eg/Search/ and for English http://www.egypo.gov.eg/Search/default.aspx

Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.

The Egyptian patent office publishes two journals as follows

1. The Egyptian Patent Gazette
2. The Egyptian Patent Abstracts
3. Inpadoc  

These publications are published every month, and we send them to the Universities, Ministries, Industrial companies, and Research institutes in Egypt.

These publications are available every month on our website on this links  for Patent Gazette and Patent Abstracts http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=18 and this link for Inpadoc http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=20

Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external collections and databases

In-house systems (online/offline) 

 Technical searching can be carried out on combination of terms from different headings. IPC terms can be searched too.

To assist with IPC classification, examiners have access to TAC SY and IPC CAT   .

External databases:

 We have a list of some external databases that we use regularly, including Espace net, JAPIO, USPTO, SIPO, EPODOC KIPO,SIPO, and Patent scope.

Journals:  

SCIENCE DIRECT, SCOPUS, SPRINGER LINK, IEEE XPLORE, EBSCO, OVID, PROQUEST & etc

Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to external users, conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)

We have searchable database for Egyptian  granted patent with two language Arabic and English  for free on our website on this two links for Arabic search http://www.egypo.gov.eg/Search/ and for English http://www.egypo.gov.eg/Search/default.aspx

We publish the The Egyptian Patent Gazette and The Egyptian Patent Abstracts on our website any external user can download them for free from these link   http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=18

Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)

The Egyptian patent office stores all the information concerning the legal status and technical documents on the Egyptian database to facilitate the search procedures and assists clients to obtain all the required information.

Other sources

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IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements

• Current standard desktop software includes Microsoft Windows XP, win 7  and win8  with Microsoft Office 2007 and adobe acrobat professional 8 and Symantec antivirus .
• All office action is done on the application or Patent Produced Automatically from our data base as word processing.
• We check all patent abstracts provided by the applicant besides amending them when necessary to ensure that the abstract represents a useful search tool.

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

Equipment used Hardware and software

Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources

• The Egyptian patent office has a data base containing the Egyptian  applications and granted patents.
• The office has a DVD and CD-ROM collections containing  published/granted patents for US, WO, EP, GB, etc. 
• We used paper, Microfilm, Microfilm jackets, tapes, HD, and DVD as mass storage for our Applications and Patents. Egyptian patent specifications are published on CD-ROM and on the Egyptian database.
• This database contains bibliographic and status information about invention patent applications filed in Egypt.

Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file

• Each examiner built his own search file to reuse in case examining a similar application 
• We have a list of some external databases that we use regularly, including Espace net, JAPIO, USPTO, SIPO, EPODOC and Patent scope and Journals ( SCIENCE DIRECT, SCOPUS, SPRINGER LINK, IEEE XPLORE, EBSCO, OVID, PROQUEST).

Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)

• EGYPO is starting with WIPO to use the new system Industrial Property Automation System (IPAS) and the office is a pilot with WIPO.
• EGYPO is starting with WIPO to digitization, such as WIPO Scan system. We replaced EPOSCAN system by WIPO SCAN
• EGYPO applies effectively the Automated IP Management Software IPAS system supported by WIPO.  IPAS is a fully automated system that includes the following steps :
• Registering patent applications, substantive examination, technical and legal examinations, granting patents, issuing official  gazettes. Inquiries, statistics, and annual fees. All applications documents in paper form are scanned on the automatic archive system.  Then the documents forms are adjusted according to WIPO standers and connected to the bibliographic database.
• Patent applications that are received on paper form are scanned and use WIPO SCAN SYSTEM  After scanning step, the application contents are indexed and transformed to WIPO standard form, then the application is connected to the bibliographic database through IPAS by its number as PDF.  All bibliographic data and attached documents are available to EGYPO officers to carry on the necessary procedures via IPAS , and search is conducted by patent number.
• Title of invention, name of applicant, and abstract, external users can access to granted patents only via EGYPO website.
• Technical examiners have access to all up-to-date PC sets with high internet speed to enable them to do their work with high quality.

Other matters

Planning, administration, automation, security:

• Replace our network and upgrade it .
• Speed up application reception.
• Speedup application communication.
• Simplify and speedup processing.
• Reduce bottleneck at reception.
• Full e-filing & e-payment system for applications and digital signature.
• Monitoring system for follow-up application processing.
• Create a Disaster Recovery system .
• Update security system

V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF PATENT INFORMATION

Patent library: equipment, collection management, network of patent libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign patent libraries

• The Egyptian patent office has a data base containing the Egyptian  applications and granted patents.
• The office has a DVD and CD-ROM collections containing published/granted patents for US, WO, EP, GB, etc. 
• This database contains bibliographic and status information about invention patent applications filed in Egypt
• We scan the all contains of  application paper form  (full text Arabic & English , claims, drawing and priority documents) and connected with database.
• We have storage media to make backup for Database, archive system, mail server, web site and domain controller.

Publications related to different business procedures and patent information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.

We publish a Manual for Filing Patent Application on our website on this link :http://www.egypo.gov.eg/page.aspx?id=21

Office's initiatives on providing foreign patent information in the local language(s) (e.g., machine translation tools, translation of abstracts)

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Cooperation with universities, research centers, technology and innovation support centers, etc.

Training for focal point:

• Training courses for 6 trainees from focal point in Cairo University faculty of Engineering & City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications – (5) trainees from  Ain Shams University, (2) trainees from National Authority of Remote Sensing, (8) trainees from faculty of veterinary medicine, (3) trainees from Nile University  

• Opening ceremony of the 3 new  focal point (Fayom University, Ain Shams University –faculty of agriculture and National Authority for Remote Sensing

Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.

Internal training:

Training for focal point:

• Training courses for 6 trainees from focal point in Cairo university faculty of Engineering & City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, (5) trainees from  Ain Shams University, (2) trainees from National Authority for Remote Sensing, (8) trainees from faculty of veterinary medicine, (3) trainees from Nile University

• Opening ceremony of the 3 new  focal point (Fayom University, Ain Shams University – faculty of agriculture and National Authority for Remote Sensing
• Training courses for patent attorneys on patent drafting – training course for (17) trainer of WIPO ACADEMY                                                                         
• Seminar on over view on intellectual property
• Training course on computer (power point , Excel , windows  ICDL) for (18) trainees
• Course in customer satisfaction (1)
• English language courses (23)
• Program for training legal examiners 
• Course in executive management (1) - course in legal examination     
• Work shop on Egyptian Patent Office and its role in spreading awareness about intellectual property and establishing WIPO Academy
• Memorandum of understanding between Egyptian patent Office and Oman Patent Office
• Training courses for (15) trainer of the WIPO Academy( Giulio Zanetti - Isabella Pimentel)
• IP Scholarship in  Helwan University for (9) EGYPO employees granted by EGYPO.
• Training course for 3 of employees on using modern technologies of research & recovery.

Receiving Experts from WIPO

• Receiving experts from WIPO concerning IPAS data base
• Receiving 2 experts from WIPO (Giulio Zanetti - Isabella Pimentel) concerning WIPO Academy program 
• Frame work contract for needs assessment  for EGYPO to complete twinning fiche program 

External training courses :

• Training course on the IP management ( Japan)  (1)
• WIPO training course for patent examiners on specified technology biotechnology  (Japan) (1)
• WIPO training course for patent examiners on specified technology (optical apparatus (Japan) (1) 
• A Comprehensive Training workshop on Intellectual Property  (China) (3) 
• Advanced Training Course on Patent Documentation and Information Austria
• The  Master of Laws of (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property Italy (1) 
• The Use of Information Technology in Industrial Property Administration Japan (1)
• Patent Search and Examination in the Field of Biotechnology Germany(2)
• IPC Union - IPC Revision Working Group Geneva (1) 
• The regional policy dialogue on the importance of the elaboration and implementation of national policies relating to intellectual property
• Workshop on Advanced of distance learning courses and the WIPO Development Agenda Tunisia (2)
• WIPO training Course on the Examination of Industrial Property Japan (1)
• Workshop on international patent classification  Jordan (2)
• Trademarks in pharmaceutical sector choice and protection  Tunisia (2)

Conferences abroad

• Standing Committee on the Law of Patent, twentieth session
• Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore: Twenty-Sixth Session Geneva (1)
• IPC Committee of Experts: Forty-Sixth Session (Geneva) (1)
• Expert for the implementation of training program for searching, using classification categories (Advanced Level) Kuwait (1)
• Advisory Committee on Enforcement: Ninth Session Geneva (1)
• Expert on Training Program for Refusing Patent Application Kuwait (1) 
• Regional IT workshop for industrial property office in the Arab region Morocco (2) 
• Expert giving a Training Program on Handling Oppositions to Patent Registration Kuwait (1)
• Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore: Twenty-Seventh Session Geneva (1)
• Intellectual Property and Industrial Property Conference Kuwait (1)
• International exhibition of inventions of Geneva (1)   
• Second Arab pat  expert meeting Vienna  (2)
• Memorandum of Understanding discussion between the authorities and bodies concerned with patent topics Agadir agreement member countries  Morocco (1)
• IPC Revision Working Group  Geneva (1)
• The committee of WIPO Standards (CWS) Geneva (1)
• The Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) Geneva (1)
• Comprehensive Training workshop on Intellectual Property China (3)
• Executive Workshop on the Application of Management Techniques in Delivery of IP Services Canada (1)
• The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Working Group Geneva (1)
• Regional workshop on developing local and regional methods for enhancing innovation and research, development and patent marketing
• Memorandum of Understanding between Egyptian patent Office and Oman Patent Office Oman (2) 
• Assemblies of  Member States of WIPO Geneva (1)
• The Paris Union- Executive Committee  Geneva (1)                                                       
• Meetings of Assemblies of Member States of WIPO Geneva (1)
• WIPO General Assembly Geneva (1)
• WIPO Coordination Committee Geneva (1)
• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Union Assembly Geneva (1)
• Second meeting for launching IP protection rights Arab Network  Morocco (1)
• IPC Union - IPC Revision Working Group Geneva (1)
• The Patent Information Conference Poland (2)
• Meeting of industrial property and commercial working group for Agadir agreement members Morocco (1)

 Other activities

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VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION

International exchange and sharing of patent information in machine-readable form, e.g., priority documents, bibliographic data, abstracts, search reports, full text information

We have a big collection of patent documents on CD-ROMS from many countries in our library such as DE ,US FR, GB ,EPO, etc, the available collection include also various pamphlets manuals , and other publications such as law reports official journals of the EGYPO from many different countries,magazines, etc.

Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to patent information

We had started negotiation with EU delegation to have a twining project to establishment a paperless system for the Egyptian patent office 

Assistance to developing countries

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Other activities

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VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS

Quality Management Systems

According to the guidelines specified in Chapter 21 of the PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines,

The Egyptian Patent Office (EGYPO) in 2006 had an established and maintained quality management system, the scope of which includes international search and examination.

EGYPO recognizes the importance of Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure that all patent processing steps are completed in a timely and high quality manner.

The quality management system is represented in two committees, the high quality committee (HQC) and the quality sampling review committee (QSRC).

High Quality Committee (HQC)

 Activities of the High Quality Committee (HQC) are:

• Providing trained Human Resources to insure quality standards.
• Providing the staff with latest training courses for insuring doing the work in a quality standards
• Providing more equipment and updating networks for making S&E easier.
• Modernizing and providing our databases with updated information from the service providers.
• Insuring doing work according to quality standards in each department.
• Reviewing QSRC committee work for evaluating their performance.
• Reviewing statistics for the performance of each department in order to evaluate their work.
• Figuring out deficiencies in workflow, determining reasons for that and trying to put solutions.
• Improving financial income via direct and indirect ways.   

The (HQC) prepares a report every six month and submits it to the President of the (EGYPO) in order to put an action plan for implementing the recommendations of the committee.

Quality Sample Review Committee (QSRC)

The (QSRC) renders a report on each application; if it finds no compliance with PCT Guidelines (national phase), it gives a feedback to the examiner who has performed that task in order to modify his decision.

QSRC has a total of 12 Examiners, 6 of them are responsible for legal examination, and the other 6 examiners are responsible for search and examination in different fields: Chemistry, Electricity, Agriculture, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Pharmacology.

Patent Applications are sampled randomly at 10% ( 5% on the approved application and 5% on the rejected ones) , examination reports are collected for analysis according to quality standards. QSRC is responsible for establishing a mistake-correction system to prevent mistakes pertaining to legal and technical examination from recurring.

(EGYPO) started its functions in the capacity of (ISA/IPEA) on July 2013, all the received PCT applications (International phase) are reviewed.

The (QSRC) renders a report on each application monthly; if it finds no compliance with PCT Guidelines, it gives a feedback to the examiner who has performed that task in order to modify his decision.

The (QSRC) prepares a feedback report annually and submit it to to the President of the (EGYPO).

In 2014 the total number of approved applications is 502 and 176 for the rejected , we took 5 % from each to be revised monthly.

Number of application( national/ PCT) chosen randomly per month

Number of application corrected / complete according to the QSRC

1.Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application.

2. Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner).  Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office.

3. Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC).  The new symbols are available on patent databases.