Annual Technical Report 2008 on Trademark Information Activities submitted by Kazakhstan (SCIT/ATR/TM/2008/KZ)

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I. Evolution of registration activities

In 2008, 4107 applications were filed with NIIP, where 1809 applications - from the national applicants, and 2298 applications - from foreign applicants. In 2007, 2047 and 1864 applications respectively.

The total number of applications examined under the national system made up 5460. The total of 2008 has gone up 76,47 percent in comparison with the total of 2007 of 3094. The number of applications for registration of trademarks examined under Madrid system made up 4292 applications in 2008, it is 54 percent more than the total of 2007 (2787 applications).

The number of certificates on trademarks issued to the national applicants increased to 83,75 percent and made up 1459 and the number of certificates issued to the foreign applicants grew 97.49 percent (1973), in 2007, 794 and 999 correspondingly.

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

Trademark information is available on paper and CD-ROM carriers.
The main source of information on trademarks registered in the Republic of Kazakhstan is Industrial Property Official Gazette, which is published in Kazakh and Russian. Announcements are published in the Official Gazette. NIIP also issues an Annual Index to Gazette.
In 2008, NIIP prepared and published 2007 Annual Report, four numbers of Journal Intellectual Property of Kazakhstan, and some guidelines.

III. Matters concerning classifying, reclassifying and indexing of trademark information

NIIP uses 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).

IV. Trademark manual search file establishment and upkeep

When an application is received all information on it is entered into the national database. The information is updated in the course of office procedures.
Information on registered trademarks is stored on CD-ROMs as well as on paper carriers.
Examiners also use WIPO Gazette of International Marks for examination purposes.

V. Activities in the field of computerized trademark search systems

There is used an on-site automated system for search procedures, which includes information on trademarks registered with NIIP.

The examiners use international databases ROMARIN and MADRID EXPRESS as well as database of World Health Organization MEDNET.

Equipment used: Hardware: system block P4 Core2Duo 1,8GHz, 160 HDD, 526 Mb, DVD-RW, video 128, m/k, LAN. Software: WINDOWS, Microsoft Office 2003, FOX PRO.

VI. Administration of trademark information products and 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)

Republican patent fund is generated at the Republican Scientific Technical Library (RSTL).
Currently it comprises more than 21 million patent documents, including trademark information from 50 countries and three organizations - WIPO, EPO and EAPO.

In the year under review the NIIP's Training Center rendered 998 consultations on drawing up application materials for the intellectual property subject matters, carried out thematic and numeric searches for applicants.

On June 1, 2008 the Consultation sector was opened in the Registration and Control Service for assisting to applicants and advising on filing, granting procedures and other business issues.

Currently the System for electronic filing of trademark applications is being developed. Instructions on filing application for industrial property subject matters is at: http://www.kazpatent.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1208951998&id=1209467172
The list of services offered by NIIP in the field of industrial property is at: http://www.kazpatent.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1216034056

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of trademark documentation and information

NIIP carries out mutual exchange of Official Gazettes, Annual Reports and databases with near and far abroad countries and the international organizations.

In the year 2008, about 2000 copies of NIIP's publications were distributed including Journal Intellectual Property of Kazakhstan and various databases.

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)

In the very beginning of the year 2008 the National Contest Shapagat-2008 on innovations was successfully held for the fifth time. The Contest is aimed at promotion of innovation activities, improving inventor’s image through recognition of their achievements and contribution to innovation development of the country.

During the year some videos were developed and further rotated on the national channels.

A national event INTELLECT was organized by the Committee for Intellectual Property Rights of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan in cooperation with territorial Justice Agencies with the participation of interested state bodies and public organizations.
Within the Intellect campaign NIIP’s specialists and examiners gave lectures at the Universities, and also held a round table on Legal Issues of Industrial Property.
There were held open days at the Offices of NIIP where any interested person could obtain full information on issues of interest for free.
A national competition of essays on Problems and Ways of the Intellectual Property Rights Protection was organized among college and university students as part of the national event Intellect.
In 2008, the Training Center held 14 events including 6 charged workshops, 3 workshops for free, 2 conferences, 3 round-tables. Over 230 specialists were trained in the Center including 38 examiners and specialists of NIIP, 108 specialists - under the State Program (pursuant to Plan of CIPRs) with 90 representatives of law enforcement bodies among them.
The information about the upcoming courses is always available on the site of NIIP.

In 2008 fifteen examiners and specialists of NIIP successfully completed distance learning program DL-101 General course on Intellectual Property and received WIPO certificates of completion.

Several examiners took professional development courses at the Russian State Institute of Intellectual Property in Moscow.

IX. Other general information related to the Office that is available on the Internet -- URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that:

Information on legislation in the field of IP protection, Annual Report and other general information can be found on the official web-site of the Institute at www.kazpatent.kz

X. Other relevant matters