Integrated information solution by DPMA Merging of the
Integrated information solution by DPMA Merging of the Register and the Publication Platform Swider Conference 11/2008 Patent Information for Science and Industry Otwock Bernhard Geyer German Patent and Trade Mark Office
German Patent Law (version in force since 20 Dec 2007) Article 32 of the Patent Law (extract) (1) The Patent Office shall publish: • unexamined patent applications; • patent specifications and • a Patent Gazette. • The publication may be in electronic form. … (5) The Patent Gazette shall regularly contain summaries of entries in the Register, except where they concern only the normal term of patents or the entry and cancellation of exclusive licences, and references to the possibility of inspection of patent application files.
Extract of the Register of 1950 (similar to hand-written land register)
Register (index) card of 1979 (including hand-written amendments)
Change-over from paper-based to electronic Register: Ø as from 1877 in paper format Ø as from 1981 transition to data processing Ø since 2000 available on the Internet (DPINFO)
The electronic register DPINFO
Change-over from paper-based to electronic Patent Gazette Patentblatt (patent gazette) Ø as from 1877 in paper format Ø since 2004 electronic publication via the Internet
The electronic Publication: Patent Gazette
Main purpose of use § Register: Ø prompt recording and updating of all legal and procedural status data relating to a specific IP right Ø current daily information on the status of a specific IP right § Publication of the Patentblatt (patent gazette): Ø regular (weekly) information on new applications, registrations and grants, and changes in the legal (procedural) status Ø mainly monitoring by classes and applicants
The main reason for having two publications For the keeping of a paper-based register it was not feasible to print and distribute the complete register with all changes on a daily or weekly basis, but it was more useful to collect the essential changes to publish them collectively in an official gazette in order to comply with the obligation to inform the public.
Present situation The former reasons for a separate publication of information § in the register and § in the official gazettes or journals are obsolete since, in contrast to a paper publication, the Internet makes both information available anytime and anywhere.
DPINFO and DPMApublikationen today § Two separate databases for keeping data § Two different user interfaces for search and display § Different currentness of data § Different data stocks § Different approaches to the data: - document-related (DPMApublikationen) and - file-number-related (DPINFO)
DPinfo file number related display Document DE 199 35 886 B 4
DPMApublikationen document related display DE 199 35 886 B 4
Requirements to the new system § Merge of data stocks in a single database; availability of data via web services § Merged interface implementing barrier-free access and the style guides of the Federal administration, and taking advantage of the respective strengths of the current systems of DPINFO and DPMApublikationen § Current status-related presentation of the results, including sequence of publication data § Streamlining of Beginner’s mode; Continuation of complex Expert searches; Implementation of additional useful search modes: quick search and monitoring mode
Advantages of the new service: DPMAregister • A single user interface for search that allows to obtain register information and to monitor IP rights • Equal currentness of register and publication data • Authenticity of data ensured due to a single data source • Faster searching • Integrated display of register and publication data
DPMAregister Beginner‘s mode (trade marks) Draft
DPMAregister Expert mode (trade marks) Complex Search Query Draft
DPMAregister Integrated display of register and publication data Draft
Implementation schedule § Implementation in stages, per type of IP right Ø Trade marks in 2008/2009 Ø Designs in 2009 Ø Patents and utility models in 2010 § DPINFO and DPMApublikationen discontinued for each type of IP right in parallel with the implementation of the new system § Important notice: until new legal provisions come into force, the electronic gazettes/journals in PDF continue to be the official publications
DPINFO + DPMApublikationen DPMAregister Thank you for your attention bernhard. geyer@dpma. de heiko. sabien@dpma. de
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