USPTO launches new patent search tool

 

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has launched a new cloud-based patent search tool that enables a more convenient one-stop search of all US patents and published patent applications.

This tool will serve by combining the features of four existing patent search tools that are scheduled to be retired in September 2022. Based on the advanced Patents End-to-End (PE2E) search used by patent examiners, this new research platform will be free for all users with internet access.

The USPTO has created a new Patent Search webpage for use of the new search site. This webpage contains FAQs, educational resources, and other information to help users transition to the new tool.

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China joins the Hague System for Industrial Designs

 China has joined the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs. Accession will come into effect on May 5, 2022, and from this date, China will begin accepting applications for design registration under the system.

With China's accession, Chinese designers will be able to use the International Design Registration System to protect and promote their designs abroad. China filed a total of 795,504 design applications in 2020. This represents approximately 55% of applications filed worldwide.

On the other hand, foreign designers will be able to register their designs in China under the Hague System.

The Hague System facilitates the application procedures for design owners by eliminating the need to apply individually in each country or region to obtain design registration. Users of the system have the opportunity to request design registration In more than 90 countries of their choice with a single application. In addition, applications can be made online and application fees can be paid at once.

China also joined the WIPO's Marrakech Treaty on February 5, 2022. The Treaty of Marrakech, administered by WIPO, facilitates the production and international transfer of specially adapted books for the blind or visually impaired. It does this by establishing a number of limitations and exceptions to traditional copyright law.

The Treaty of Marrakech was adopted on 27 June 2013 and entered into force on 30 September 2016. It is the rapidly growing agreement of WIPO and currently includes 84 contracting parties before China takes effect on May 5, 2022.

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Iraq joins Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system

 

Iraq joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) as of January 31, 2022. With this participation, the number of member countries of the PCT became 155.

The PCT will enter into force in Iraq on April 30, 2022. Starting April 30, Iraqis will be able to file patent applications under the PCT to claim patent protection internationally.

Likewise, from April 30, foreign inventors and companies will be able to use the PCT System to claim patent protection for their inventions in Iraq.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) assists applicants in seeking international patent protection for their inventions, assisting patent offices in their decision to grant patents. 

Applicants may seek protection for an invention in multiple countries at the same time by filing an international patent application under the PCT.

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TURKPATENT released Turkish industrial property statistics of 2021

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TURKPATENT) has released statistics of 2021. A total number of 248,597 domestic industrial property applications were filed in 2021, including 8,439 patent applications, 4,418 utility model applications, 176,493 trademark applications and 59,247 design applications.

Compared to the previous year 2020, it has been observed that there was an increase of 3 percent in domestic patent applications, 24 percent in domestic utility model applications, 13 percent in domestic trademark applications and 41 percent in domestic design applications.

When domestic and foreign applications are combined, while the total number of domestic and foreign filings increased by 24 percent for utility models, 12 percent for trademarks and 39 percent for designs, the number of patents decreased.

19 universities took place among the first 50 entities to apply for domestic patents in 2021. 11% of domestic patent applications were filed by universities.

The sectors with the highest number of domestic patent applications in 2021 were respectively followings:

• Medical and surgical equipment and orthopedic vehicles (609 patent applications)
• Office machinery and computers' (534 patent applications)
• Household appliances (523 patent applications)
• Motor land vehicles trailer and semi-trailer (483 patent applications)
• Pharmaceutical products, medicinal chemicals and botanical products (469 patent applications).

352 geographical indications were registered in 2021. Thus, the total number of registered geographical indications increased to 990 in Turkey. The provinces with the highest number of geographical indication applications in 2021 were Erzurum with 61 applications, Van with 34 applications and Gaziantep with 28 applications. Turkey has 7 geographical indications registered with the European Union. These are "Antep baklavası (Antep baklava)", "Aydın inciri (Aydın fig)", "Aydın kestanesi (Aydın chestnut)", "Bayramiç Beyazı", "Malatya kayısısı (Malatya apricot)", "Milas zeytinyağı (Milas olive oil)" and "Taşköprü sarımsağı (Taşköprü garlic)".

Turkey ranked 14th in the world in patent applications, 7th in trademark applications, 4th in design applications, and 9th in general industrial property filings at the national level.

Turkey has maintained its position as the country with the highest number of trademark applications in Europe since 2011. On the other hand, TURKPATENT became among the top 10 institutions that issued the most international search reports (ISR) for PCT applications last year.

TURKPATENT's statistics can be found here.

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Turkish Plant Variety Office announced new schedule of fees for 2022

Turkish Plant Variety Office announced its new schedule of fees for registering the new plant varieties in Turkey.

The official fees were increased by 25% The amount of the frequently paid fees are as follows: 

•  Official fee for filing a plant variety application: 1780 TRY
• Official fee for novelty examination: 1638 TRY
• Official fee for variety denomination: 205 TRY
• Official fee claiming priority: 3207 TRY
• Official fee for examination (based on foreign DUS test): 1910 TRY

The list of the official fees can be found here.

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