The Gazette 1992

GAZETTE

JUNE 1992

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Computerisation in the Patents Office

A number of government departments and public service

public use and the systems have been designed to enable easy use by the non expert user. The public system enables users to do searches based on classifications, words and applicant name. It is hoped to have the trademark device (images) available to the public by Autumn 1992. Patents On the patent side, information on applications and registrations since 1988 are held on the system. Recently the Patents Office started a data capture of all patent bibliographic search material which it is hoped to have available to the public by Autumn 1992. Design and Registered User Design and registered user information is available on the system since 1988. It is planned to make this available to the public within the next twelve months. Library In the library, there are available CD-ROM's containing complete European Patents Office applications from 1 January, 1991 and complete PCT applications from 1 January, 1991. Future Developments Within the next year, it is planned to have a full patent database available to the public. It is also hoped to have a dial-in service, where users can dial into the Patents Office to do patent and trademark searches and to track the progress of applications. The possibility of submitting applications in an electronic format e.g. on floppy disc or by electronic mail/file transfer is currently being examined. Further information: Mr. Fred Bradley, Patents Office, 45, Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Tel: 614144. •

agencies are undertaking substantial investment in technology which will have a direct impact on the work of practitioners. From time to time, this column will examine such developments in the public sector and this month we begin with a look at the computerisation of the Patents Office. Coincidentally, the Patents Act, 1992 was signed into law on 27 February last. The Act replaces the Patents Act, 1964 and brings Irish patent law into line with international patent law enabling the State to ratify the European Patent Convention and the Patent Cooperation TYeaty. The Act substantially amends the procedures in respect of examination of applications and provides for the protection of smaller type inventions by introducing provisions for the grant of short term patents. The Patents Office is currently in the third year of a five year computerisation programme. The development is based on PC LAN hardware. The system comprises three 386/33 file servers with over 2Gbytes of disk storage together with an ethernet LAN with Novell Netware. There are currently approx. 40 workstations mainly 386SX processors from various manufacturers, Dell, Wang, AST and Compaq. An imaging system for trademarks has also been installed, which consists of a scanner, a laser printer and three 19 inch 300 DPI monitors. The Patents Office has standardised on a database management system (DBMS) called Advanced Revelation

by Michael M Moran, Solicitor, Registered TYademark Agent

for applications developments.

Systems have been developed to process patent, trademark, design and registered user applications.

Trademarks All the in-house application

processing activities for trademarks e.g. renewals, production of filing receipts etc. have been computerised. The trademark database has over 85,000 records giving up-to-date details of registered and pending trademarks. Renewal notices can be printed out as of a certain date and on receipt of payment and recording on the accounts system, the trademark is automatically renewed. At present trademark devices i.e. trademarks with a graphic element are being scanned into the system and when the backfile has been completely scanned, all trademark details will be available on computer. TYademark information has been available on computer to the public in the library in the Patents Office for over twelve months. Three computer terminals are available for

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