The European Patent Office announced the brand new version of its patent database Espacenet.
The new version is more modern and dynamic and at the same time allows searching for patent documentation based on different combinations of terms and filters.
In addition, the database will provide its users with better translations of the patent documentation in more languages.
For more information here.
EUIPO reports about the accession of Liechtenstein to the TMView database for searching trademarks. In that way, the number of participating offices become 71. Now the database gives access to more than 55 million trademarks around the world.
For more information here.
EUIPO reports about the accession of Chile to the global database for industrial designs DesignView. With additional 4500 designs from Chile, the total number of accessible designs through this database become over 14 million.
For more information here: “Chile joins DesignView”
EUIPO announced the new improved capabilities of TMView trademark databases, which now give options for image search of trademarks in Ireland and Slovakia. In that way, the number of countries, that allow such access to their local databases for implementation of such searches, become 13.
The option for visual search is a relatively new one but on the other hand quite useful because it gives more ground for better assessment in the case of trademark prior searches.
For more information here.
As a recent move, WIPO has announced AI improvements in its software for searching trademark images.
According to the information, the new software will increase significantly the accuracy of the results.
The new technology results in a narrower and more precise group of potentially similar marks, facilitating greater certainty in strategic planning for brand expansion into new markets. With fewer results to scrutinize, this also translates into labor-cost savings for trademark examiners, attorneys and paralegals, industry practitioners and researchers.
In order to be used you need to enter the Global Brand Database and to choose Concept Strategy from the Image Tab.
WIPO gives a concrete example for the abilities of the new AI software:
The Bulgarian Patent Office has launched its brand new online database for protected plant varieties and animal breeds in Bulgaria. This will allow everyone who has an interest in to do a search online. The database has a version in English too although you have to bear in mind that to search for protected plant varieties and animal breeds you need to do that using their names in Cyrillic.
The database is accessible here.
For all of us who are interested in searching for trademarks and industrial designs, a good news has come from EUIPO which announced that several Latin American countries joined important IP tools.
First and foremost Uruguay joined TMView database for trademarks and DesignView database for designs. Apart from this Honduras joined DesignView too.
In brief, this means that national trademarks from Uruguay and national designs from Uruguay and Honduras will be accessible through both databases which by itself is a real advantage.
In addition to that El Salvador and Costa Rica joined the TMClass database responsible for harmonization of goods and services for the purposes of filing trademark applications.
For more information here.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PLANET 