21/09/2015© Estonian Patent Library Role of patent libraries in the balanced economical development of the EU region Estonian Patent Library –

04/21/23 © Estonian Patent Library

Role of patent libraries in the balanced economical

development of the EU region

Estonian Patent Library – www.patentlib.eeSirje Tambaur

tel +372 6411 [email protected]


Intellectual Property (IP) Protection

CopyrightsBerne Convention 1886 literary worksartistic works performancesmusical compositions scientific works computer programsdatabases

Industrial Property Rights

Paris Convention 1883

trade marksappellations of originpatents and utility

models industrial designs integrated circuits

layouts


IPR system counterparts

• Author/proprietor – would like to have monopoly rights to compensate made expenses: for free, all over world and forever

• Competitors / consumers – new technologies, artistic and literally works and products are good, but no extra income needed for the author / proprietor

• IPR system = social agreement state gives the author / proprietor monopoly after collecting fees; on limited territory, for limited time period and type of products. The inventions must be described and published, the rising fees force to accelerate innovation


Roles

• Patent Office – files the IP protection applications and performing consecutive examination, issues protection documents (certificates or patents), advising, publishing IP information, seminars

• Patent Library – provides public and other offices abroad with IP information, patent information searches, trainings for clients

• Patent attorney – acts as communicator between IP proprietor – Patent Office, obligatory for not local proprietors. Translations, legal advices, compiling patent specifications and claims


Licence agreement made rich

• Ermal Cleon Fraze (1913-1989) invented a pop-top can in USA in 1959. He licensed it to a Alcoa and collected royalties of sells of 150 billion cans - 0,1 cents per can. Product improvement lasted for decades


EU strategy (Lisbon strategy)

• European Council held a special meeting on 23-24 March 2000 in Lisbon: a new strategic goal for the next decade: to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

• http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/docs/services/docs/2000/jan-march/doc_00_8_en.html


From Lisbon strategy to local strategy

• economic growth rate of around 3%

• Community patent and utility model in 2001 (not fulfilled)

• establishment of an European Research Area

• R&D expenses not less that 3% of GDP• Success Estonia 2014

http://www.peaminister.ee/failid/ee2014_eng.rtf • EPO survey 2003 http://www.european-patent-

office.org/news/info/survey2003/epo_user_survey.pdf


How IPR helps getting money?

• high technology products make higher profit

• trademarks (brands) give extra money

• immaterial property: can be sold, licensed etc

• income from monopoly production

• infringement compensation by pre-court settlement or in court (amount of sales)

• NB! IPR owner gets the most of profit!

• SMEs - success stories http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/case_studies/index.htm


Industrial property protection strategy

• Protecting your IP (patents, utility models, designs, trademarks) on every market (country)

• Secrecy• Being ready to defence rights of your own ownership

of the new product (digital signing, publishing in local newspapers, your competitor’s IP is not new worldwide)

• protecting only strong patents with big market share (product localisation, certification)

• insurance (on the event of high trial costs of trials)


Using patent informationep.espacenet.com

• Patent databases enable to find good solutions to the technical problems for free (without protection in your country)

• Competitors surveillance can be performed by using databases on regular bases

• Check trademark and industrial design databases to be sure – your design is original

• The other sources of information cannot be ignored


Supporting SMEs

• patent libraries organise special trainings on industrial property protection matters and patent information

• FP6, SME TechWeb http://sme.cordis.lu• IPR helpdesk http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org • special supporting and technology transfer

centres, funds coordinated by Enterprise Estonia www.eas.ee

• Estonian Internet portal for entrepreneurs www.aktiva.ee


Recommendations for entrepreneurs• Continuous product development gives advantages in

competition• An employee must search periodically relevant industrial

property information (or order from patent specialists)• All possible industrial property must be documented and

relevant protection strategy chosen • Know different supporting and funding possibilities• Publish or commercialise only protected ideas• Commercialise products with the help of IP protection

documentsSource: Ott Moorlat, Talis Bachmann, Siiri Same, Mart Moorlat

“Eesti väikese ja keskmise suurusega ettevõtete tööstusomandi kaitse alane teadlikkus ja selle tõstmise võimalused”. Tallinn: Moorlat & Ko Patendibüroo, 2002


Lets have a lot of industrial property owners in Baltics!


Messages• Culture includes technology• Industrial property protection strategy is a very

important part of a business strategy• Using patent information gives advantages to

companies• Industrial property protection can be profitable• Co-operation between different libraries and other

innovation and marketing supporting bodies gives an extra value - we are stronger together

• Communication accelerates getting new information• Encourage creativity – the source of innovation

Documents

21/09/2015© Estonian Patent Library Role of patent libraries in the balanced economical development of the EU region Estonian Patent Library –