Role of patent libraries in the
balanced economical
development of the EU region
Estonian Patent Library – www.patentlib.ee
Sirje Tambaur
tel +372 6411 474
[email protected]
13/07/2017
© Estonian Patent Library
Intellectual Property (IP) Protection
Copyrights
Berne Convention 1886
 literary works
 artistic works
 performances
 musical compositions
 scientific works
 computer programs
 databases
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Industrial Property
Rights
Paris Convention 1883
 trade marks
 appellations of origin
 patents and utility
models
 industrial designs
 integrated circuits
layouts
© Estonian Patent Library
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
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© Estonian Patent Library
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
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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
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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/20
00/jan-march/doc_00_8_en.html
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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-patentoffice.org/news/info/survey2003/epo_user_survey.pdf
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© Estonian Patent Library
How IPR helps getting money?
•
•
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•
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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
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© Estonian Patent Library
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)
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© Estonian Patent Library
Using patent information
ep.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
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© Estonian Patent Library
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
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© Estonian Patent Library
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
documents
Source: 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
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© Estonian Patent Library
Lets have a lot of industrial
property owners in Baltics!
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© Estonian Patent Library
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
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