- Email: [email protected]
Diversification of services: the technological window in Liguria
World Patent Information 24 (2002) 233–236 www.elsevier.com/locate/worpatin
Diversification of services: the technological window in Liguria Paola Carbone Centro PatLib, Chamber of Commerce, Via Garibaldi 6, 16124 Genova, Italy
Abstract The activities of the PatLib Centre of Genoa are described. Created in 1998, its main goal has been to encourage both inventors and small and medium enterprises to use patent information as a basis for their research and commercial policy. The Centre’s active collaboration on promotional activities with other organizations working in parallel fields in the region, and a wider project of technological services on the web, are highlighted. Also described is the Centre’s participation in the national Chambers of Commerce network for patent and trademark information; this network has developed a common promotional scheme, a common website and a teaching exchange programme. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
2. Organization and IP services
The PatLib Centre of Genoa was created in 1998 within the framework of the cooperation programme between the EPO and the Italian Patent & Trademark Office (UIBM). Although it started to operate as a separate department of the provincial Patent & Trademark Office, it is now completely integrated within it. Its main goal has been to encourage both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and Ligurian researchers to use patent information as a basis for their research and commercial policy. The region is in fact mainly characterized by SMEs, where patents are often considered not as an instrument of innovation and protection but as something that is difficult to manage, and where the research sector is not highly developed, other than in the biggest industries, and is in no way linked to universities. In 1970s the Liguria region was traditionally a commercial and industrial area, but it is now the least developed region in the north of Italy. This is why we see the PatLib Centre of Genoa, its implementation and its functioning, as an opportunity to provide a high standard of information service so as to help companies to realize the potential of their industrial property rights.
Between 1999 and 2000, thanks to funding from the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, the two existing ‘‘official’’ property industrial offices in Genoa, the Patent & Trademark Office, which operated as a filing office (receiving national applications) and the PatLib Centre, have been completely integrated (so that from now on any reference to the PatLib of Genoa refers to the integrated centre). The new Centre has been provided with an internet connection, new databases, and two new work stations to reach the goal of service diversification. In the meantime, the presence within the region of organizations working in the parallel field of technological innovation for SMEs has been verified, with the aim of proposing common plans and promotional activities. The two most significant organizations singled out in this phase have been the Innovation Relay Centre Alps and the Technological and Scientific Park of Liguria (PSTL). A collaborative interaction system with both organizations, already linked to the local Chamber of Commerce, has been formed. The following IP services have thus become available:
E-mail address: [email protected] (P. Carbone).
Administration services • Filing of national patent, utility model and design applications. • Registration of national and international trademark applications.
0172-2190/02/$ - see front matter 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 1 7 2 - 2 1 9 0 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 1 8 - 2
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P. Carbone / World Patent Information 24 (2002) 233–236
Information services • Procedural information for the following applications: National patents, trademarks and models. International patents and trademarks. European patents. Community trademarks. • Free consultation of EPO CDROMS and esp@cenet with staff assistance. • Guided consultation of the main patent, trademark and IP websites. Search services • Identity search of trademarks (national, international, EU, other countries). • Prior art searches before patent filing (national, international, European, other countries). • Legal status of European and international patents. Value added search services. Value added search services have been recently increased in the following way: • Search of domain names and domain registrants. • Similarity searches of trademarks with prefix, suffix, changeable types (national, international, EU, other countries). • Periodical monitoring of European and international patents belonging to a certain company or with reference to a specific international classification. • Identity search of national trademarks, including checks in relevant national, OHIM and international registers.
3. National patent and trademarks information network The context in Italy, within which this network and the Genoa PatLib services have developed, has been described previously in this journal [1,2]. The plan of the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce foresaw the creation of a patent and trademarks information network at a national level of all patent and trademark offices within the chambers of commerce, so as to develop synergy among them. This project has involved the seven PatLib Centres and eleven Patent Information Points found within Chambers of Commerce. The organizations involved have developed a common promotional scheme, mainly at the national level, both towards customers and within the network, and a common web site. They have also co-operated through a teaching exchange programme. The PatLib of Genoa has used the network website pages to promote its information and search services to customers.
4. Regional virtual network of services: Diogene––the technological window of Liguria The most significant programme in which we have been involved is ‘‘Diogene—the technological window of Liguria’’. The project, set up by the PSTL and by the University of Genoa, has involved the participation of various services of the Chamber of Commerce of Genoa, and in particular those of the PatLib Centre. The goal of the plan was, and is, to promote the realization of a virtual regional network of services to SMEs, so as to link the world of university and research and the world of enterprises. The services provided can be reached both directly by SMEs, through access to the server and its website, and indirectly, through ‘‘tutors’’. The services have been directed to the real needs of SMEs, chosen on the basis of the experiences of the promoting organizations, and by means of specific inquiries. The programme deals with • Access to basic services. • Access to advanced services (method design, process planning). • Access to innovation services provided by other local organizations. • Direct assistance/advice of experts visiting SMEs. • Direct assistance/advice—by phone—for SMEs. • Remote assistance/advice—by e-mail—of experts familiar with SMEs. The services that can be accessed directly by companies are the following: • E-mail box (if requested, for those firms which do not have it yet). • Newsgroups about technology and innovation subjects. • Direct access to specific databases (patents and trademarks, innovation partnerships, fundings, commercial partnerships); enterprises can benefit from the assistance of the Genoa PatLib and be assisted in navigation and consultation. • Direct access to services of genuenses atheneum (The University of Genoa) archives: stages, scholarships, thesis, graduates, undergraduates. • Direct access to PSTL information on technologies and innovation, financial opportunities, public help. The PatLib Centre has actively participated both in project planning and in the opening events. Ligurian industries and commercial enterprises can use both free patent and trademark information services and the value added search services already mentioned. More
P. Carbone / World Patent Information 24 (2002) 233–236
235
than 50 SMEs participated to the opening event, while 187 firms have now subscribed to the project: it is a considerable result and we are hoping it is just the beginning. Turning now to some of the procedures that have been set up, there is a search form, specifically drawn up, available on the website. The customer fills in the data fields and sends a specific query for the following kinds of information: • Information regarding a given patent (national, international, European, other national) of which the main data are already known (title, publication or application number, applicant, inventor). • Information on a given technological field or a technological matter (the customer provides the keywords and/or the classification). Usually, the PatLib Centre of Genoa receives a search request by e-mail, carries out the search and answers, via e-mail, to the person requesting the information. Payment for the search services is made by a subscription card (for a frequent user) or directly (after the order has been acknowledged by fax). It’s also foreseen, if there is increasing demand for this service, that a training programme will be organised for graduates or undergraduates in order to prepare them to work with PatLib staff. Once the customer receives the answer, he or she has two possibilities: 1. to verify by himself (inside his company) the technical information obtained; or 2. he needs qualified technical advice, for example on whether it is a useful technology, whether it is out of date technology, whether it is easily applied in the company, whether it provides real benefits and which alternatives exist in the market. In this case an expert, chosen on the basis of his university specialization and on the customer’s needs, receives the query via e-mail, and replies directly to the questions via e-mail. Fig. 1 illustrates the main interactions involved for patent searches in the Diogene project. In this project the most important aspect is the cooperation among the participants—the University of Genoa, with its experts from the technical and business departments chosen on the basis of the customer specific needs, the Technological and Scientific Park of Liguria concerning public assistance and credit programmes, the international department of the Chamber of Commerce concerning international commercial opportunities, and the organizations operating in the field of quality certification.
Fig. 1. The interaction process for patent searches in the Diogene project.
5. The future We anticipate that the design, the organization and the presentation of PatLib services and of Diogene are just the first steps toward the increase of patent information and search activities. We are clearly aware that even the most advanced organization techniques must go hand-in-hand with definite and constant promotion activities. At present, a promotional activity for enterprises which joined Diogene is in progress. There are 187 firms to whom the PatLib Centre sends via e-mail, every 15 days, editorials on ‘‘how to do a patent search?’’, with practical examples, news on industrial and intellectual property, reports from law courts and anything else considered relevant. The editorials and news are selected on the basis of the technological area in which the company works and of its use of patent databases. The aim is to develop interest in patents and trademarks matters and to encourage SMEs toward strategic use of industrial property rights. The proposal is to use patents as an incentive to innovation, to take advantage of non-directly strategic patents and trademarks through licensing activities, and so increase the value of patents and trademarks for a company’s development. With this aim in view, our next promotional activity is a sample survey on the understanding of local SMEs of industrial property and of technological transfer. A sample of at least 1000 enterprises will be selected. From the data collected an estimate will be made of the interest in the services provided. This survey will help to shape the services provided through Diogene.
Acknowledgements This paper is based on a presentation made by the author at the PatLib2001 Conference in Dublin, Ireland,
236
P. Carbone / World Patent Information 24 (2002) 233–236
in May 2001, organised by the EPO in concert with others, including the Irish Patents Office. References [1] Canali G. Patent information services on the Internet: threat or valuable resource for information centres? The Italian experience. World Pat Inform 2000;22(1):5–12. [2] Czajkowski A. Patent information points (Italy)—The way forward? World Pat Inform 2001;23(2):193–6.
Paola Carbone has a degree in political science, with a graduation thesis in International Economics. She participated in a research programme at Istituto Economia, Facolta Scienze Politiche, Universita di Genova and carried out scientific translations for ‘‘Il Mulino’’. She is currently responsible for the patent office and PatLib Centre CCIAA Genova, is Project Manager for DIOGENE, patent information and search section (Universita di Genova, Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico della Liguria), as well as project manager for the Innovation Relay Centre ALPS, Liguria (Unioncamere liguri).
Diversification of services: the technological window in Liguria Paola Carbone Centro PatLib, Chamber of Commerce, Via Garibaldi 6, 16124 Genova, Italy
Abstract The activities of the PatLib Centre of Genoa are described. Created in 1998, its main goal has been to encourage both inventors and small and medium enterprises to use patent information as a basis for their research and commercial policy. The Centre’s active collaboration on promotional activities with other organizations working in parallel fields in the region, and a wider project of technological services on the web, are highlighted. Also described is the Centre’s participation in the national Chambers of Commerce network for patent and trademark information; this network has developed a common promotional scheme, a common website and a teaching exchange programme. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
2. Organization and IP services
The PatLib Centre of Genoa was created in 1998 within the framework of the cooperation programme between the EPO and the Italian Patent & Trademark Office (UIBM). Although it started to operate as a separate department of the provincial Patent & Trademark Office, it is now completely integrated within it. Its main goal has been to encourage both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and Ligurian researchers to use patent information as a basis for their research and commercial policy. The region is in fact mainly characterized by SMEs, where patents are often considered not as an instrument of innovation and protection but as something that is difficult to manage, and where the research sector is not highly developed, other than in the biggest industries, and is in no way linked to universities. In 1970s the Liguria region was traditionally a commercial and industrial area, but it is now the least developed region in the north of Italy. This is why we see the PatLib Centre of Genoa, its implementation and its functioning, as an opportunity to provide a high standard of information service so as to help companies to realize the potential of their industrial property rights.
Between 1999 and 2000, thanks to funding from the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, the two existing ‘‘official’’ property industrial offices in Genoa, the Patent & Trademark Office, which operated as a filing office (receiving national applications) and the PatLib Centre, have been completely integrated (so that from now on any reference to the PatLib of Genoa refers to the integrated centre). The new Centre has been provided with an internet connection, new databases, and two new work stations to reach the goal of service diversification. In the meantime, the presence within the region of organizations working in the parallel field of technological innovation for SMEs has been verified, with the aim of proposing common plans and promotional activities. The two most significant organizations singled out in this phase have been the Innovation Relay Centre Alps and the Technological and Scientific Park of Liguria (PSTL). A collaborative interaction system with both organizations, already linked to the local Chamber of Commerce, has been formed. The following IP services have thus become available:
E-mail address: [email protected] (P. Carbone).
Administration services • Filing of national patent, utility model and design applications. • Registration of national and international trademark applications.
0172-2190/02/$ - see front matter 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 1 7 2 - 2 1 9 0 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 1 8 - 2
234
P. Carbone / World Patent Information 24 (2002) 233–236
Information services • Procedural information for the following applications: National patents, trademarks and models. International patents and trademarks. European patents. Community trademarks. • Free consultation of EPO CDROMS and esp@cenet with staff assistance. • Guided consultation of the main patent, trademark and IP websites. Search services • Identity search of trademarks (national, international, EU, other countries). • Prior art searches before patent filing (national, international, European, other countries). • Legal status of European and international patents. Value added search services. Value added search services have been recently increased in the following way: • Search of domain names and domain registrants. • Similarity searches of trademarks with prefix, suffix, changeable types (national, international, EU, other countries). • Periodical monitoring of European and international patents belonging to a certain company or with reference to a specific international classification. • Identity search of national trademarks, including checks in relevant national, OHIM and international registers.
3. National patent and trademarks information network The context in Italy, within which this network and the Genoa PatLib services have developed, has been described previously in this journal [1,2]. The plan of the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce foresaw the creation of a patent and trademarks information network at a national level of all patent and trademark offices within the chambers of commerce, so as to develop synergy among them. This project has involved the seven PatLib Centres and eleven Patent Information Points found within Chambers of Commerce. The organizations involved have developed a common promotional scheme, mainly at the national level, both towards customers and within the network, and a common web site. They have also co-operated through a teaching exchange programme. The PatLib of Genoa has used the network website pages to promote its information and search services to customers.
4. Regional virtual network of services: Diogene––the technological window of Liguria The most significant programme in which we have been involved is ‘‘Diogene—the technological window of Liguria’’. The project, set up by the PSTL and by the University of Genoa, has involved the participation of various services of the Chamber of Commerce of Genoa, and in particular those of the PatLib Centre. The goal of the plan was, and is, to promote the realization of a virtual regional network of services to SMEs, so as to link the world of university and research and the world of enterprises. The services provided can be reached both directly by SMEs, through access to the server and its website, and indirectly, through ‘‘tutors’’. The services have been directed to the real needs of SMEs, chosen on the basis of the experiences of the promoting organizations, and by means of specific inquiries. The programme deals with • Access to basic services. • Access to advanced services (method design, process planning). • Access to innovation services provided by other local organizations. • Direct assistance/advice of experts visiting SMEs. • Direct assistance/advice—by phone—for SMEs. • Remote assistance/advice—by e-mail—of experts familiar with SMEs. The services that can be accessed directly by companies are the following: • E-mail box (if requested, for those firms which do not have it yet). • Newsgroups about technology and innovation subjects. • Direct access to specific databases (patents and trademarks, innovation partnerships, fundings, commercial partnerships); enterprises can benefit from the assistance of the Genoa PatLib and be assisted in navigation and consultation. • Direct access to services of genuenses atheneum (The University of Genoa) archives: stages, scholarships, thesis, graduates, undergraduates. • Direct access to PSTL information on technologies and innovation, financial opportunities, public help. The PatLib Centre has actively participated both in project planning and in the opening events. Ligurian industries and commercial enterprises can use both free patent and trademark information services and the value added search services already mentioned. More
P. Carbone / World Patent Information 24 (2002) 233–236
235
than 50 SMEs participated to the opening event, while 187 firms have now subscribed to the project: it is a considerable result and we are hoping it is just the beginning. Turning now to some of the procedures that have been set up, there is a search form, specifically drawn up, available on the website. The customer fills in the data fields and sends a specific query for the following kinds of information: • Information regarding a given patent (national, international, European, other national) of which the main data are already known (title, publication or application number, applicant, inventor). • Information on a given technological field or a technological matter (the customer provides the keywords and/or the classification). Usually, the PatLib Centre of Genoa receives a search request by e-mail, carries out the search and answers, via e-mail, to the person requesting the information. Payment for the search services is made by a subscription card (for a frequent user) or directly (after the order has been acknowledged by fax). It’s also foreseen, if there is increasing demand for this service, that a training programme will be organised for graduates or undergraduates in order to prepare them to work with PatLib staff. Once the customer receives the answer, he or she has two possibilities: 1. to verify by himself (inside his company) the technical information obtained; or 2. he needs qualified technical advice, for example on whether it is a useful technology, whether it is out of date technology, whether it is easily applied in the company, whether it provides real benefits and which alternatives exist in the market. In this case an expert, chosen on the basis of his university specialization and on the customer’s needs, receives the query via e-mail, and replies directly to the questions via e-mail. Fig. 1 illustrates the main interactions involved for patent searches in the Diogene project. In this project the most important aspect is the cooperation among the participants—the University of Genoa, with its experts from the technical and business departments chosen on the basis of the customer specific needs, the Technological and Scientific Park of Liguria concerning public assistance and credit programmes, the international department of the Chamber of Commerce concerning international commercial opportunities, and the organizations operating in the field of quality certification.
Fig. 1. The interaction process for patent searches in the Diogene project.
5. The future We anticipate that the design, the organization and the presentation of PatLib services and of Diogene are just the first steps toward the increase of patent information and search activities. We are clearly aware that even the most advanced organization techniques must go hand-in-hand with definite and constant promotion activities. At present, a promotional activity for enterprises which joined Diogene is in progress. There are 187 firms to whom the PatLib Centre sends via e-mail, every 15 days, editorials on ‘‘how to do a patent search?’’, with practical examples, news on industrial and intellectual property, reports from law courts and anything else considered relevant. The editorials and news are selected on the basis of the technological area in which the company works and of its use of patent databases. The aim is to develop interest in patents and trademarks matters and to encourage SMEs toward strategic use of industrial property rights. The proposal is to use patents as an incentive to innovation, to take advantage of non-directly strategic patents and trademarks through licensing activities, and so increase the value of patents and trademarks for a company’s development. With this aim in view, our next promotional activity is a sample survey on the understanding of local SMEs of industrial property and of technological transfer. A sample of at least 1000 enterprises will be selected. From the data collected an estimate will be made of the interest in the services provided. This survey will help to shape the services provided through Diogene.
Acknowledgements This paper is based on a presentation made by the author at the PatLib2001 Conference in Dublin, Ireland,
236
P. Carbone / World Patent Information 24 (2002) 233–236
in May 2001, organised by the EPO in concert with others, including the Irish Patents Office. References [1] Canali G. Patent information services on the Internet: threat or valuable resource for information centres? The Italian experience. World Pat Inform 2000;22(1):5–12. [2] Czajkowski A. Patent information points (Italy)—The way forward? World Pat Inform 2001;23(2):193–6.
Paola Carbone has a degree in political science, with a graduation thesis in International Economics. She participated in a research programme at Istituto Economia, Facolta Scienze Politiche, Universita di Genova and carried out scientific translations for ‘‘Il Mulino’’. She is currently responsible for the patent office and PatLib Centre CCIAA Genova, is Project Manager for DIOGENE, patent information and search section (Universita di Genova, Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico della Liguria), as well as project manager for the Innovation Relay Centre ALPS, Liguria (Unioncamere liguri).