New Services offered by the Commerce Division Ms. Michelle Bonello Director – Industrial Property Registrations

New Services IP Check Up IP Check Up IP Portal IP Portal Mission Statement: "To assist business and facilitate trade "To assist business and facilitate trade whilst providing the necessary infrastructure to encourage the securing, utilisation and respect of intellectual property rights.”

IP Check UP The IP Check UP is a new service offered by the Commerce Division to Maltese SME’s. It includes two European projects, amalgamated together and tailored to the Maltese environment.

IP Check UP The European Patent Office launched the IP Pre-Diagnosis project offering services for innovative European SME’s that have little or no experience of IP, particularly of patents, and who operate preferably in the technological field.

IP Check UP The other project, is launched by the IPeuropeAware (IPeA), and is financed by the European Commission’s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme under DG Enterprise and Industry.

IP Check UP This 2 nd project makes use of the AIDA methodology; which is a concept developed over 100 years ago by marketing specialists. This has been specifically adapted to the topic of Intellectual Property.

IP Check UP The specific adaptation of the original AIDA methodology to the topic of Intellectual Property uses AIDA levels to quantify the maturity-level of an SME, with respect to its IP-practices and/or knowledge on IP.

IP Check UP In the context of IP, the AIDA method will be used: 1. To evaluate the level of IP awareness and/or IP practices of an SME 1. To evaluate the level of IP awareness and/or IP practices of an SME

IP Check UP 2. To qualify/quantify the level of IP awareness and/or IP practices to be reached, and/or 3. request additional IP diagnostic advice from the Commerce Division

IP Check UP The idea behind the method developed for IP is to attach to each of the 4 AIDA levels, one particular type of IP-practice. The idea behind the method developed for IP is to attach to each of the 4 AIDA levels, one particular type of IP-practice.

IP Check UP A (Attention): The SME is aware of IP AIDA

IP Check UP I (Interest): The SME is protecting IP on a more or less regular and systematic basis AIDA

IP Check UP D (Desire): The SME is developing an IP portfolio of a certain size and is managing its IP rights AIDA

IP Check UP A (Action): The SME is exploiting its IP rights, by e.g. valorising its rights, enforcing its rights, commercialising them through leasing, selling, licensing, etc... The SME is exploiting its IP rights, by e.g. valorising its rights, enforcing its rights, commercialising them through leasing, selling, licensing, etc... AIDA

IP Check UP The scope of the IP Check UP is: to give information with regards to the rights pertaining to innovation and managing them, (such as patents, trademarks, designs, copyright, trade secrets, licenses, contracts …), and to give information with regards to the rights pertaining to innovation and managing them, (such as patents, trademarks, designs, copyright, trade secrets, licenses, contracts …), and

IP Check UP to underline the value of an IP policy to the company, and together with its company director, to estimate what benefits the IP could bring, taking into consideration the future prospects of the company. to underline the value of an IP policy to the company, and together with its company director, to estimate what benefits the IP could bring, taking into consideration the future prospects of the company.

IP Check UP A detailed and confidential document is produced, which provides the SME with various tools as to how it may proceed from one AIDA level to the next

IP Check UP The document may be re-used according to the company’s needs, even if just in safeguarding the development of its activity, or in conserving or improving its position amongst its partners or competitors.

IP Check UP The IP Check UP is carried out in three stages 1st stage: An Interview of around 4 hours with the Company Director;

IP Check UP 2nd stage: A meeting of around 2 hours with the company Director giving the office’s report and discussing the outcome;

IP Check UP 3rd stage: A meeting one year later, of about an hour, to review the general outcome from this project.

IP Check UP The expected gains for the company are: a genuine diagnosis of the current state of the company regarding its needs in relation to IP; a genuine diagnosis of the current state of the company regarding its needs in relation to IP;

IP Check UP a prospective view based on an understanding of the development prospects of the company and an understanding of the competitive advantages which can be gained by industrial property; a prospective view based on an understanding of the development prospects of the company and an understanding of the competitive advantages which can be gained by industrial property;

IP Check UP recommendations and possibilities for action; and recommendations and possibilities for action; and the clear identification of available tools to get a clear picture of all the players and IP costs involved. the clear identification of available tools to get a clear picture of all the players and IP costs involved.

IP Portal The IP Portal will offer electronic filing 24/7 of all the applications for: Trademarks, Patents and Designs.

IP Portal The forms include applications to: RegisterRenewRestoreWithdrawAlter Trademarks Designs Patents

IP Portal Surrender Change Details Register a Licensee Request for Information … others … Trademarks Patents Designs

IP Portal The News and Events Many international sources of IP News exist and the IP Portal provides links to the main international offices, in order to help the user stay up-to-date with the ever- changing World of IP: Features

IP Portal The News and Events News by the Commerce Division Alicante News Patent Information News WIPO Magazine Features

IP Portal News Subscription Form By filling in the Subscription Form one will receive an advising of a new IP related News Alert posted on the website. Features

IP Portal Post an Article If one wishes to publish an IP related News item, one may upload the article for consideration by the Commerce Division. Features

IP Portal Government Gazette Past issues of the Government Gazette, in which the Commerce Division regularly publishes its new Industrial Property Grants as well as other related changes. Features

IP Portal IP Litigation Cases IP Litigation Cases A list of litigation cases starting as from Post a Litigation Summary If one has been involved in an IP Litigation case, there is a possibility to post a summary of the case by filling a provided form. Features

Thank You Contact details for IP Check UP Tel: / 341 / 365 Website: