Member area

KnowING IPR Fostering Innovation in the Danube Region through Knowledge Engineering and IPR Management

KnowING HUB Helpdesk

In order to assure a positive user experience of the KnowING HUB we invite you to browse through our Helpdesk, where you can find several definitions explained, Frequently Asked Questions and National Contact points. The main goal of KnowING IPR Helpdesk is to provide support and/or instructions on technical and general protocol matters for basic users who are new to the Hub and may have limited knowledge on IPR topics.

Definitions

KnowING IPR is the acronym of the project, that will improve framework conditions for innovation in the Danube region by developing a transnational KnowING IPR platform, which will provide an open-access tool for advanced intellectual property rights (IP) analysis and guidelines for improved and harmonized IPR policy framework across the Danube region.

KnowING HUB is the main result of the KnowING IPR project as a practical solution in the form of an open-access. It will provide assistance for enterprises, especially SMEs, as well as HEI&RI, in the management of intellectual property rights.

Basic users are users that are fairly new to the area of intellectual property, they usually have no experience or knowledge in intellectual property rights (IPR), no prior training in IPR.

Advanced users have some knowledge and experience with IPR or engage in IP-related tasks at least sporadically inside their work assignments. Some of them would also already attend some IP-related training.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is KnowING IPR?

It is an international project dealing aimed at bringing IPR management closer to different users.

2. Who is KnowING IPR?

The project group is consisted by multidisciplinary experts from 14 countries of the Danube Region (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldavia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine).

3. What is KnowING IPR Hub?

Knowing Hub is an open access online platform providing knowledge extraction from patent and other databases, advanced analytics, and training for IPR extraction and management, thus enabling IPR collaboration, better informed freedom-to-operate, future trend decisions, and build-on innovation processes

4. Where is my local contact point? How may they help me?

FIS – Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto, Slovenia

e-mail: knowing.ipr@fis.unm.si

Competences:

  • Knowledge on networking with companies interested in the transfer of knowledge and technologies from FIS.
  • Knowledge on promotion of scientific research work at FIS and transfer of knowledge into practice.
  • Knowledge on providing technical and legal assistance to inventors in connection with official inventions.
  • Knowledge on cooperation with TTOs in Slovenia.
  • Knowledge on education in the field of commercialization

TUKE – Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia

e-mail: dev.ekf@tuke.sk

Competences:

  • Knowledge to facilitate science industry cooperation: methodologies, frameworks and models for implementation
  • Knowledge on networking and match-making among research, private sector and public sector 
  • Knowledge on providing technical and legal assistance to inventors in protection of Intellectual Property
  • Access to pool of professionals in IPR and technology transfer
  • Knowledge on innovation management
  • Knowledge on accessing national and European funds for research, development and innovation
  • Knowledge on research commercialisation
  • Knowledge in public procurement of innovation (PPI)

University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic

e-mail: dalfia@kiv.zcu.cz

Competences:

  • Knowledge of general (world-wide) publication and patent databases
  • Knowledge of patent and trademark databases of the Intellectual Property Office in the Czech Republic
  • Technical competences in automated retrieval of information from IPR data sources
  • Experience in design and implementation of IPR data search engine back-ends
  • Experience in acquiring funding sources for research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) on the national (Czech) as well as international (European) level
  • Competences in the interaction between academia, industry, and government in the field of R&D

REGLO – Research Centre Regional and Global Development, Bulgaria

e-mail: office@reglo-bg.eu

Competences:

  • Management of  technological innovations;
  • Interplay between technological innovations and IPR activities
  • Management of risks of technological innovations;
  • Comparative studies on patent activities;
  • Cooperation and conflict between actors in innovation processes

UEFISCDI – Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding, Romania

e-mail: marius.mitroi@uefiscdi.ro

Competences:

  • Knowledge on international good practices on technology transfer
  • Knowledge to facilitate science industry cooperation: methodologies, frameworks and models for implementation
  • Access to a large pool of researchers
  • Knowledge on developing funding instruments for RDI
  • Knowledge on accessing European funds for research, development and innovation
  • Knowledge on research commercialisation
  • Knowledge on innovative entrepreneurship

Steinbeis 2i GmbH, Germany

e-mail: paul.haering@steinbeis-europa.de

Competences:

  • Consulting on innovation management, IPR, and knowledge management
  • Support in applying for EU funding
  • Search for cooperation partners for research and innovation actions
  • Support for the exploitation of research results and transnational technology transfer
  • Strategy development for public bodies and public administration
  • Professional development and training

H&S Heilig und Schubert Software AG, Austria

e-mail: barbara.besek@vinoluxo.si

Competences:

  • Technical knowledge in development web applications
  • Knowledge in analysing the demands of the users
  • Technical knowledge of new IT strategies
  • Supporting the customers’ processes with IT technology
  • Knowledge in connecting different IT solutions
  • Knowledge in exchanging the data between different IT solutions
  • Knowledge in preparation of Classification plans and deploying those plans into the IT solutions

Pannon Business Network Association, Hungary

e-mail: anna.toth@pbn.hu

Competences:

  • Knowledge on international good practices on technology transfer
  • Knowledge to facilitate science industry cooperation
  • Knowledge on industry4.0 technologies that can be used for advanced data analytics of IPR data:
  • Customer data analysis processes
  • Unique algorithm solutions in data analysis
  • Classification and segmentation processes
  • Data visualization
  • Natural language processing
  • Knowledge on networking and match-making among research, private sector and public sector 
  • Access to pool of professionals

Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hungary

e-mail: projektiroda@bkik.hu

Competences:

  • Providing information on IPR and KnowING Hub
  • Support contacting procedures with TT offices, chambers, BSOs, and public authorities
  • Providing B2B opportunities
  • Networking, partner search support
  • Provide information on and support networking in handicraft

SASS – School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica, Slovenia

e-mail: projektna.pisarna@fuds.si

Competences:

  • General Consultancy on Entrepreneurship (Business ideas evaluation / Partnerhips / Funding/ TT / international good practices.
  • Services and consulting on entrepreneurship and inventions/innovations commercialization
  • Support on networking with suitable partners in the fields of transfer of knowledge and technologies and commercialization.
  • Knowledge on promotion of
  • scientific research work at SASS and transfer of knowledge into practice.
  • Knowledge on cooperation with TTOs in Slovenia.
  • Knowledge on education in the field of commercialization of knowledge and protection

REDASP – Regional Economic Development Agency for Sumadija and Pomoravije Ltd., Serbia

e-mail: natasa.djordjevic@redasp.rs

Competences:

  • Knowledge of general publication and patent databases
  • Experience in funding sources on the national and European level
  • Knowledge on accessing European funds for research, development, and innovation
  • Knowledge on SME mentoring process
  • Knowledge on networking and matchmaking among public institutions, academia and SME

SERDA – Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency, Bosnia and Herzegovina

e-mail: amela@serda.ba

Competences:

  • Knowledge of general publication and patent databases
  • Experience in funding sources on the national and European level
  • Knowledge on accessing European funds for research, development, and innovation
  • Knowledge on SME mentoring process
  • Knowledge on networking and matchmaking among public institutions, academia and SME

ANCD – National Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Moldova

e-mail: ulinici.d@gmail.com

Competences:

  • Knowledge on national funds and funds from bilateral and multilateral programs
  • Experience in creating, maintaining and giving broad public access to research, innovation and development databases
  • Knowledge on the activity of science-technology parks and innovation incubators
  • Experience in facilitating the partnership between organizations in the sphere of science, innovation and development and public or private companies;
  • Experience in promoting cooperation in the field of research, innovation and development at national and international level and carry out related activities;

AGEPI – State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova, Moldova

e-mail: KnowINGIPR@agepi.gov.md

Competences:

  • Knowledge in the field of intellectual property (IP), including patents for inventions, patents for plant varieties, topographies of integrated circuits, copyright and related rights, trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications;
  • Knowledge of patent data bases such of ESPACENET, PATENTSCOPE, etc.;
  • Knowledge of international legislation in the field of patent (Patent Cooperation Treaty, etc.);
  • Knowledge of International Patent Classification (IPC) and expertise in classifying patents;
  • Knowledge of the registration procedure (national and international patent  applications);
  • Knowledge in patent examination and granting;
  • Expertise in performing prior art searches;
  • Knowledge of IP rights enforcement mechanisms in the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova;
  • Expertise in organizing IP training and education;
  • Expertise in freedom to operate oriented search;
  • Knowledge in transfer of IP rights (licence and assignments agreements)

Agency of the Regional Development and Cross-Border Cooperation “Transcarpathia”, Ukraine

e-mail: m.dankanych@arr.com.ua

Competences:

  • Knowledge on cross border cooperation
  • Knowledge on regional development and strategy development
  • Experience in formation of investment appeal and attraction investments

Algebra Ltd., Croatia

e-mail: leo.mrsic@algebra.hr

Competences:

  • Knowledge of general publication and patent databases
  • Experience in funding sources on the national and European level
  • Knowledge on accessing European funds for research, development, and innovation
  • Knowledge on SME mentoring process
  • Knowledge on networking with companies interested in the transfer of knowledge and technologies from Algebra.
  • Knowledge on promotion of scientific research work at Algebra and transfer of knowledge into practice.
  • Knowledge on education in the field of commercialization of knowledge and protection of IPR
  • Knowledge on networking and match-making among research, private sector and public sector 
  • Knowledge on providing technical and legal assistance to inventors in protection of Intellectual Property
  • Access to pool of professionals in IPR and technology transfer
  • Knowledge on innovation management
  • Knowledge on accessing national and European funds for research, development and innovation
  • Knowledge on research commercialisation

5. I am not from a Danube Region country. May I use the KnowING Hub?

Although KnowING IPR Project was initiated and managed by representatives from Danube Region countries, the benefits of the project can be used by users from anywhere.

6. What is the price of KnowING IPR HUB services?

As the project is supported by Interreg Programme, the use of the KnowING HUB is free of charge.

7. Where can I get help?

You can benefit from using the tutorials for basic or advanced users [link to be inserted] or by contacting an IPR expert introduced by the KnowING HUB.

8. What is IPR?

Intellectual property rights are the rights given to (natural) person(s) over the creations of their mind(s), e.g. inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names and images used in commerce. The patent holders will often consequently be legal persons, e.g. companies (employers of the natural persons, i.e. inventors/creators). The European Patent Office has recently decided that an AI cannot be an inventor. Intellectual property rights usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of their creation for a certain period of time in a certain geographical area (temporal and geographical limitations apply to IPR).

9. What does “prior art” mean, and why is it important to search for prior art?

Prior art is any evidence that your invention already exists. It can be a patent document or a non-patent information, or any other evidence proving that someone has previously described or shown or made something that contains the use of technology that is very similar to your invention. A prior art search helps you evaluate whether an invention can be patented.

10. I have an invention. How can I find out if something similar already exists and has been patented?

If you want to know, if your invention has already been invented and patented by somebody else, you should check the prior art and consult patent databases. You may check in the global databases such as the WIPO’s PATENTSCOPE (https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf) or EPO’s ESPACENET (https://worldwide.espacenet.com/). Or you may do the search in the KnowINGIPR database [link to be provided later] that contains patent data and non-patent information.

11. I would like to buy an interesting patent. Where should I look?

There are some technology transfer databases available and WIPO patent database also includes (albeit limited) information on licensibility. Furthermore, also the KnowING Hub allows some information whether or not a patent has already been licensed. Connecting the patent owner is a reasonable first step.

12. I would like to own a patent. What should I do?

Proceed checking the information on how to patent at your national patent office or the European patent office or other relevant intellectual property office. To learn more, in some countries the so-called  "first info" service is available, as well as some trainings (such as the KnowING training). Help from a patent attorney might be required especially for patents outside the home country.

13. I would like to own a trademark. What should I do?

Proceed with the application to the national intellectual property office or with the community trademark registration process. However, do check previously if an identical or similar trademark is already in existence, since that could preclude you from getting a strong trademark.

14. I invented something new. How can I protect it?

Depending on what aspect you want to protect, you have different types of IPR available. Nonetheless, if what you have invented is patentable (novel, innovative and usable), the strongest right emerges from a patent. Checking whether or not your invention conforms with patentibility requirements is thus a crucial first step. If your invention does not satisfy the patentibilty requirements, you still might be eligible for some other type of IPR, e.g. to protect its design.

15. How much does a patent cost?

The cost is dependent on the type of patent, domestic or international and the country of application. But regardless of this, we always need to account for various types of costs related to patents in terms of fees (for application, maintenance, etc.) and the additional costs (the largest of those being the costs related to patent attorney fees).

16. How much does a trademark cost?

Costs related to the trademarks differ somewhat depending on the country of registration. Regarding the community trademark, the system has recently changed, and now includes an "one-class-per-fee system". This means that in practice applicants pay a lower fee (850 EUR) if they only apply for one class, the same fee if they apply for two (900 EUR), and a higher fee if they apply for three or more (150 euro per each subsequent class), both for application and renewal. Other potential costs related to trademarks can also occur.

17. May I use the Coca Cola logo in socks production in Croatia?

The Coca-Cola Corp owns the trademark to the name Coca Cola, as well as the trademark on the bottle shape, and the graphic representation of their name. However, albeit a trademark is usually limited to its registered class(es), there is also a class of well-known trademarks in existence applicable for some well-known trademarks. This is also the case of Coca Cola. Today, the Coca Cola trademark is recognized by 94% of the world’s population, making it the most recognizable trademark on Earth.

18. I wrote a book. What should I to assure IPR Protection?

Copyright is a so-called natural right; hence the right will arise from its creation and for the most part no registration is necessary. Nonetheless, some countries offer copyright registries; registering your work (books, computer programs, etc.) may be useful if infringement occurs. Do pay attention that some other IPR rights may arise, which can be subjected to other systems.

19. How can I get financing of IPR?

Some countries support e.g. patenting of SMEs and public institutions, hence some patenting costs can often be lowered or reimbursed. Contact your national intellectual property office, chamber of commerce or other responsible authority for information. Sometimes different fees apply if you are an SME.

20. We would like to sell our goods in a foreign country. What should we know regarding IPR?

For country-specific information, contact the Patent Office of the country in which you intend to sell your product.

21. Somebody is using our patent on the Bulgarian market. What should we know?

First, check if your patent is valid in your own country; remember that patents are geographically limited. Secondly, check the claims of your patent against the product (or another patent if that is in existence) – note, only what is in the claims is actually protected. Next, analysing the infringement and contacting the infringer can lead to a commonly acceptable solution. If this is not possible, other routes can be taken, including the judicial one.

 

Programme co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI)