Digitalization

In 2023, too, UIBM efforts towards administrative streamlining and digitalization moved along two main lines: improving the Industrial Property protection system by using rapid and effective procedures and by integrating the existing systems and applications; and encouraging the use of IP - especially by SMEs - through easier access to patent information.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT

In line with the activities aimed at enhancing the DGPI-UIBM information technology infrastructures and databases implemented in previous years, 2023 saw the implementation of digital strengthening actions at Front-end and Back-office levels, in order to bring the systems into compliance with the new regulatory provisions resulting from amendments to the Industrial Property Code. Additionally, at the level of Databases, were introduced new functions for text search in invention and utility model documents, along with the possibility of contextual export of the results obtained, In particular, with regard to Front-end, users can now pay any stamp duties concerning I.P. applications in fully digital mode, on the PagoPA portal. Moreover, by joining the WIPO DAS (Digital Access Service) Office Portal as “Accessing Office” in October 2023, the UIBM gave users the opportunity to submit in Italy a patent , utility model, trademark or design applications, claiming one or more priorities under Article 4 of the Paris Union Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, by simply entering the unique DAS code associated with the priority document in the original language.

Last but not least, since March 2023, the new technical support WebChat service for online submission of IP rights applications and related procedures  has been implemented  and made available to users on the homepage of the web portal.

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)

In November 2023, in line with the provisions of the #NextGenerationItalia National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Mission 1, Component 2 “Digitalization, innovation and competitiveness in the production system”), implementation activities were started for the development of a new online platform aimed at enhancing the services offered and, in particular to:

• Strengthen the system infrastructure, also by defining a new and more efficient logical and physical architecture while using the new enabling technologies;
• Improve the existing services as well the reliability, availability and completeness of published data;
• Improve and streamline internal and external user experience;
• Provide new specialized services to enterprises, investors, professionals, and all those who work in the field.

TRADEMARKS ON EUIPO BLOCKCHAIN NETWORK AND “HISTORY POWERED BY BLOCKCHAIN” SERVICE

Following the activities launched at the end of 2022, when the UIBM was among the first countries to join the shared European network based on Blockchain technology created by EUIPO, during 2023 the technology previously used to transfer trademark identification information to the European TMView database was discontinued in favor of the blockchain technology. The new blockchain technology, thanks to design features and the implementation of an improved security system, enhances the reliability and efficiency of the operations of data exchange to the EUIPO service. Moreover, it maintains historical data unchanged over time, while enabling a real-time view of trademark status changes.  Finally, in 2023, Italy was the only EU country with Estonia to start the new “History powered by Blockchain” service, which allows to query and compare a trademark’s historical data, if any, with clear improvements in terms of security and transparency.