Offices & Countries / Russia / Inventions

	Inventions Official Fees Filing requirements FAQ

General information

The invention is an object of intellectual property which relates to a technical solution. The following can be protected in Russia as an invention: a device, a process, substance, a microorganism strain, a culture of plant or animal cells.

As any property, an invention is protected by law and certified by a patent giving to a patent owner the exclusive right to this invention. No other persons have the right to use a patented invention without authorization of the patent owner.

An invention can be protected by a patent if it meets the requirements of patentability, i.e. the claimed invention shall be new, it shall involve an inventive step and it shall be industrially applicable. The maximal term of a patent validity in Russia amounts to 20 years (in some cases 25) from the date of filing the application with the Russian Patent Office. The scope of protection is defined by the patent claims.

In order to obtain a patent, a patent application shall be filed with the Russian Patent Office. According to the Russian Patent Law, natural persons residing outside Russia or foreign legal persons cannot communicate with the Russian Patent Office by themselves. Therefore, when protecting an invention in Russia, they or their patent attorneys shall apply to patent attorneys registered with the Federal Executive Body in the Field of Intellectual Property.

The patent attorneys of the company "Liapunov and Co." provide the following services in the field of legal protection of inventions:

- Preparing, filing and prosecution of patent applications in Russia and other countries;
- Conducting a patent search;
- Providing a legal advice in the Field of Intellectual Property;
- Drawing up an agreement of assigning a patent;
- Preparing an expert opinion about infringing the exclusive right of a patent owner;
- Presenting client's interest before the Chamber of Patent Disputes;
- Protection of a patent owner's rights at the court;
- Payment of annuities for keeping a patent in force.

Registration procedure

1. Filing an application;
2. In two months after the filing date the Russian Patent Office starts the formal examination to verify that all the necessary documents are filed and that the filed documents comply with the formal requirements;
3. In case all the necessary documents are filed and they comply with the formal requirements the Patent Office sends a Notification of the positive result of the formal examination;
4. Not later than three years after filing the application (for PCT applications the filing date is the date of filing of the respective International Application) a request for substantive examination of the application shall be filed;
5. During the substantive examination the Patent Office Examiners establish whether the filed application meets the requirements of patentability;
6a. If the Examiner finds that the claimed invention meets the requirements of patentability a Decision on Grant of the patent is issued and sent to the applicant. If the applicant pays the prescribed Granting fee the patent is granted;
6b. If the Examiner finds that the claimed invention does not meet the requirements of patentability a Decision on Refusal to grant a patent is issued. Before issuing the Decision on Refusal the Patent Office sends a Notification on the results of the substantive examination where the applicant is invited to provide comments and argumentation opposing the negative result of the substantive examination. The applicant's response is to be filed within six months after receipt of the respective Notification.