December 22, 2011
Non-use cancellation actions will be considered by the Arbitrazhny Court of Moscow City

According to the recently adopted laws and rules, the invalidation and cancellation actions related to the patents, trademarks, appellations of origin will be considered by the Court of Intellectual Property Disputes, which shall be created no later than February 1, 2013. Beginning from December 9, 2011 and unless the Court of Intellectual Property Disputes starts working, the non-use cancellation actions shall be considered by the Arbitrazhny Court of Moscow City (instead of the Chamber of Patent Disputes of the Russian PTO).                   (Read more… )

February 1, 2008

Starting from 1st January 2008, the new IV Part of the Russian Civil Code, which is completely dedicated to intellectual property, took effect… (download)

March 16, 2007
Amendments to IP laws in Kazakhstan

The Law amending the Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Patent and Trademark Laws was entered into force on March 15, 2007. In trademarks the amendments concern the non-use period (it was changed from 5 to 3 years) and a term of re-registration (if a validity of a trademark has expired, no one except a trademark owner can re-register the trademark within one year after the expiration date (the time-limit was changed from 3 to 1 year).

December 26, 2006
Codification of Statutes on Intellectual Property

The Russian President has signed a law on bringing into force the new IV part of the Russian Civil Code devoted to Intellectual Property. It will be effected on January 1, 2008 and will substitute for all current IP Laws.

November 11, 2006
Registration of the domain names in Cyrillic in .RU

The Russian Naming Authority plans to start registration of the domain names in Cyrillic in .RU zone since January 1, 2007. The owners of the trademarks will have the priority right in registration of the Cyrillic domain names. It is expected that the Rules On Registration Of Domain Names in Cyrillic in .RU zone will be published in December 2006.

September 20, 2006
Codification Of Statutes On Intellectual Property

On September 20, 2006 the new IV part of the Russian Civil Code was read the first time. This new part of the Civil Code is devoted to Intellectual Property rights, and it is supposed that IV part of the Russian Civil Code will substitute for all current IP Laws. It should be noted that the new bill has received the negative reports from the IP experts. In case the new part of the Civil Code is approved during the second and third readings, it will come into effect on January 1, 2008. 

September 16, 2006
Moving of the Patent and Trademark Office of Kazakhstan

The Patent and Trademark Office of Kazakhstan moved to the capital of this country Astana and officially started its work on September 6, 2006. Previously the Patent and Trademark Office was located in Alma-Ata, although the Counsel of Appeal moved to Astana in 2003 г. It is expected that the movement of the PTO will affect the term of examination and consideration of the documents.

July 15, 2006
Customs Protection of IP Rights in Georgia

The Law "On the Border Measures Relating to Intellectual Property" was entered into force on July 1, 2006. The new Law stipulates creating of a special Customs Register of IR Rights and additional protection of IR Rights on the borders.

June 1, 2006
Russia: New Procedure Of Accelerated Examination Of Trademark Application

Since June 1, 2006 the accelerated examination is possible only if an applicant has legitimate reasons therefore as well as if the arguments of fair use of a trademark are presented. The said legitimate reasons for the accelerated examination may be an intended filing an application for international registration, revealing a fact of unfair competition, beginning release of production with a new trademark. Information regarding documents and data, that Rospatent will be considered as arguments of fair use of a trademark, has not been yet clarified. Official fees for the accelerated examination have also been changed (please see “Offices & Countries/Russia/Trademarks/Official fees”). If a request for the accelerated examination is sutisfied, the Russian PTO issues a decision in a trademark application in 4-5 months.

January 11, 2005
Russia: Computer Programs and Databases

The rates of the official fees for deposition of the computer programs and databases were changed on January 1, 2005.

January 27, 2005
New Official Fees in Ukraine

The Ukrainian government adopted a Resolution "On Approval of the Regulation on Payment of Fees for Actions Related to the Protection of Rights to Intellectual Property Objects" of December 23, 2004. The amounts of the official fees have been changed slightly, but the rates for non-residents of Ukraine are determined in EURO. At the same time, the applicants from the countries with a GPD less then USD 3,000 shall pay the reduced official fees. Here you can find the list of the countries with a GPD more than USD 3,000 - the applicants from these countries will have to pay the increased amounts of the official fees. The Ukrainian government set some new fees, for instance, for publication of a patent or trademark registration, for claiming colour in the trademark or design applications. The new rates of the official fees for trademarks and patents will be effected on February 5, 2005.

August 20, 2004
New Law "On Commercial Secret"

After the long consultations and advisements the Law "On Commercial Secret" was passed by the Russian parliament on July 29, 2004. Before adoption this new Law, the Russian legislation on commercial secret consisted of few articles incorporated in different laws and by-laws. The new Law "On Commercial Secret" consists of 16 articles, in which you can find a definition of commercial secret, list of the rights granted by the Law to a commercial secret holder, requirements for recognition of the information as a commercial secret and responsibility for unlawful disclosure or use of a commercial secret. The Law "On Commercial Secret" was effected August 16, 2004.

August 02, 2004
Amendments to the Law "On Copyright and Related Rights"

The Russian Law "On Copyright and Related Rights" was amended on July 28, 2004. The amendments largely concern the use of the works made in digital form and securing the copyright on networks like the Internet as well as the term of protection of copyright. Now the term of protection of copyright shall be the life of the author and 70 years after his death (the previous version of the Law granted protection during 50 years after the author's death). The amendments concerning protection and use of the works made in digital form will be effected on September 1, 2006.

January 11, 2004
New Ruling On Securing Right On Intellectual Property By Custom Authorities

The new Customs Code of the Russian Federation and the new Ruling On Securing Rights On Intellectual Property By Custom Authorities were effected on January 1, 2004. A copyright holder, holder of a right to a trademark, services mark or appellation of origin can request the Russian Custom Authorities to record his IP object to the special Custom Register and secure his IP rights.

An applicant shall provide the Custom Authority with the information about himself, each IP object that is to be entered into the Custom Register and the term within which the applicant would like to seek the help of the Custom Authorities (5 years max.), description of the counterfeit goods, samples of the legal and counterfeit goods and document confirming coverage of possible damage to an importer (USD 18,500 min).

If it becomes apparent during the custom examination of the goods that they are counterfeit, a customs officer has a right to place these goods under arrest for 10 days. At the same time the custom authority shall notify the holder of the infringed IP right about an infringement.

September 09, 2003
New Official Fees in Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz PTO has announced that since September 01, 2003 some official fees in respect to trademarks have been changed. The cost of filing an application and registration of a mark is how higher. At the same time the fees for filing the objections with the Board of Appeals are decreased. Please note that the amendments do not concern the fees for inventions, utility models and industrial designs.