Category: News

Azerbaijan has officially launched an electronic filing service for Eurasian applications. The project was implemented by the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the support of the Eurasian Patent Office and has become a pilot initiative within the framework of the Eurasian Patent Organization. The service is integrated into the national electronic filing system PƏNAH and ensures automated transmission of applications to the internal systems of the national office, followed by their transfer to the EAPO through machine-to-machine integration.

The implemented solution is distinguished by a high level of technological integration. Applications filed electronically undergo the required formal checks automatically and are transmitted to the Eurasian Patent Office without duplication of data. This significantly reduces processing times, minimizes the risk of technical errors, and eliminates the need for repeated data entry.

For applicants, the new service simplifies procedures and enhances convenience. Eurasian applications can now be filed through the familiar national platform, without the need to operate in separate systems. The electronic format increases transparency and provides more predictable timelines for application processing.

The universal integration modules developed under this project create a technological foundation for scaling the solution to other national offices in the Eurasian region. In this way, Azerbaijan contributes to the development of a unified Eurasian digital patent information space and demonstrates a high level of digital transformation in the field of intellectual property.

If you have any questions or need our assistance in obtaining IP protection through EAPO, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@patentica.com.

Patentica is proud to announce that it has been honored as one of the 2025 Outstanding International IP Service Teams. The official announcement was made during the awarding ceremony held on January 24, 2026, at the 2026 Enterprise IP Strategy Forum & Annual Conference of In-house IP Managers in Beijing.

The distinction of “Outstanding International IP Service Team” is awarded to IP firms and teams demonstrating exceptional international service capabilities and extensive experience in cross-border intellectual property matters. The selection criteria include:

– High standards of professional ethics and integrity;

– Stable and established team structure with sustained operations;

– Strong professional qualifications and experience of team leaders and core members;

– Representative casework and significant professional achievements;

– Notable contributions to international IP cooperation and exchange.

For Patentica, selection under these criteria confirms firm’s commitment to delivering high-quality, internationally oriented IP services and its consistent professional performance in complex cross-border matters.

This recognition is particularly meaningful for our team, as it reflects not only technical expertise but also long-term dedication to client service, reliability, and international collaboration.

We would like to sincerely thank our clients and partners for their trust and continued cooperation. Your confidence in Patentica enables us to grow, improve, and achieve milestones such as this.

This recognition reaffirms our strong international expertise, and we welcome your inquiries regarding intellectual property protection and strategy in Eurasia. For further information or assistance, please contact us  at info@patentica.com.

Anna Bobkina and Daria Orlova of Patentica participated in AIPPI MidTerm Meeting held in Red City of Marrakech on 5-6 February 2026.

With Morocco situated in Northern Africa near the Atlantic, it provided a unique and welcoming gathering place for professionals from all parts of the world: North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

The two-day conference was full of insightful panels covering trending topics in international IP law, including use of AI in legal work, protection of cultural heritage and IP rights in modern influencer-driven media.

Special time was dedicated to the work of AIPPI Committees that keep on top of legal developments in their respective fields all over the world. Our team, committed to always staying at the forefront of the industry, participated in some of the meetings as observers.

Some event of the MidTerm Meeting were already building up to the 2026 AIPPI World Congress, which be held in Hamburg in October. PATENTICA will without doubt attend the Congress, and our team will be happy to connect with our colleagues and clients there, as well as during other professional events throughout the year.

According to new data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), global investment in research and development (R&D) continued to grow in 2024, inching closer to the historic milestone of $3 trillion USD, despite an uneven economic recovery.

WIPO’s preliminary estimates indicate that global R&D expenditure reached $2.87 trillion in 2024. This represents a year-on-year increase of nearly 3% and an almost threefold increase in real terms since 2000. The global R&D intensity—the share of R&D in the world’s GDP—also hit a new high of approximately 2%, underscoring the growing science and technology focus of the global economy.

The most significant trend is the consolidation of Asia as the world’s primary hub for R&D.

The region of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania (including China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN economies) now accounts for 42% of all global R&D spending.

Overall, Asia’s share of global expenditure has surged from 23% in 2000 to a record 45% in 2024.

Meanwhile, the relative shares of traditional leaders—North America and Europe—have contracted to 28% and 20%, respectively.

In 2024, the world’s two largest economies reached a new historic milestone, with their R&D investments nearly tied for the top spot:

     China: $785.9 billion USD.

     United States: $781.8 billion USD.

The gap between these two leaders and the rest of the world remains substantial and has even grown. The spending of the next-largest economies is now a fraction of China’s:

     Japan (3rd place): ~$186 billion USD, or about 24% of China’s expenditure;

     Germany: $132.2 billion USD (17%);

     Republic of Korea: 16%;

     India: ~$76 billion USD (about 10%).

Even the combined R&D spending of the 27-nation European Union in 2024 is estimated at approximately $424 billion, which is just over half of the U.S. or Chinese totals.

The list of the fastest-growing R&D spenders since 2000 is almost exclusively composed of middle-income economies, which are the primary engine behind the increase in global figures:

     China: growth of nearly 20-fold (from $40.7 to $785.9 billion);

     Indonesia: increase of more than 12 times (to $10.6 billion);

     Türkiye: growth by a factor of 9.6 (from $4.5 to $43.2 billion);

     India: increase of more than 3.6 times (from $20.8 to $75.7 billion).

A key factor in the resilience of R&D systems is the dominant role of private financing. In many leading innovation economies, businesses provide 70-90% of all R&D expenditure. The leaders in private sector share are:

     Israel — 93%;

     Viet Nam — 90.5%;

     Ireland — 86.1%;

High levels of private investment are also characteristic of other leaders such as the Republic of Korea (79.2%), the United States (78.4%), Japan (79.1%), and China (77.7%).

The 2024 figures confirm two key trends. The first is the formation of a stable bipolar structure in global R&D, led by China and the United States. The second is the continuing democratization of innovation, with a growing number of middle-income countries not only increasing their volume but also building effective funding models based on private capital.

Global R&D spending is steadily advancing toward the psychologically significant $3 trillion mark, with the primary momentum today coming from the economies of Asia and other developing regions of the world.

In this new reality, where private capital is the primary engine of progress and competition for intellectual leadership intensifies, reliably protecting the results of your R&D has become a critically important strategic asset. An effective intellectual property system is not merely a legal tool but the foundation for monetizing innovation and securing competitive advantages on the global stage.

As the innovation epicenter shifts, securing your intellectual property (IP) in high-growth markets is paramount. Patentica provides comprehensive intellectual property protection services across the Eurasian region, offering reliable legal support for innovations at every stage—from filing to enforcement and defense of IP rights.

If you have any questions or need our assistance in obtaining IP protection through EAPO, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@patentica.com.

The past year has been a period of active and productive work for our team. Throughout 2025, we consistently and with full dedication worked across all key areas of intellectual property practice in which our firm has established strong expertise, providing comprehensive and commercially focused IP support to our clients worldwide.

Our practice covers a broad spectrum of intellectual property services, including:

– PCT national and regional phase entry, including entry into the Eurasian regional phase;

– Trademark prosecution, including filing and prosecution of applications aimed at protection against non-use attacks and invalidation actions; 

– Protection and registration of inventions, utility models, industrial designs, appellations of origin of goods, and geographical indications;

– Third party observations and oppositions;

– IP litigation and dispute resolution, including enforcement of intellectual property rights;

– Anti-counterfeiting monitoring in CIS countries and coordinated actions against intellectual property infringers;

– Patent searches, clearance searches, and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses;

– Professional IP translations;

– Support of licensing agreements, assignment agreements, and other IP-related transactions;

– Development of tailored IP strategies, including strategies aimed at:

                                           – optimisation of official fees;

                                           – reduction of overall IP prosecution and maintenance costs;

                                           – efficient structuring and management of IP portfolios across multiple jurisdictions.

We firmly believe that strength lies in dialogue and the professional exchange of experience. In 2025, Patentica specialists actively participated in the world’s leading intellectual property forums, including:

– 2025 INTA Annual Meeting (International Trademark Association);

– The AIPPI World Congress 2025 in Yokohama (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property);

– The 2025 FICPI World Congress, Naples, Italy (International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys);

– APAA 2025 in Kuala Lumpur (Asian Patent Attorneys Association);

– 39th MARQUES Annual Conference, The Hague, The Netherlands (European Association of Trademark Practitioners).

Participation in these events enabled us to remain at the forefront of global IP trends, strengthen our international professional relationships, and continue delivering services of the highest standard to our clients.

We are also proud to announce that Patentica has been shortlisted for the 2025 Outstanding International IP Service Teams Award.

This recognition highlights our extensive global experience and, in particular, our outstanding service to Chinese clients, reflecting our commitment to high-quality cross-border IP support.

Our in-depth expertise in Eurasian patent law makes Patentica a go-to firm for seamless and efficient IP protection in this strategically important region. We handle local legal and procedural complexities so our clients and partners can focus on their global IP strategies.

Our clients value us as a reliable, responsive, and commercially minded IP partner in the Eurasian region and CIS countries. We work closely with international patent and trademark attorneys, law firms, and in-house IP teams, offering transparent communication, practical advice, and dependable local representation.

Many foreign practitioners already rely on Patentica as their trusted local counsel. We warmly welcome new partnerships and would be pleased to support your clients with high-quality intellectual property services in our jurisdictions.

We sincerely congratulate our clients and partners and wish you:

– reliable and effective protection of your intellectual property;

– successful commercialisation of intellectual assets;

– sustainable development and confident growth in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Thank you for your trust and for choosing Patentica as your partner. We highly value our cooperation and look forward to continuing to support and protect your ideas, technologies, and brands.

The Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) has approved a sweeping increase in official fees for Eurasian patent applications and granted patents. The changes, set to take effect on February 1, 2026, follow a previous fee adjustment in 2025 and will significantly raise the cost of patent prosecution and maintenance in the region.

The revised fee schedule introduces substantial hikes across key procedural actions. The unified procedural fee for filing an application will increase from 60,000 RUB (~$750) to 70,000 RUB (~$875). Similarly, the fee for substantive examination of a single invention rises from 60,000 RUB (~$750) to 70,000 RUB (~$875), and the grant fee jumps from 40,000 RUB (~$500) to 45,000 RUB (~$562.5).

Some of the most dramatic increases target administrative and restoration procedures. The fee to restore rights for an application will double from 35,000 RUB (~$437.5) to 70,000 RUB (~$875). The official fee for extending the term of a patent (for pharmaceutical and agrochemical inventions) will triple from 20,000 RUB (~$250) to 60,000 RUB (~$750). Charges for extending time limits to respond to office actions will also rise sharply; for example, the fee for the first two months of extension increases from 2,000 RUB (~$25) to 4,000 RUB per month (~$50/month).

Other common actions will see notable cost increases. The cost for filing amendments to an application after formal examination will rise from 15,000 RUB (~$187.5) to 20,000 RUB per request (~$250). Recording an assignment of a patent will increase from 40,000 RUB (~$500) to 50,000 RUB (~$625), while recording an assignment for an application will rise from 20,000 RUB (~$250) to 25,000 RUB (~$312.5). The surcharge for publication pages beyond 35 will go from 300 RUB (~$3.75) to 500 RUB per page (~$6.25/page).

With this second wave of fee increases following the 2025 adjustments, applicants and patent holders face significantly higher costs for Eurasian patent protection within a short timeframe. Stakeholders are strongly advised to review their IP portfolios and filing strategies. To mitigate expenses, accelerating planned filings and procedural actions before the February 1, 2026 deadline is highly recommended.

If you have any questions or need our assistance in obtaining IP protection through EAPO, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@patentica.com.

According to the latest WIPO World Intellectual Property Indicators 2025 report, global patenting activity reached a new all-time high in 2024, with approximately 3.7 million applications filed worldwide — a 4.9% increase compared to 2023.

This marks the fifth consecutive year of growth, highlighting the resilience of global innovation even amid economic uncertainty.

Key global trends

Asia remains the world’s innovation hub, receiving around 70% of all patent applications.

China (CNIPA) continues to dominate, with 1.8 million filings — more than triple the number submitted to the USA (USPTO).

In terms of filings per GDP, China also leads with 4,977 applications per USD 100 billion of GDP.

The number of active patents in force worldwide reached 19.7 million (+6%).

Utility model filings rose to 3.3 million, reflecting a 4% annual increase.

Eurasian perspective: Kazakhstan shows notable growth

Within the Eurasian region, Kazakhstan stands out as one of the fastest-growing innovation ecosystems, according to WIPO statistics.

In 2024, Kazakhstan recorded a 22.2% increase in patent filings — one of the strongest growth rates among Eurasian economies. Most importantly:

– The growth was primarily driven by a rise in resident filings,

– Indicating expanding domestic innovation capacity and rising interest in IP protection within the country,

– Kazakhstan also demonstrated stronger activity in international filing systems, including PCT.

This trend positions Kazakhstan as an increasingly important innovation hub in Central Asia.

What this means for Eurasian innovators and applicants

1. Growing global competition

With global filings at record levels, companies seeking to enter the Eurasian market must adopt more strategic IP filing plans to ensure strong and competitive protection in the region.

2. Regional opportunities

The rapid growth of innovation in Asia — including Eurasia — presents opportunities for companies in the EAEU and CIS to strengthen their patent portfolios and expand into neighboring markets.

3. Cost-effective IP strategies

In a more competitive global landscape, optimizing filing routes (national, EAPO, or PCT) is essential to maximize protection while maintaining balanced budgets.

4. Increased investment potential

The surge in patent activity in Kazakhstan and across the region may attract additional R&D investment and support the development of high-tech industries.

If you have any questions or need our assistance in obtaining IP protection through EAPO, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@patentica.com.

The Presidium of the Russian Court for Intellectual Property Rights has upheld the decision of the IP Court, which had invalidated Rospatent’s refusal to cancel the registration of the trademark ”TREKRESIL” of the Russian company. This ruling affirms that the disputed trademark does not meet the requirements for legal protection, thereby defending the rights of the Cyprus company Nelovia LTD to its series of trademarks “TREKREZAN”.

Case timeline and arguments

The dispute over the trademark “TREKRESIL” went through several key stages, where the parties presented their arguments.

1. Opposition at the Russian Patent and Trademark Office (Rospatent)

In November 2023, the company Nelovia LTD, the owner of a series of trademarks “TREKREZAN” for pharmaceutical products, filed an opposition with Rospatent against the legal protection of the trademark “TREKRESIL” (No.684647), owned by the Russian company Konstanta-Ya LLC. The company Nelovia LTD cited several legal norms, arguing that the registration infringed on its rights.

Key arguments by the company Nelovia LTD:

– High degree of similarity: both trademarks are confusingly similar. The coinciding initial part “TREKRE-” is strong and memorable, while the differences in the endings (“-SIL” vs. “-ZAN”) are weak, as they are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry.

– Similarity of goods: both trademarks are registered for similar goods in Classes 3 and 5 (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals), which are sold through the same channels (pharmacies) and target the same consumers.

– Bad faith and consumer confusion: the registration of the trademark “TREKRESIL” was filed to capitalize on the reputation of the well-known “Trekrezan” drug. Furthermore, both drugs share the same active ingredient, increasing the likelihood of confusion. The company argued that this misleads consumers about the manufacturer and constitutes an act of unfair competition.

2. Rospatent’s decision

In June 2024, Rospatent rejected Nelovia LTD’s opposition, upholding the legal protection for the trademark “TREKRESIL.” Rospatent concluded the following:

– low degree of similarity: upon overall comparison, the designations have a low degree of similarity because they differ in their endings “-SIL” and “-ZAN,” which carry the semantic and phonetic stress;

– no evidence of market confusion: the simultaneous existence of the drugs “Trekrezan,” “Trekresil,” and “Trekrezolid” was seen as proof that consumers distinguish between them. This fact was implicitly approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation when issuing registration certificates;

– public opinion polls: sociological research submitted by the “TREKRESIL” rights holder showed that most respondents did not associate the disputed trademarks with each other;

– lack of evidence for misleading consumers: Rospatent found that the company Nelovia LTD had not provided sufficient evidence that consumers associated “Trekrezan” specifically with its company at the time of registration of the trademark “Trekresil” in 2018.

3. Ruling by the IP Court

Disagreeing with Rospatent’s decision, the company Nelovia LTD appealed to the IP Court. In May 2025, the court satisfied the company’s claim and overturned Rospatent’s ruling. While the court agreed with Rospatent on some points (e.g., lack of proof for misleading consumers or bad faith), it identified a key procedural error:

(!) violation of assessment methodology: Rospatent failed to establish the degree of similarity for specific goods within the lists of goods and services of compared trademarks.

Rospatent should have separately assessed degree of similarity of the marks themselves and degree of similarity of the goods, in order to make a decision of possibility of confusion of consumers based on these degrees and all additional circumstances. There can be a possibility of confusion of consumers if the marks have low degree of similarity, but the goods are identical or highly similar.

Given the presence of identical product categories (e.g., “pharmaceutical preparations”), and the fact that Rospatent has recognized low similarity of the marks instead of lack of similarity, the Rospatent’s final conclusion can be considered ungrounded.

4. Cassation appeal to the IP Court Presidium

Rospatent and the company Konstanta-Ya LLC filed cassation appeals with the IP Court Presidium, insisting they were correct. However, in September 2025, the Presidium upheld the IP Court’s ruling, confirming its legality.

Conclusions of the IP Court Presidium:

1. The IP Court correctly applied the methodology for comparing the designations;

2. The instruction on the necessity to determine the degree of similarity of goods was valid. Rospatent failed to fulfill this obligation;

3. There were no grounds to reassess the findings of the IP Court or the evidence presented.

Outcome and significance of the ruling

As a result, Rospatent’s decision was declared invalid, and Rospatent is obliged to reconsider the opposition filed by the company Nelovia LTD, this time considering the violations pointed out by the IP Court, with special attention given to the analysis of the degree of goods similarity.

This case demonstrates that the Russian judicial system ensures a thorough and principled approach to intellectual property protection. Even when an administrative authority makes procedural errors, the court guarantees that the rights of bona fide rights holders, including foreign companies, will be fully protected, and disputes will be resolved in accordance with all substantive and procedural legal norms.

We are delighted to announce that our Managing Partner, Maria Nilova, will represent Patentica at the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) 2025 meeting. The event will take place from 6–10 November 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia.

This major international IP event serves as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue on the future of IP law, offering invaluable insights into patent, design, and trademark developments across the rapidly evolving Asia-Pacific region.

APAA 2025, which encompasses the 21st General Assembly and the 77th & 78th Council Meetings, is a cornerstone event where patent attorneys and IP specialists shape the evolving landscape of intellectual property law.

The conference programme will focus on key issues including regional updates, cross-border enforcement, and international cooperation in IP protection.

Maria’s participation at this high-level forum highlights Patentica’s commitment to active engagement in the global IP community, ensuring our clients benefit from the latest international insights and strategies.

The Patentica team would be delighted to schedule meetings with clients and partners during the event. Should you wish to arrange a meeting with Maria Nilova, please contact us at conferences@patentica.com.

The Intellectual Property Court of the Russian Federation has issued a definitive ruling in case No. SIP-44/2025, completely dismissing the claims of the company FoodWay LLC and affirming the legality of Rospatent’s refusal to register the trademarks “Dr Pepper” (Latin script) and “Др Пеппер” (Cyrillic transliteration). The court’s decision reinforces stringent protections against consumer confusion in trademark registration matters.

Detailed case background

The Russian company FoodWay LLC, an enterprise specializing in beverage importation and distribution, filed two trademark applications with Rospatent: No. 2022715182 (filed March 11, 2022) and No. 2022772815 (filed October 12, 2022).

Both applications sought protection for Class 32 goods under the International Classification of Goods and Services, encompassing various non-alcoholic beverages including carbonated drinks, lemonades, and energy drinks. Rospatent’s initial refusal cited violation of subclause 1 of Article 1483 (3) of the Civil Code, specifically that registration would likely mislead consumers regarding product manufacturer, since soft drinks under “Dr Pepper” brand have been known in Russia and abroad for a long time.

Comprehensive legal arguments

FoodWay LLC’s position:

The company FoodWay LLC presented a multifaceted challenge, arguing that Rospatent:

1. Failed to establish association with a specific manufacturer, maintaining that general consumer awareness of the goods doesn’t prove misleading nature of the mark;

2. Ignored the historical precedent of multiple rights holders for the trademark in Russia;

3. Relied on sociologically flawed research (referencing FCTAS RAS Study No. 98-2022) with methodological deficiencies and potential respondent duplication;

4. Based decisions on unverified internet sources lacking evidentiary reliability;

5. Overlooked their good faith intentions following the previous rights holder’s voluntary trademark abandonment.

Rospatent’s defense with third party intervention:

The Rospatent, supported by European Refreshments Unlimited (Coca-Cola affiliate), demonstrated:

1. Overwhelming consumer association (55-66%) between “Dr Pepper” and Coca-Cola through:

– E-commerce platform evidence (Ozon, Wildberries, Metro);

– Consumer reviews dating to 2012 (otzovik.com, irecommend.ru);

– Corroborated sociological research findings;

2. Continuous market presence since the brand’s introduction to Russian market in 1996;

3. No evident consumer association between the trademarks and the company FoodWay LLC;

4. Evidence suggesting attempted trademark appropriation without brand development investment.

The court’s comprehensive review concluded:

1. Consumer association established: The evidence conclusively showed persistent consumer identification of “Dr Pepper” with Coca-Cola products, regardless of current market presence.

2. Methodological validation: The sociological study’s methodology withstood scrutiny, with alleged irregularities being statistically insignificant within the 1,500-respondent sample.

3. Internet evidence admissibility: Publicly available online information constituted valid evidence for establishing brand notoriety and consumer perception.

4. Lack of counterevidence: The company FoodWay LLC failed to provide substantive proof of consumer association with their company or products.

5. Potential rights abuse: The timing and circumstances suggested possible attempted exploitation of the trademark’s established reputation.

This ruling reinforces several key principles in Russian trademark law:

• Famous trademarks maintain protection regardless of current market activity;
• Consumer perception outweighs formal ownership history in confusion cases;
• Internet sources constitute valid evidence for establishing notoriety;
• Transliterated trademarks are treated as equivalent to original versions;
• Good faith requirements extend beyond formal legal compliance.

The decision underscores the judiciary’s commitment to preventing consumer confusion and protecting established brand identities, serving as a significant precedent for future trademark disputes involving famous international trademarks on the Russian market.

Maria Nilova, Managing Partner of Patentica, will participate in two major international intellectual property congresses in the fall of 2025. The events will be held in The Hague, Netherlands, and Naples, Italy, bringing together industry leaders to address the most pressing challenges in brand protection and patent law.

39th MARQUES Annual Conference: The Hague, The Netherlands, September 16–19, 2025

The MARQUES Conference is a premier event in the trademark world. This year’s theme focuses on “Brand changes in an international context”. Participants will discuss how political and economic shifts impact intellectual property rights. Key topics include:

• The impact of external factors on IP work;
• Brands in international trade and M&A transactions;
• The rising importance of sustainability;
• Latest CJEU and EU General Court case law on trademarks.

The program will feature interactive workshops and a visit to the Europol headquarters.

The 2025 FICPI World Congress: Naples, Italy, October 12–17, 2025

The event will highlight the importance of collaboration between countries, patent and trademark offices, firms, and clients to overcome global challenges. The agenda includes plenary sessions and workshops designed to foster trusted relationships among industry professionals worldwide.

We look forward to reconnecting with our existing clients and partners and to forging new professional connections. We are eager to share our unique expertise in the Eurasian jurisdiction and offer comprehensive solutions for international IP protection.

Should you wish to schedule a meeting with Ms. Nilova during the conferences, please contact us via email at info@patentica.com.

Effective August 8, 2025, Uzbekistan has enacted new legislation (No. 1080) that significantly toughens penalties for intellectual property (IP) violations. These changes demonstrate the country’s commitment to fostering innovation, protecting copyrights and patents, and creating a safer business environment for inventors and entrepreneurs.

As Uzbekistan advances toward digitalization and innovation, the government is cracking down on illegal use of trademarks, patents, copyrights, and other IP assets. These measures enhance the country’s appeal to investors and tech startups. Key changes regarding criminal liability (Articles 149¹, 149², 149³ of the Criminal Code) will take effect 3 months after publication — i.e., starting November 8, 2025.

Old vs. New Penalties:

1. Copyright and related rights violations

Before:

Fines up to ~$1,350 or corrective labor.

No clear distinction between different types of violations.

Now:

Article 149¹: Fines ranging from $1,350 to $4,050.

Aggravating circumstances (e.g., abuse of official position) may lead to up to 3 years in prison.

2. Illegal use of trademarks

Before:

Administrative fines up to ~$810 for legal entities.

Now:

Article 149²:

Fines up to $2,700.

Repeat offenders face imprisonment for up to 3 years.

3. Patent rights and breeding achievements violations

Before:

Lenient penalties, typically fines under $1,000.

Now:

Article 149³:

Fines up to $2,025.

In cases of major damages – corrective labor or imprisonment up to 3 years.

Other key reforms

Digitalization – patents and certificates now issued electronically with QR codes;

Faster Processing – trademark registration reduced to 1 month;

Discounts – small businesses and research institutions receive a discount on official fees.

Implications for businesses and IP owners

Stronger protection against counterfeiting and piracy;

Higher risks for violators – penalties increased 3-5 times;

Boost for innovation – creators and companies can develop projects with greater legal security.

If you have any questions or need our assistance in obtaining IP protection in Uzbekistan, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@patentica.com.