Russian Federation
Russia is a member of the Paris Convention, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Eurasian Patent Convention, the Madrid Agreement and Protocol for trademarks, and the Hague Agreement for industrial designs. Trademarks are protected for 10 years (renewable), patents for 20 years, and industrial designs for up to 25 years. The .ru and .РФ country code domains are open to all applicants without local presence requirements. This page covers the filing requirements, legal basis, and key deadlines for protecting intellectual property in Russia.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area: 17,098,246 sq. km.
Population: 146,119,928 (2025).
Capital: Moscow.
Language: Russian.
Currency: Rouble.
GENERAL REMARKS
Until the end of 1991, the Russian Federation was a part of the USSR, a country with a planned economy based on socialist (Marxist-Leninist) organization.
Industrial property protection in the territory of Crimea: although according to Ukrainian legislation, inventions, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks, service marks and appellations of origin (IP rights) registered in Ukraine remain valid on the territory of Crimea, as of March 18, 2014 de facto it is no longer possible to enforce them. As of this date, IP rights registered in the Russian Federation extend to the territory of Crimea and are enforceable there under Russian legislation. Therefore, in case of a continued business activity in Crimea and ownership of an IP right registered in Ukraine but not in the Russian Federation, it is recommended to obtain registration for such IP right in the Russian Federation.
PATENTS OF INVENTION
LEGAL BASIS
- Part IV of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, effective since January 1, 2008, amended as of July 23, 2025.
- The Administrative Regulations for rendering by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the public service of state registration of inventions and issuance of invention patents, duplicates thereof, effective since June 19, 2021.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since July 1, 1965.
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), since March 29, 1978.
- Eurasian Patent Convention, since September 9, 1994.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (no notarization for almost all European countries, Canada, Japan, and USA; notarization or legalization is required from countries which require such a legalization under their national law);
- 2 copies of the specification with claims and abstract;
- 2 copies of the drawings, size 21 x 29.7 cm;
- Priority document, if necessary, with a certified translation in English, French, German or Russian.
REMARKS
National Phase of PCT: both under Chapter I and under Chapter II: 31 months.
Validity: issued after a formal and full examination – valid for 20 years.
Annuities: the accumulated annuities for the first five years are due within two months from the date of grant; annuities for each subsequent five years are due within the last year of the previous five-year period.
Opposition: any natural person or legal entity may, during the entire term of its effect, file an opposition against the grant of the patent with the Patent Dispute Chamber.
TRADE AND SERVICE MARKS
LEGAL BASIS
- Part IV of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, effective since January 1, 2008, amended as of July 23, 2025.
- Order No. 482 of July 20, 2015 of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation approving Rules on the drafting, filing and examination of applications for the registration of trademarks and service marks, effective since August 31, 2015, amended as of November 23, 2020.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since July 1, 1965.
- Madrid Agreement, since July 1, 1976.
- Madrid Protocol, since June 10, 1997
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (notarization is not required);
- A representation of the trademark;
- List of goods and/or services, grouped according to the International Classification;
- Priority document (if priority is claimed)
REMARKS
Kinds of protection: verbal, pictorial, three-dimensional and other designations or their combination. Service marks are registrable. Besides the original version, filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended.
Classification: International.
Obligation to use the registered mark: compulsory. Non-use during any three-year period after the registration date may lead to cancellation; nominal use (advertising, publications) is accepted in absence of actual use.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS
LEGAL BASIS
- Part IV of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, effective since January 1, 2008, amended as of July 23, 2025.
- The Administrative Regulations for rendering by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the public service of state registration of industrial designs and issuance of design patents, duplicates thereof, effective since June 19, 2021.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since July 1, 1965.
- Hague Agreement, Geneva Act, since February 28, 2018.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (notarization is not required);
- Assignment deed, if any;
- 2 descriptions; the description of an industrial design shall disclose the essence of the claimed solution of the exterior appearance of the article;
- Design images as photographs (size: min. 9 x 12 cm, max. 18 x 24 cm) in triplicate; for three-dimensional design applications, ¾ front view of claimed design accompanied by such quantity of additional views which would be sufficient for detailed disclosure of the exterior appearance of an article, such as front views, left views, rear views, top views, bottom views. A single view is sufficient for a planar design. General drawings, ergonomic schemes, confection charts are submitted in duplicate;
- Priority document, if any.
REMARKS
Duration – renewals: after formal and substantive examination – valid for 5 years from the filing date, renewable for four additional periods of 5 years.
Opposition: possible during the entire term of the design.
DOMAIN NAMES
LEGAL BASIS
- Part IV of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, effective since January 1, 2008, amended as of July 23, 2025.
FILING
- ccTLD: .ru; .PΦ
- Applicant: individuals and legal entities.
- Local presence: not required
REMARKS
Duration – renewals: one year, renewable.
Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none.
Frequently Asked Questions — IP Protection in Russia
What documents are required to register a trademark in Russia?
To register a trademark in Russia, the following documents are required: a Power of Attorney (notarization is not required), a representation of the trademark, a list of goods and/or services grouped according to the International Classification, and a priority document if priority is claimed. Russia is a member of the Paris Convention (since 1965), the Madrid Agreement (since 1976), and the Madrid Protocol (since 1997), so international registration via WIPO is also possible. Filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended.
What kinds of trademarks may be registered in Russia?
In Russia, the following types of marks are registrable: verbal, pictorial, three-dimensional and other designations or their combinations. Service marks are also registrable. Besides the original version, filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended.
How long is the trademark opposition period in Russia?
There is no official opposition procedure for pending trademark applications. However, during trademark examination any interested party may file third party observations with the RUPTO providing arguments against trademark registration. The Examiner may take into account such arguments and issue an official action/provisional refusal in connection thereto.
How long does trademark protection last in Russia?
Trademark protection in Russia lasts for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed for successive 10-year periods indefinitely.
Must a trademark be used in Russia?
Yes, use is compulsory. Non-use during any consecutive three-year period after the registration date may lead to cancellation upon request by any interested party. Nominal use (advertising, publications) is accepted in the absence of actual commercial use.
What are the routes for filing a patent in Russia?
Russia is a member of the Paris Convention (since 1965), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT, since 1978), and the Eurasian Patent Convention (since 1994), giving applicants multiple filing routes. Filing requirements include: a Power of Attorney (no notarization for most European countries, Canada, Japan, and USA), 2 copies of the specification with claims and abstract, drawings (21 x 29.7 cm), and a priority document with certified translation in English, French, German, or Russian. For PCT national phase entry, the deadline is 31 months under both Chapter I and Chapter II. Patents are valid for 20 years from the filing date after formal and full examination.
How long is the patent opposition period in Russia?
In Russia, any natural person or legal entity may file an opposition against the grant of a patent with the Patent Dispute Chamber during the entire term of the patent. There is no fixed opposition window — challenges to patent validity can be brought at any time while the patent is in force.
When are patent annuities due in Russia?
In Russia, accumulated annuities for the first five years are due within two months from the date of grant. Annuities for each subsequent five-year period are due within the last year of the previous five-year period. Timely payment is essential to maintain the patent in force throughout its 20-year validity period. For current deadlines and practitioner guidance, consult Katzarov's Manual on Industrial Property.
How do I register an industrial design in Russia?
Industrial designs in Russia are protected under Part IV of the Civil Code (amended July 23, 2025). Filing requires: a Power of Attorney (notarization is not required), an assignment deed if any, 2 descriptions of the design, and photographs (min. 9 x 12 cm, max. 18 x 24 cm) in triplicate. Russia is a member of the Hague Agreement (Geneva Act, since February 28, 2018), allowing international registration. Protection lasts 5 years from the filing date, renewable for four additional 5-year periods (maximum 25 years). Opposition is possible during the entire term of the design.
How do I register a .ru domain name?
Russia has two country code top-level domains: .ru (Latin script) and .РФ (Cyrillic script). Both individuals and legal entities can register, and no local presence in Russia is required. Registration periods are 1 year, renewable. There is no uniform dispute resolution procedure (UDRP) available for .ru domains.
Does the power of attorney need notarization or legalization in Russia?
For trademark filings in Russia, the Power of Attorney does not require notarization. For patent filings, notarization is not required for applicants from most European countries, Canada, Japan, and the USA. However, notarization or legalization may be required for applicants from countries whose national law mandates such formalities.
Where can I search the Russian trademark database?
Russia's trademark register is maintained by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (ROSPATENT) through the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS). Effective searching requires knowledge of the Nice Classification, Cyrillic transliteration rules, and interpretation of legal status codes. For comprehensive trademark searches and clearance opinions, contact Katzarov's team.
Where can I search for patents in Russia?
Patent records in Russia are maintained by the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) under ROSPATENT. Russia is also a member of the Eurasian Patent Convention, adding an additional layer of patent rights to consider. For professional patent searches, contact Katzarov's team.
What is the contact information for ROSPATENT (Russia's IP Office)?
The Federal Service for Intellectual Property (ROSPATENT) and the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) are located at Berezhkovskaya nab. 30-1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation. Phone: (+7) 499-240-6015. Fax: (+7) 495-531-6318. Email: fips@rupto.ru.
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