Register a Trademark in Russia

Foreign enterprisers entering the Russian market are recommended to secure their trademark by registering it with the Federal Executive Authority on Intellectual Property. Trademarks can only be registered through Russian lawyers and the registration process is quite simple.

The registration procedure of a trademark in Russia

Before starting the registration process, it is recommended to verify the Russian trademark to be registered with the trademark search service. This verification increases significantly the chances of the registration. Trademarks in Russia can be represented by words, sounds, three-dimensional designs or any combination of these.

The registration can be done according to the Nice classes of trademarks and it can contain an unlimited number of these items. The Russian trademark registration system is based on the first-to-file policy, meaning the rights to use the trademark belongs to the first person applying for registration. The priority of a trademark in Russia is based on filing date of the application and no evidence of use is required when deciding to register the trademark.

The application procedure for the registration of a trademark in Russia

As mentioned above, the application for trademark registration in Russia will be submitted with the Federal Executive Authority on Intellectual Property. The application must contain the following:

• -      a request for registration of the particular sign that will be a trademark and the residence of the applicant,
• -      the sign and its description,
• -      a list with the goods or services the trademark will be used to represent; the goods or services must be grouped according to the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks.

It is important to know that the application must be submitted in Russian.

The application must be accompanied by the proof of payment of the application fee and, in case of a collective mark, the by-law of the collective trademark. Once the documents are filed, they will be published for the public to familiarize with it.

The Authority on Intellectual Property will then examine the application. The examination will take a month and, at the end of it, the trademark will be entered in the State Register of Trademarks and Service Marks of the Russian Federation. The applicant will receive a trademark certificate. The validity of the trademark is 10 years from the date of filing and it can be renewed every 10 years.

Our Russian law firm can help you with the registration of trademarks. You can also contact us for details on the Russian Intellectual Property Law.