News

Soon! The full composition of member states of the Eurasian Convention that have acceded to the Protocol opens up new horizons for countries party to the Geneva Act of the Hague Convention on the International Registration of Industrial Designs.

On July 13, 2024 the President of Turkmenistan signed the Law “On accession to the Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs to the Eurasian Patent Convention of September 9, 1994.” Let us recall that the Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs was adopted on September 9, 2019 at a diplomatic conference in Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan).

The Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs, Article 22(4) stipulates that this international treaty will enter into force in relation to Turkmenistan three months after the depositary of the instrument of accession. As soon as Turkmenistan joins, all member states of the Eurasian Patent Organization will become parties to the Protocol.

The full make-up of the member countries of the Eurasian Convention makes it possible for the Eurasian Patent Organistion (EAPO) to join the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.

INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION ASSEMBLY OF EURASIAN PATENT ATTORNEYS was established a little over a year ago.

In June 2024 (June 13-14 in Minsk), the first international scientific and practical conference of the Assembly of Eurasian Patent Attorneys was organized and successfully held.

Employees of our company (members of the Assembly of Eurasian Patent Attorneys) also took part in this conference.

The conference participants - almost 100 specialists from 7 countries of the Eurasian region - were offered 7 presentation sections, in which 26 speakers spoke live and online - these included experts from the EURASIAN PATENT ORGANIZATION (EAPO), NATIONAL CENTER FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS (NCIP), Rospatent, patent attorneys from the countries of the Eurasian region, representatives of the Russian Licensing Society (LES Russia ) and the Russian branch of the international organization for the protection of intellectual property (AIPPI), as well as the public organization "Chamber of Patent Attorneys". As part of the conference program, round tables were held with the participation of these specialists.

At the conference, issues of harmonization of the legislation of the countries participating in the Eurasian Convention were discussed to expand the list of industrial property objects patented and registered at the regional level - under the Eurasian patent system.

In particular, the features, advantages and disadvantages of the legislation of the countries of the Eurasian region in the field of patenting utility models and registering trademarks were discussed. The following topics were proposed for discussion:

• plans and prospects for the development of the EURASIAN PATENT OFFICE (EAPO),
• Eurasian trademark (new draft system proposed by the EURASIAN PATENT OFFICE (EAPO),
• Utility models and their prospects,
• Features of technology licensing in the Eurasian space (LES),
• Judicial practice of the participating states (AIPPI),

- work processes during sanctions, solving problems with payments.

The conference program was distinguished by its richness, relevance of the topics discussed and the high professional level of the speakers and moderators.

A friendly atmosphere reigned both during the working hours of the conference and during cultural and entertainment events. Such an atmosphere is favorable for exchanging experiences and developing solutions to pressing problems.

We hope to see you soon at the next conference.

 

EAPO Starts Accepting 3D Models of Applied Objects

As of November 1, 2022, the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) began accepting three-dimensional models of applied objects - both inventions and industrial designs.

The corresponding decision was unanimously adopted during the 41st meeting of the Administrative Council of the Eurasian Patent Organisation (EAPO) in September 2022.

Previously, Rospatent successfully implemented a similar initiative, so the current decision of the EAPO was made with consideration for the existing positive experience.

You can learn more about obtaining of Eurasian Patent by writing to our e-mail info@e-pag.com.

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Electronic filing (EF) of applications for industrial property objects is now available in the Republic of Belarus!

IP objects included in EF

From October 1, 2022 the automated system "Internet portal for electronic filing of applications for industrial property objects" was launched. Currently applications in an electronic form may be filed with the Belarusian PTO for the following four objects of industrial property: an invention, a utility model, an industrial design and a trademark.

It should be noted that implementation of the possibility to submit applications in an electronic form is a big step for the development of the field of Intellectual Property for the Republic of Belarus.

Legislation amendments

The introduction of the possibility of conducting office work on applications for industrial property objects in an electronic form was preceded by a long preparatory period. During this time, among other things, relevant changes were made to the legislation.

Electronic copy of a power of attorney

By the way, in anticipation of the launch of the new automated system, the legislator provided the possibility of submitting a Power of Attorney on behalf of the applicant in the form of a copy – this is necessary for the implementation of the very idea of electronic filing of an application. At the same time, the Office Examiner has the right to request the original document in the process of office work.

15% discount on official fees for EF

It is important to note that the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus already provides for a discount of 15% off the established fee for filing applications in electronic form.

At the same time, there is no discount for other types of fees (examination, registration of an object in the State Register, etc.).

You can learn more about registration of intellectual property objects in the Republic of Belarus by writing to our e-mail  info@e-pag.com.

 

Innovations in Belarusian legislation in the field of customs regulation

On July 25, 2022, a number of amendments to the Law of the Republic of Belarus of January 10, 2014 No. 129-Ç “On Customs Regulation in the Republic of Belarus” came into force. The amendments also affected the sphere of intellectual property: the provisions on measures for protection of rights to intellectual property objects taken by the customs authorities were updated.
Here are the most important innovations that need to be taken into account by a right holder wishing to record a trademark into the national CIPR (Customs Intellectual Property Register) of the Republic of Belarus:

1. As from 07.25.2022, only persons who are residents of the Republic of Belarus can be representatives of right holders in the customs authorities.
   
   What this means: for intellectual property objects recorded into the CIPR, the representatives of right holders of which are foreign persons, it is necessary to make changes to the Register in order to preserve the possibility of receiving notifications about suspension of release of goods in case of discovering any violations.



2. Extracts from state registers of objects of industrial property rights, extracts from international registers of the International Bureau of WIPO should be issued on a date no earlier than two months before the date of application filing.
   
   What this means: now, for the purposes of recording, for example, trademarks into the CIPR, an extract from the register obtained “a long time ago” will not suit. Therefore, it is recommended to collect all the necessary information and documents for the purposes of application filing, and to order extracts only after that.



3. Images of goods, labels, packaging of goods containing intellectual property objects should be obligatory provided when filing an application to the customs authorities.
   
   What this means:What this means: while formerly such materials were submitted by a right holder optionally, now it is obligatory. In case of a failure to submit images or photos of goods marked with intellectual property objects, the State Customs Committee will refuse to accept the entire application.



4. In the event of a change in the information specified in the application or the documents attached thereto, it is necessary to notify the State Customs Committee in writing within 10 working days from the date of the change in the information.
   
   What this means:What this means: now an intellectual property object can be excluded from the national CIPR by the decision of the State Customs Committee if it has information about non-compliance with the above requirement.
   

In addition, the list of grounds for excluding intellectual property objects from the national CIPR was expanded. In accordance with the revised version of the Law, an object is also subject to exclusion from the national Register if it is included into the Unified Customs Register of Intellectual Property Objects of the EAEU member states.
Furthermore, an intellectual property object is subject to exclusion from the Register in the event that the State Customs Committee receives information about a change of its holder.

What this means: What this means: now it is necessary to make changes to the customs register as soon as possible, immediately after the registration of changes in the registers of intellectual property objects of the NCIP or the International Bureau.

We have listed the most significant of the changes made.

You can learn more about recording of intellectual property objects into the national CIPR of the Republic of Belarus by writing to our e-mail .

Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs to the Eurasian Patent Convention entered into force in Belarus

New Service of PAG-E-PAG - registration of Eurasian Design

The Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs to the Eurasian Patent Convention entered into force as of April 19, 2022.
The benefits of patenting industrial designs under the Eurasian regional system are the following:
- on the basis of one Eurasian application, all applicants are given the opportunity to protect industrial designs simultaneously in several countries,
 - currently a patent for a Eurasian industrial design is valid in 7 states: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan,
- up to 100 industrial designs belonging to one ICID class can be claimed in one application, and moreover there is no need to comply with the requirement for a "single creative concept",  - in order to display patented products, a wide range of options is provided - from contour drawings to digital images of products as a whole, as well as photographic images and fragments of products, - a patent may be valid for a maximum of 25 years from the date of filing an application for a patent for an industrial design.
 Currently, PAG-EPAG also provides services for patenting Eurasian industrial designs.
 Patent Attorney Alina N. Venska is certified as a Eurasian patent attorney with the specialization in industrial designs (Registration No. 84).