Author: pat

Rospatent and Indonesia’s Ministry of Law have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand bilateral cooperation in the field of intellectual property.

The MoU covers a broad range of cooperation areas, including the exchange of information and best practices, patent analytics, digital technologies, intellectual property valuation, and professional capacity building. One of the key initiatives under consideration is the implementation of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), which could accelerate patent examination by allowing each office to rely on the search and examination results of the other.

The parties also agreed to cooperate in the protection of geographical indications and to strengthen collaboration on projects related to intellectual property valuation.

In addition, Russia and Indonesia will continue working together within the framework of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Their cooperation will include support for initiatives related to copyright protection and the development of multilingual international registration systems, contributing to greater accessibility and efficiency of global intellectual property services.

For businesses operating across Eurasia and Southeast Asia, the agreement represents a positive step toward closer cooperation between intellectual property authorities and the continued harmonization of patent practices. Enhanced international collaboration is expected to facilitate innovation, improve the protection of intellectual property rights, and support companies seeking to secure and commercialize their innovations in multiple jurisdictions.

The agreement reflects the broader global trend toward stronger international cooperation among intellectual property offices and the development of more efficient mechanisms for protecting innovation in cross-border markets.

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

In 2026, the Eurasian industrial design system marks its fifth anniversary. Over the past five years, it has become an effective regional mechanism for protecting design innovations, enabling applicants to obtain legal protection across the eight member states of the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) through a single application procedure.

The Eurasian system provides protection for a wide range of design solutions, including packaging, labels, composite products, sets (kits) of articles, typefaces, graphical user interfaces, and independent parts of products. This broad scope makes the system attractive to manufacturers, designers, software developers, and other rights holders seeking protection in the Eurasian region.

One of the key advantages of the system is the possibility of including up to 100 industrial designs in a single application, provided they belong to the same class of the Locarno Classification. Upon successful examination, a single Eurasian industrial design patent may provide protection in all eight EAPO member states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Over the past five years, the Eurasian industrial design system has experienced significant growth. The number of applications increased from 92 in 2021 to 566 in 2025, while the number of industrial designs covered by those applications rose from 190 to 1,233. The number of granted Eurasian design patents also increased substantially, from 7 in the first year of operation to 531 in 2025.

The system’s international reach has expanded considerably, with the number of applicant countries growing from 9 in 2021 to more than 30 today.

To date, the Eurasian Patent Office has received more than 2,000 applications covering over 4,800 industrial designs. These figures demonstrate the growing importance of the Eurasian system as an efficient tool for protecting product designs across the Eurasian region.

As the Eurasian industrial design system continues to develop, it offers businesses and designers an increasingly effective mechanism for protecting design assets across multiple jurisdictions through a single regional procedure.

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

On World Intellectual Property Day 2026, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released new data highlighting the rapid growth of intellectual property use across the sports industry.

According to WIPO’s Technology SPARK report, the sports sector remains one of the most dynamic areas for the creation and protection of intellectual property. Between 2016 and 2025, more than 65,700 sport-related inventions were disclosed worldwide, alongside over 1.25 million trademark filings and more than 70,000 industrial design registrations.

The growth rates are particularly noteworthy. WIPO reports that between 2015 and 2025, the number of sport-related patent filings increased by an average of 7.6% annually, compared with 4.4% growth for patent filings overall. Sport-related trademark registrations grew by 6.1% per year—almost twice the global average—while industrial design filings expanded by 8.3% annually, significantly outpacing worldwide trends.

WIPO notes that modern sport is no longer driven solely by athletic performance. Today, its development increasingly depends on innovation and intangible assets. Patents protect new technologies and equipment, trademarks build the value of sports brands, and industrial designs provide competitive advantages through distinctive product appearance and user experience.

Asia leads the world in both patent and industrial design filings, accounting for 63% and 76% of applications respectively. North America ranks second in patent activity, while Europe remains the leading region for trademark registrations, reflecting its concentration of major sports brands, clubs, and commercial sports enterprises.

For companies operating in sports equipment, fitness technologies, wearable electronics, physical activity monitoring systems, sports medicine, and digital sports services, international patent protection is becoming increasingly important. Developing an innovative product without securing adequate intellectual property rights significantly increases the risk of imitation and the loss of competitive advantage.

The growing number of sports-related innovations is accompanied by intensifying competition in global markets. In this environment, intellectual property protection has become an essential component of a company’s commercial strategy. For rights holders seeking to expand across Eurasia, the Eurasian patent system offers an efficient route to regional protection. A single Eurasian patent can provide patent protection across the eight member states of the Eurasian Patent Convention: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

WIPO’s findings confirm that sport remains one of the most innovation-driven sectors of the global economy, with intellectual property playing a critical role in technology commercialization, brand development, and business growth. As patent activity continues to accelerate, timely protection of innovations is becoming an increasingly important factor in maintaining competitive advantage in both domestic and international markets.

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

Eduard Shablin, Partner at Patentica, participated in the second IP Eurasia mobile seminar held in China from May 12 to 15, 2026. The event was jointly organized by the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).

Following the success of the 2025 seminar in China’s northeastern provinces, this year’s tour took place across two southern provinces: Guangxi (Nanning) and Hainan (Haikou and Wenchang).

The EAPO delegation presented the strategic advantages of the Eurasian patent system to Chinese patent attorneys, technology corporations, and academic institutions. 

The seminar received strong backing from the Chinese government. Key highlights included high-level meetings with Mr. Li Feng, Vice Governor of Hainan Province, and Mr. Wang Fengyu, Vice Mayor of Wenchang. The delegation also visited the headquarters of Genertec International and the upcoming Hainan-MPEI joint Russian-Chinese university campus.

Key Economic Insights from Patentica

During the seminar, Eduard Shablin delivered a comprehensive report focusing on the economic opportunities and benefits of Eurasian patenting for Chinese applicants. His presentation featured an in-depth analysis of trade relations between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China, alongside patenting activity statistics.

In the report, Mr. Shablin highlighted that patent applications from China to the EAPO show steady year-on-year growth. China firmly held the 3rd place in 2025 for both inventions and industrial designs.

The majority of current Eurasian patent applications from China are concentrated in chemistry and medicine. Machinery, equipment, computers, auto parts, and smartphones account for roughly 25% of China’s total exports to the EAEU market.

“An increase in patent filings within these specific engineering and tech sectors can further boost the overall patent activity of Chinese applicants in the Eurasian region,” noted Eduard Shablin.

The mobile seminar generated significant interest within the professional community and received extensive media coverage, drawing an in-person audience of around 250 participants.

Patentica experts regularly participate in leading international conferences to stay ahead of global IP trends and share legal expertise with clients worldwide.

Patentica participated in the INTA 2026 Annual Meeting held from May 2 to May 6, 2026, at the ExCeL London convention center in London, United Kingdom.

The INTA Annual Meeting is one of the largest international events in the field of intellectual property, annually bringing together thousands of trademark and patent professionals, brand owners, enforcement specialists, policymakers, and business representatives from around the world.

During the event, the Patentica team was delighted to welcome colleagues, partners, and clients at our booth and to engage in productive discussions on current developments and emerging trends in the IP field. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for personal communication, exchange of experience, and strengthening professional relationships with IP practitioners from different jurisdictions.

We were also pleased to discuss practical aspects of obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights in the Eurasian region and remain available to assist our partners and clients with trademark, patent, and design protection matters across the region.

Participation in the INTA 2026 Annual Meeting once again highlighted the importance of international cooperation and professional dialogue in the rapidly evolving global IP landscape.

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

In 2025, the Eurasian patent system demonstrated steady growth in applicant activity. The number of applications for Eurasian patents increased by 12% compared to 2024, reaching 3,638 applications, with a growing share filed by applicants from the member states of the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO). The EAPO currently comprises eight member states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The number of valid Eurasian patents increased by 5%, with an average of 83% of patents maintained in force. The highest growth in patent maintenance activity was observed among right holders from China, Russia, and the United States.

Since the beginning of 2025, the effect of Eurasian industrial design patents has been extended to Turkmenistan, expanding user opportunities and further integrating the EAPO system into international industrial design protection mechanisms.

In 2025, the Eurasian Patent Office continued to develop digital services and improve the quality of its services. The average time to first action has been reduced to two months. The EAPO-ONLINE system was upgraded, and the new EAPO-Pub publication system was introduced, while AI-based solutions continue to be developed to support examination and applicant interaction.

The number of reports prepared by the Eurasian Patent Office as an International Searching Authority (ISA) under the PCT system increased significantly by more than 50%. Applicants from six EAPO member states are already using this functionality.

The Eurasian Pharmaceutical Register also continued to expand, increasing by 16% with new Eurasian and national patents. Mechanisms for automated data exchange with interested organizations have been introduced.

The Eurasian Patent Office continues to develop international cooperation and digital transformation, with a special focus on artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, and the development of the intellectual property system.

Applicants and innovators seeking patent protection in the Eurasian region are welcome to contact us at info@patentica.com for further information and professional support in obtaining Eurasian patents.

The lawyers of Patentica have once again confirmed that infringement of intellectual property should not be left unpunished. Our team has won a case in the Commercial Court of Moscow regarding the illegal use of figurative trademarks featuring a teddy bear character, registered for jewelry by Spanish company S.Tous, S.L. The defendant, a Russian jewelry store chain, has released a collection of bear-shaped earrings named “TOYS”, leading to a possibility of confusion of consumers due to both appearance of the goods, which imitate the trademarks and famous signature jewelry produced by the Spanish company, and the name of the collection that has visual resemblance with “TOUS”, the company’s shortened name.

While working on this case, our specialists have reviewed the existing legal practice for similar matters, recorded all the evidence, prepared a substantiated opinion on similarity of the appearance of the goods and earlier trademarks, and confidently stood in defense of the client’s position at the hearings.

The outcome: After several hearings, consideration of the case concluded on 13 March 2026 with the court awarding compensation in the amount of 11,503,408 rubles in favor of our client. The operative part of the court decision has been published in the official database.

This is a brilliant example of how the law protects honest businesses and brands from copying and piracy. We are proud of our team and congratulate our client on this important victory!

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has announced the opening of applications for the WIPO Global Awards 2026 — an international award recognizing startups and small and medium-sized enterprises that effectively use intellectual property to grow their businesses and achieve sustainable results.

The competition welcomes companies from a wide range of industries and evaluates not only the innovativeness of a product, but also:

– intellectual property management strategy;

– quality and structure of the IP portfolio;

– commercialization plans;

– contribution to sustainable development;

– maturity of the company’s IP culture.

In other words, having a patent alone is no longer sufficient — what matters is a systematic and well-thought-out IP strategy.

Participation in international competitions is only one example where a structured IP strategy becomes essential. In practice, intellectual property plays a critical role in many strategic business situations, including:

– attracting venture capital and strategic investors;

– entering new international markets;

– negotiating partnerships and licensing agreements;

– increasing company valuation and competitiveness.

Investors and partners increasingly view intellectual property not simply as legal protection, but as a strategic business asset that demonstrates technological leadership and long-term potential.

However, many companies face challenges when expanding internationally due to the lack of a structured IP management system.

Patentica provides comprehensive IP support to companies, including:

🔹 IP audit and portfolio analysis

Assessment of existing rights, identification of risks, and opportunities to strengthen protection.

🔹 International patenting

Support for filing applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) procedure, Eurasian and national patent applications, as well as registration of trademarks and industrial designs.

🔹 IP strategy development

Designing a protection framework aligned with business scaling and investment plans.

Global initiatives such as the WIPO Global Awards clearly demonstrate that intellectual property is becoming a key driver of business competitiveness.

Companies that proactively develop strategies to protect and commercialize their innovations gain a significant advantage in the global market.

Patentica welcomes your inquiries regarding intellectual property protection and strategy in Eurasia.

For further information or assistance, please contact us at info@patentica.com.

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.