Category: News

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.

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.