New Intellectual Property Object Introduced – Geographical Indication

July, 2019

July 26, 2019 A new Federal Law No. 230-FZ has been passed complementing the provisions of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation with a new intellectual property object – a geographical indication. A geographical indication to be protected is a sign used to identify goods as originating in a certain geographical area, the quality, reputation or other characteristics of which are essentially linked to their geographical origin (goods characteristics). At least one of the stages of the goods manufacture, essentially affecting the goods characteristics, must be completed on the territory of this geographical area. The term of the exclusive right to a geographical indication is established to be 10 years with the possibility of further renewal by a rightholder’s initiative, its protectability conditions must remain unchanged. Protective signs and emblems, which are subject to approval by Rospatent, may be used by rightholders for marking their geographical indications. The aforementioned provisions of the law are to enter into force as of July 27, 2020.