Russian GI Law to Enter into Force Soon

The Russian law introducing geographical indications, which was adopted on July 26, 2019, enters into force on July 27, 2020, except for the provision regarding liability for illegal use of a GI symbol alongside an unregistered GI, which will come into effect on July 27, 2024.

It is already possible to register geographically related signs and names in Russia as appellations of origin. Protection for AOs in Russia will continue to exist, but introducing GI protection is expected to make obtaining geographically related signs simpler and faster for both foreign and domestic producers.

A foreign applicant can successfully obtain GI protection in Russia if the GI is protected in the applicant’s own country and if it meets Russian legislative requirements in this field.

A registered GI will be valid for 10 years from the filing date and can be extended for an unlimited number of additional 10-year periods provided that, upon renewal, Russian rights holders submit a document confirming that they still manufacture the product, or, in the case of foreign rights holders, that they still have GI protection in their own country.

By: Tatyana Kulikova and Julia Zhevid

For more information, please contact Tatyana Kulikova at our Russia office.