Rospatent IP News Digest February 2022

Head of Rospatent visits the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Saudi Arabia

On February 1, 2022, the Head of Rospatent Grigory Ivliev met with Mr. Askar Musinov, the Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Science and Technology. An agreement was reached on the development and enhancement of cooperation in the field of intellectual property protection, exchange of experience, raising public awareness, promoting the principles of multilingualism within WIPO, as well as professional training and education in the field of intellectual property.

Positive dynamics for filed applications

Despite the difficult conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of trademark applications is steadily growing. In January 2022, Russian applicants filed 42.7% (4,739 applications) applications more than in January 2021 (3,321 applications). Also, the number of international trademark applications increased by 23.5% compared to the same period last year. These figures reflect the intensive development of the Russian market.

There is also an increase in the number of filed applications for utility models and industrial designs. In January, Russian applicants filed 42% more applications for industrial designs (257 applications) than at the end of January 2021 (181 applications).

In January, the number of applications for computer programs, databases, and topographies of integrated circuits increased as well. Thus, according to the results of the first month of 2022, this indicator increased by 34.9% (up to 1,300 applications). This growth is due to the widespread introduction of information technologies.

Yury Zubov appointed as Head of Rospatent as Grigory Ivliev becomes President of the EAPO

On February 18, 2022, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree appointing Yury Zubov as Head of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent).

After heading the Federal Institute of Industrial Property, a subordinate organization of Rospatent, for more than two years, since November 2018, Yury Zubov has held the position of Deputy Head of Rospatent.

Grigory Ivliev, who headed Rospatent in 2015-2021, assumed his functions as President of the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO).

Rospatent Board reviews activities of the Office

On February 18, 2022, the Final meeting of the Rospatent Board was held, attended by the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Mr. Maxim Reshetnikov.

The Minister noted that over the past few years, the companies’ intangible assets volume has increased by 1.3 times. By the end of 2020, it exceeded 6 trillion rubles. From 2017 to 2020, investments in intellectual property doubled. By the end of 2020, the volume of such investments amounted to more than 800 billion rubles.

Also, at the meeting, Mr. Reshetnikov announced the appointment of Mr. Yury Zubov as the new Head of Rospatent.

Mr. Zubov pointed out that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic Rospatent has shown a high adaptation rate to the new challenges, ensuring uninterrupted examination of applications and provision of all of its public services with minimal risks to the health of both employees and citizens. As a result, last year the total number of trademark applications exceeded 107 000, while the number of applications for inventions from universities increased by 7.5%, and the increase of registrations of the disposal of rights for computer programs amounted to 13.5%.

The report also highlighted positive results of digital transformation – all Rospatent’s services are available in digital format; it has become possible to add 3D models to applications for inventions, industrial designs and trademarks. Another notable achievement is the possibility for applicants to conduct independent work with patent big data as well as scientific and technical literature; a search for images and text through digital services is now available.