Key changes
The Law on Terms primarily provides for the restoration of standard deadlines, which were suspended on 13 April 2022 due to the Martial Law, for actions related to the following:
- Protection of intellectual property rights
- Procedures for maintaining intellectual property rights
- Payment of relevant official fees
As of 31 May 2025, the deadlines will resume, taking into account the time that elapsed before their suspension, but with a minimum of 75 days. This provision also applies to fees stipulated by legislation in the field of intellectual property rights.
Annual fees for maintaining property rights, including fees for the extension of the validity of Ukrainian trademark certificates, which were due during the suspension period and were not paid, will be considered paid on time if paid by 13 August 2025.
The adoption of the Law on Terms is an important step in addressing the violation of intellectual property rights. The prolonged suspension of deadlines had prevented the expiration of older intellectual property rights and hindered the registration of new ones. Deadlines for filing objections, appeals and the validity of patents and other protectable documents did not expire for years, creating difficulties in resolving disputes.
Recommendations
Overall, the implementation of the Law on Terms is an extremely important and necessary step in the field of intellectual property law. It provides more flexibility in enforcing intellectual property rights for clients despite the ongoing martial law in Ukraine. At the same time, it is highly recommended to review current and outdated cases and resume and/or expedite work on them to achieve all necessary business goals and ensure proper and timely protection of rights.
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