Update And Clarification On U.S. Sanctions Against Russia As Relates To Intellectual Property

This is an update of our March 24, 2022 blog regarding the effects of U.S. sanctions on Russia as it affects U.S. owned intellectual property (IP) assets in Russia. On May 5, 2022, the U.S. Department of Treasury issued General License No. 31 (GL31), which authorizes the following activities regarding procurement and maintenance of IP through the Russian Patent Office ("Rospatent"):

1. The filing and prosecution of any application to obtain a patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection;
2. The receipt of a patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection;
3. The renewal or maintenance of a patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection; and