In July 2020, important updates were made to the Russian
Civil Code (Part IV), which regulates relations in the
sphere of intellectual property (IP), including "means of
individualization."
In Russian law, IP rights are divided into two groups: means of
individualization are distinct from "results of intellectual
activity." The most important amendments to the Russian Civil
Code (Part IV) concern the introduction of a new IP right into the
Russian legal system: geographical indications (GIs).
By amending this legislation, Russia fulfils its obligations at
the World Trade Organization, as the Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) requires protection
of GIs. The introduced amendments are also in line with the Geneva
Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and
Geographical Indications (AOG). Russia is considering joining this
Agreement in the future.
