U.S. Treasury Issues Clarification Expressly Authorizing Certain Patent, Trademark, And Copyright Transactions In Russia

The U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, has issued much-needed guidance on the effect of Russian sanctions on efforts to obtain or maintain, patent, trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property protection in Russia.

General License 31 (Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights) expressly clarifies that the following will NOT be in violation of the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. §587:

• filing (and prosecuting) an application for patent, trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property protection in Russia;
• receiving a patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection;