A trademark is a unique designation (word, figurative element, combined symbol, or other sign) that individualizes your company’s goods or services and provides legal protection against unauthorized use.
Trademark Registration is the formal procedure through which the owner obtains exclusive rights to this distinctive sign, creating a valuable intangible asset for your business.
Trademark Registration in the Russian Federation
Both Russian residents and non-residents can obtain trademark protection in Russia.
Types of Trademarks:
- Word Marks (names, slogans) – Example: “Coca-Cola”;
- Figurative Marks (logos, graphic elements) – Example: Apple logo;
- Combined Marks (text + graphics) – Example: McDonald’s logo with text;
- Three-Dimensional Marks (product shape or packaging) – Example: Coca-Cola bottle;
- Sound Marks (melodies, jingles) – Example: Intel jingle;
- Hologram and Color Marks (specific visual effects).
Key Terminology for Trademark Registration:
- Nice Classification (NCL): International classification of goods and services (classes 1-45). The Nice Classification was established by the Nice Agreement concerning the international classification of goods and services for the purposes of the Registration of Marks, adopted on June 15, 1957;
- Rospatent: Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Russian Federation;
- FIPS: Federal Institute of Industrial Property, a division of Rospatent;
- Priority: The filing date that establishes precedence in registration;
- Examination: Official verification of trademark uniqueness and legal compliance;
- Certificate: Document confirming trademark rights (valid for 10 years, renewable).
Registration is available via standard or accelerated procedures.
- Trademark Search: Preliminary verification of uniqueness to assess registration prospects
- Application Filing: Preparation and submission of application to Rospatent, including document package and payment of official fees
- Formal Examination: Verification of document completeness and legal aspects (1-2 months)
- Deficiency Response: Addressing any identified issues (if necessary)
- Substantive Examination: Comprehensive review of the trademark’s distinctiveness and compliance. The duration of this stage may range from 14 to 16 months and includes a comprehensive examination of the applied designation
- Official Decision: Receipt of Rospatent’s decision determining next steps
- Registration Fee Payment: Upon positive decision, payment of state fee for registration and electronic certificate issuance
- Payment Confirmation: Submission of payment proof to Rospatent
- Certificate Receipt: Obtaining the registration certificate within 1-3 months
Estimated Timelines for Trademark Registration:
Standard Procedure: From 12 months, maximum 18 months
Accelerated Procedure: From 2 months
Official State Fees for Trademark Registration:
| Application filing (1 NCL class)
(for each additional NCL class) |
about $50
(about $12.50) |
| Substantive examination (1 NCL class)
(for each additional NCL class)
(for each additional good or service beyond 10 within a single NCL class) |
about $162.50
(about $31.50)
(about $6.25) |
| Registration & electronic certificate
(for each additional NCL class beyond 5) |
about $225
(about $25) |
| Total (1 class, excluding patent attorney fees) |
about $437.50 |
Additional fees may apply:
- Amendments/corrections to application: from $37;
- Paper certificate issuance (upon request): about $37.
Acceleration is achieved through an official expedited search across all 45 NCL classes. An application is submitted to FIPS, and an official search report is issued, valid for 2 months. The cost of this accelerated search is from $1 180.
Our Service Fees for Standard Trademark Registration Procedure:
| Word Mark |
about $900 |
| Figurative Mark |
about $900 |
| Combined Mark |
about $980 |
| Word + Figurative (two marks) |
about $1 470 |
Our Service Fees for Accelerated Trademark Registration Procedure:
| Word Mark |
about $1 680 |
| Figurative Mark |
about $1 680 |
| Combined Mark |
about $1 925 |
| Word + Figurative (two marks) |
about $2 620 |
Core Regulatory Framework for Trademark Registration:
- Part IV of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation;
- Government Resolution No. 941 of December 10, 2008 “On Approval of the Regulation on Patent and Other Fees for the Performance of Legally Significant Actions Related to Patents for Inventions, Utility Models, and Industrial Designs; with the State Registration of Trademarks and Service Marks; with the State Registration and Granting of Exclusive Rights to Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin; as well as with the State Registration of the Alienation of an Exclusive Right to an Intellectual Property Result or Means of Individualization; the Pledge of an Exclusive Right; the Granting of the Right to Use Such a Result or Means under an Agreement; and the Transfer of an Exclusive Right to Such a Result or Means without an Agreement”;
- Order of the Ministry of Economic Development No. 482 of July 20, 2015 “On approval of the Rules for drafting, submitting and reviewing documents that are the basis for performing legally significant actions on the state registration of trademarks, service marks, collective marks, Requirements for documents contained in an application for state registration of a trademark, service mark, collective mark, and the documents attached thereto and their forms, the Procedure for converting an application for state registration of a collective mark into an application for state registration of a trademark, service mark and vice versa, the List of information indicated in the form of a certificate for a trademark (service mark), the form of a certificate for a collective mark, the form of a certificate for a trademark (service mark), the form of a certificate for a collective mark”;
- Order of the Ministry of Economic Development No. 483 of July 20, 2015 “On Approval of the Administrative Regulations for the Provision by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Public Service for the State Registration of Trademarks, Service Marks, Collective Marks, and the Issuance of Certificates for Trademarks, Service Marks, Collective Marks, and Their Duplicate”;
- Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks of April 14, 1891;
- Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) of 1989.
International Trademark Registration via the Madrid System
The Madrid System (Madrid Agreement 1891 and Madrid Protocol 1989) provides a unified mechanism for trademark registration in member countries through a single international application.
Key Features for International Trademark Registration:
- File one application to seek protection in 131 countries (as of August 3, 2024) through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);
- Territorial expansion: Additional countries can be designated later.
How It Works?
- Basic Application: First, register your trademark in your home country (e.g., Russia);
- International Application: File through your national office (e.g., Rospatent) designating desired countries;
- Examination: Each designated country examines the application according to its national laws.
Term of Protection: 10 years, renewable.
Service Fee for filing and managing international applications: about $1 550 (regardless of the number of countries designated).
Official WIPO and national fees vary based on countries selected, number of classes, color claims, etc. Contact us for a personalized calculation.
For trademark registration in countries not party to the Madrid Agreement or Protocol, please consult our specialists for tailored solutions.
Secure your brand identity in Russia and beyond. Contact us for a free consultation on trademark registration strategy.
