Russian Federation: Trademark

Beginning 1 September 2026, new domain name registration rules enter into force. Domain name owners will be required to complete a verification procedure via Russia’s official government services portal (Gosuslugi) for registering, renewing, purchasing, selling, and deleting domain names. Foreign companies and individuals may face significant difficulties accessing Gosuslugi and, consequently, risk losing their domain names.

Exhaustion of rights, a legal principle deeply rooted in many national laws, including those of Russia, is a concept that is not often discussed in the context of intellectual property (IP) infringements.

In Russia, as in other jurisdictions, distinctiveness is a key registrability criterion that a trademark must meet in order to get registered. Russian law states that a designation will be refused...