# Russian Trademark Applications: Procedure, Registration and Key Rules

Businesses planning to export to Russia or operate there should consider trademark protection before entering the market.

Source: https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1533936

HOME / NEWS & INSIGHTS NEWS & INSIGHTS Russian Trademark Applications: Procedure, Registration and Key Rules Businesses planning to export to Russia or operate there should consider trademark protection before entering the market. Overseas Trademarks 2026.09.08 published IPLEX 6 min read Businesses planning to export to Russia or operate there should consider trademark protection before entering the market. The Russian trademark system is structured to determine whether or not to register through formal and substantive examinations after application, and it is necessary to manage the actual use of the trademark even after registration. In this article, we will look at the Russian trademark application process and practical points related to the three-year non-use system, well-known trademarks, atypical trademarks, and the Cyrillic alphabet that Korean companies should be aware of when securing Russian trademark rights. Russian Trademark Application Procedure Trademark registration in Russia proceeds as follows. Submission of application → Formal examination → Substantive examination → Registration decision → Registration fee payment → Trademark registration ① Submit application To apply for a trademark in Russia, you must submit a trademark registration application along with applicant information, the trademark you wish to register, a description of the designated goods/services, and the trademark. Designated goods and services are classified and listed according to the Nice International Classification. Before filing an application, it is important to conduct a preliminary search for identical or similar trademarks to review the possibility of registration. ② Formal review When an application is received, the application and related documents are reviewed to ensure that they meet the formal requirements set by law. The maximum period of formal examination is one month, and once the formal examination is completed, a substantive examination of the applied trademark is conducted. ③ Substantive examination The substantive examination determines whether the applied mark can be registered under Russian trademark law. Typically, the following items may be reviewed: Is the mark distinctive? Does it simply indicate the nature of the product or service? Is there a risk of misleading consumers? Is it against public order and morals? Is it identical/similar to a preceding trademark? The maximum period of substantive review is 12 months, but the actual period may vary if requests for additional data occur during the review process. ④ Decision on registration and payment of government fees If the registration requirements are met as a result of the substantive examination, the Russian Patent Office makes a decision to register the trademark. After the decision to register, you must pay the government fee for trademark registration and the government fee related to issuing the trademark registration certificate. ⑤ Trademark registration and issuance of registration certificate Once the necessary procedures, including payment of government fees, are completed, the Russian Patent Office registers the trademark in the State Register and issues a trademark registration certificate. The duration of Russian trademark rights is 10 years from the date of application, and can be continuously renewed in 10-year increments. Main features of the Russian trademark system When understanding the Russian trademark system, it is necessary to look at not only the general application and examination procedures, but also features such as the non-use system, well-known trademarks, and the use of the Cyrillic alphabet. ① Extinguishment of trademark rights due to non-use for 3 years In Russia, caution is required even if the registered trademark is not actually used. Under Article 1486 of the Russian Civil Code, protection may be terminated for all or some registered goods or services at an interested party’s request if the mark has not been used for a continuous three-year period. Therefore, rather than registering a trademark with an overly broad scope, including products that will not actually be used in Russia, it is important to formulate designated goods by considering actual business plans and the possibility of trademark use. In addition, it is necessary to manage materials that can prove the use of the trademark, such as sales materials, advertising materials, packaging, and labels in Russia, in preparation for future cancellation for non-use. ② Well-known trademark system In Russia, there is a Well-Known Trademark system separate from general trademark registration. If a particular trademark in Russia is widely known among relevant consumers, it may apply to the Russian Patent Office for recognition as a well-known trademark. Recognition of a well-known trademark is a separate process from general trademark registration, and materials supporting the fact that the trademark is widely known in Russia must be submitted. Therefore, if your brand has already secured a high level of recognition in the Russian market, you may consider the possibility of protecting your well-known trademark along with general trademark registration. ③ Cyrillic alphabet and translation/transliteration If you are a Korean company preparing a Russian trademark, you need to pay attention to the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian notation. In Russia, the Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, so even if a Korean company applies for a brand in English, it is recommended to review how the brand is written and pronounced locally in Russian. For example, if an English brand is transliterated into a specific Cyrillic script in the Russian market, it is necessary to consider the possibility that the notation may be perceived as a separate brand by consumers. Therefore, it is advisable to review the following items before filing a trademark application in Russia. Russian transliteration of English brands Russian pronunciation and notation Similar brands expressed in Cyrillic letters Whether there is a prior trademark for the relevant Russian/Cyrillic notation There is a possibility that the meaning of the brand may be changed or misunderstood as Russian. In particular, it cannot be assumed that an English trademark and its Russian transliteration always have the same scope of trademark rights, so if there is a brand designation to actually be used in Russia, it is safe to consider the need for a separate application. Things to check before applying for a trademark in Russia In order to secure trademark rights in Russia, pre-application review is as important as filing the application. In particular, we recommend checking the following: First, you need to research prior trademarks. You should check whether the same, as well as similar, trademarks are already registered in Russia. Second, designated goods must be configured to suit the actual business. It is important to establish an appropriate scope of protection considering the products and services that will actually be sold or provided in Russia. Third, the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian notation should be examined together. Rather than just searching for English brands, examining Russian transliteration or Cyrillic notation can provide a broader overview of potential trademark conflicts that may occur locally. Fourth, use must be managed after registration. In Russia, trademark rights may expire after 3 years of non-use, so it is necessary to manage actual use and evidence of use after registration. Trademark registration in Russia goes through the following process: application → formal examination → substantive examination → registration. However, in order to reliably protect your brand in Russia, simply registering a trademark is not enough. In particular, the characteristics of the Russian trademark system, such as expiration of trademark rights after three years of non-use, review of the well-known trademark system, and transliteration/translation of the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian, must be taken into consideration. In addition, when a Korean company enters the Russian market, it is advisable to conduct prior trademark research and review the possibility of registration before entering the business rather than securing trademark rights after starting the business, and to also review the Russian and Cyrillic notation of the brand that will actually be used. If you are preparing to enter overseas markets, including Russia, we recommend that you systematically review everything from pre-application trademark research to application/examination/registration and post-registration rights management. Read the Korean source This article reflects the information available when it was published. 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