Articles and Publications

Entrepreneur Artashes Ikonomov filed and obtained patent No. 141791 in 2013 for a cell phone with an “Emergency Call — SOS” function. Several years later, in 2019, he sued Apple for infringing his patent (Case No. 2-20/2020). In response, Apple attempted to cancel Ikonomov’s patent at the Chamber of Patent Disputes, arguing that it did not meet the requirement of novelty but failed, leaving the patent in force. Finally, a case lasting more than five years may have come to an end, though it is still possible that the judgment may be appealed two months after the judgment date.

Anna Degtyareva of Gorodissky & Partners examines the evolving landscape of parallel imports in Russia, detailing the government’s temporary allowances for select goods amid ongoing sanctions while reinforcing that parallel imports remain largely illegal.

The Russian legislation, regulations and statutory acts do not contain any restrictions in connection with prosecution and enforcement of intellectual property. Any overseas entity is free to obtain and dispose intellectual property rights in Russia as usual.  In order to keep the trademark safe it is strongly advisable not to neglect timely registration of the trademark in the name of the genuine trademark holder. Use of the trademark for the registered goods is obligatory to secure it from early termination.

In the article the author reports on the challenge of the Eurasian patent #024421 for the drug Osimertinib between the right holder AstraZeneca and the Russian drug manufacturer Axelpharm.

Pharmaceutical products must go through research, clinical trials, and  registration with the health ministry or other  authorised government bodies, before going to the public. This multi-tiered composite procedure gave birth to extending  the term of patents directed to pharmaceutical  products up to 25 years in many jurisdictions. Circumstances surrounding such cases may present difficulties to the patent owner.