01/07/2026

According to the "Innovations and Patents" roadmap on target conditions of business operating in Russia until 2030, the declaration of intention to use the mark is planned to be included in the trademark registration application form since September 2026.

How this measure will be implemented remains unknown. However, there is a possibility that upon the PTO request the rightholder will become obliged to provide evidence of the registered trademark use during its protection period in order to maintain validity of the registration to comply with this novelty.

Moreover, subject to stricter requirements, the applicant may have to prove the use of the designation or the preparations for its use at the application filing stage.

Nevertheless, in either case, the proposed measure could be an effective legal instrument for opposing patent trolling and reducing unused trademarks.

Generally, a similar system is already applied in other countries including the USA, Mexico, Argentina, and the Philippines. Therefore, looking forward to seeing how this mechanism will be implemented in Russia and which consequences will follow for the trademark sphere after its introduction.