Register Trademarks in Russia
National filing with Rospatent or Madrid designation of Russia — we search, file, prosecute and maintain your Russian trademark directly.
Why register in Russia
First to file wins
Russia is a registration-based system: rights come from registration, not from use or fame abroad. The earlier application has priority.
Stop trademark squatting
Squatters register foreign brands that are not yet protected in Russia, then demand payment, block imports or sue the real owner. Filing first is the cheapest defence.
Border protection
Only a registered mark can be entered in the Customs IP Register, which lets customs detain counterfeit imports.
Russian-language rules
Since 1 March 2026 consumer-facing information must be in Russian. Registered trademarks are exempt — an unregistered foreign-language brand is not.
Enforcement and licensing
Court actions, marketplace complaints, licences and franchising all start from a registration.
Who can apply and what we need
- Companies, individual entrepreneurs and — since 29 June 2023 — private individuals can own a Russian trademark.
- Foreign applicants act through a patent attorney registered with Rospatent; we take care of this for you.
- A simple signed power of attorney is enough — no notarisation or legalisation.
- The application is filed in Russian; we prepare the translation and the list of goods and services.
- One mark per application, any number of Nice classes.
- Convention priority can be claimed within 6 months of your first filing abroad.
What we need from you
- The mark (word, logo, colour version, 3D or other representation)
- Applicant name and address
- The goods and services you use or plan to use the mark for
- A signed power of attorney (we send you the template)
- Priority documents, if you claim priority
Two routes to protection
National application
Filed directly with Rospatent. Best when you need a specification tailored to Russian practice, direct control over the case, or expect objections. You receive a Russian registration certificate.
Madrid designation
Russia designated in an international registration via WIPO. Efficient for multi-country portfolios, but provisional refusals are common when specifications are not adapted to Russian practice. Rospatent has 12 months to refuse; a refusal must be answered within 6 months.
Registration step by step
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Clearance search
Recommended: identical and similar marks, Cyrillic and Latin variants, translations and transliterations, company names and domains.
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Filing
The application gets a number and a priority date; its details are published.
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Formal examination
Rospatent checks the documents. Defects must be corrected within 3 months (extendable for a fee).
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Substantive examination
Absolute grounds (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, misleading character) and earlier rights are examined. Objections can be answered within 6 months — with arguments, amendments or letters of consent.
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Registration
After the registration fee is paid, the mark is entered in the State Register and an electronic certificate is issued.
Typical registration time is 8–15 months, depending on objections and the length of the specification. An accelerated procedure brings this down to as little as 2.5 months. Refusals can be appealed to Rospatent within 4 months, and then to the Intellectual Property Court.
Is there an opposition period?
Not in the classic sense. After publication, third parties may file observations that the examiner can take into account. Registered marks can later be challenged — most relative-ground challenges within 5 years.
Official fees
Official Rospatent fees in force since 4 October 2025. Fees are paid in roubles. Our professional fees are listed separately on the Remuneration page.
| Fee | Official fee | ≈ EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Filing and formal examination one class | RUB 4,000 + RUB 1,000 per additional class | ≈ €45 + €11 |
| Substantive examination one class | RUB 13,000 + RUB 2,500 per additional class+ RUB 500 per item over 10 in a class | ≈ €146 + €28+ €6 |
| Registration and electronic certificate up to five classes | RUB 18,000 + RUB 2,000 per class beyond the fifth | ≈ €202 + €22 |
| Paper certificate (optional) | RUB 3,000 | ≈ €34 |
| Renewal for 10 years up to five classes | RUB 22,000 + RUB 2,000 per class beyond the fifth+ RUB 500 per item over 10 in a class | ≈ €246 + €22+ €6 |
| Renewal in the 6-month grace period (additional) | RUB 3,000 | ≈ €34 |
| Minimum official fees to register: one class, up to 10 items | RUB 35,000 | ≈ €392 |
Approximate conversion for your convenience.
After registration
10 years from filing
Renewable for further 10-year periods without limit. The renewal is filed in the last year of the term; a 6-month grace period is available for an additional fee. Rospatent does not send reminders.
Use it or lose it
A mark not used for any 3 consecutive years can be cancelled for non-use at the request of an interested party.
Record transactions
Assignments, licences and pledges must be in writing and registered with Rospatent to take effect.
Customs register
Record the mark with the Federal Customs Service: up to 3 years (renewable), no official fee, usually 2–3 months to process.
Enforcement in brief
- Civil claims in the commercial (arbitrazh) courts: injunction, destruction of counterfeits, damages or statutory compensation from RUB 10,000 to RUB 10,000,000 (or twice the value of the goods).
- Administrative liability (Art. 14.10 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and criminal liability (Art. 180 of the Criminal Code) for counterfeiting.
- A first-instance case usually takes 6–12 months.
Practical tips
- File before entering the market — and before your distributor does.
- Consider a separate Cyrillic version of the mark: Russian consumers will read and pronounce it.
- Keep the list of goods and services focused: each item over 10 per class costs extra and unused items invite non-use attacks.
- Monitor the register for confusingly similar filings.
We act directly
We handle your Russian trademark ourselves — search, filing, correspondence with Rospatent, appeals, renewals, recordals and customs — without passing it down a chain of agents. You deal with one team and see every deadline.
Read the Russian Trademark GuideFrequently asked questions
Do I need a Russian company to register a trademark?
No. Foreign companies and individuals can own Russian trademarks; they act through a patent attorney registered with Rospatent.
Does the power of attorney need to be notarised?
No. A simple written power of attorney signed by the applicant is enough for Rospatent.
How long does registration take?
Typically 8–15 months. With the accelerated procedure it can take as little as 2.5 months.
Is a Madrid designation cheaper than a national filing?
Not always. It is efficient for many countries at once, but Russian provisional refusals are common, and answering them requires a local attorney anyway.
Someone has already registered my brand in Russia. What can I do?
Depending on the facts: invalidation (bad faith, earlier well-known mark, unfair competition), cancellation for non-use after 3 years, or a negotiated assignment. We assess the options and the evidence you have.
When can I use the ® symbol?
Only after registration, and only for the goods and services covered by it.
Information current as of October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.