Protecting the Intellectual Property Rights of Russian Authors and Producers in the New Reality

The imposition of sanctions and the withdrawal of foreign companies from the Russian market have had an impact on logistics and production chains, and have led to the emergence of new areas of business and sales markets. In this context, intellectual property has become particularly vulnerable, since it was not ready to effectively respond to the evolving needs of the market, shore up Russia’s technological sovereignty, and adapt to the process of import substitution. A comprehensive solution is required to address this issue. It should encompass legislation, judicial practice, and a willingness on the part of businesses to adapt to the new reality. This all raises a number of questions which require discussion. How should legal regulation of intellectual property look, and what legislative amendments need to be made? How should judicial practice develop in order to strike a balance between the interests of all parties in legal disputes involving the infringement of intellectual property rights? In the context of sanctions, what can be done to address the issue of Russian producers using software and certificates belonging to foreign copyright holders through sublicence agreements? In the event of rights being held jointly, what can be done to ensure the disposal of exclusive rights to the outcomes of intellectual activity? What are the prospects for solving the problem of registering trademarks belonging to Russian producers in foreign jurisdictions, particularly given refusals by foreign patent lawyers to provide support services, problems with paying fees, and delays in paperwork? What trends can be observed in terms of Russian producers obtaining legal protection of their trademarks in Russia, geographical indications, and appellations of origin? What impact is the development of digital technologies – including NFTs – having on legal regulation?