On May 1, 2025, the Law "On Repealing the Law of Ukraine "On the Protection of the Interests of Persons in the Field of Intellectual Property during Martial Law Introduced in Connection with the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine" was officially published.
What do these changes mean?
Starting from May 31, 2025, all standard deadlines in the field of intellectual property will be reinstated. Let’s briefly review the key deadlines:
- Deadline for filing an opposition against a trademark application: 3 months from the date of publication of the application.
- Deadline for filing additional materials in response to an Office action: 2 months from the date of request (for national applications).
- Deadline for payment of fees for the publication of a protection document: 3 months from the date of receiving the registration decision.
An important point is that prior to the repeal of the Law, all registered IP rights remained in force even if the owners had failed to pay fees for extension or maintenance on time. However, starting from May 31, 2025, this provision will no longer apply. Owners must now adhere to the statutory deadlines for renewing or maintaining their IP rights.
It is important to note that applicants and rights holders in Ukraine are granted a 75-day grace period from the date the new law enters into force to address any pending issues related to the registration or renewal of IP rights.
During this 75-day window, it will be possible to pay any overdue application fees or renew trademark protection if it was not done earlier.
After August 13, 2025, the grace period will expire, and the Ukrainian IP Office will fully revert to the standard deadlines. We also note that applicants are entitled to an additional 6-month extension. Such extensions are subject to an additional fee.
In our view, these changes will have a positive impact on application processing and will help resolve many IP-related matters. They will streamline workflows, clarify the current status of applications – whether withdrawn or still under examination – and reflect the up-to-date IP landscape in Ukraine.