The Eurasian Patent Organization has joined the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs. On July 10, 2026, the organization deposited its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organization. The Geneva Act will enter into force with respect to the EAPO on October 10, 2026.
The EAPO has become the third regional intergovernmental organization to participate in the Hague System. It is also the 78th Contracting Party to the Geneva Act and the 84th member of the Hague Union. Following the accession, the territorial coverage of the Hague System will extend to 101 countries.
From October 10, 2026, applicants filing an international design application through the Hague System will be able to designate the EAPO. A single designation will make it possible to seek protection across the organization’s eight member states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The Hague System provides a centralized mechanism for obtaining and managing industrial design protection in multiple jurisdictions. Applicants may submit a single international application in one language and pay one set of fees instead of filing separate applications in each selected jurisdiction.
Practical Significance for Applicants
The new regional route may simplify the process of obtaining industrial design protection in the Eurasian region and reduce the administrative burden associated with multiple national filings. The accession may be particularly relevant to businesses operating in sectors where the external appearance of products has significant commercial value, including consumer goods, packaging, equipment, vehicles and digital interfaces.
However, the designation of the EAPO in an international application will not automatically guarantee the grant of protection. International registrations will remain subject to the applicable Eurasian legislation, examination procedures and possible grounds for refusal.
Applicants will therefore need to consider the EAPO requirements concerning the representations of an industrial design, the scope of protection and other procedural matters. WIPO is expected to publish detailed information on the applicable regional legislation and procedures in the EAPO profile within the Hague System.
The accession expands the options available to companies seeking coordinated international protection for industrial designs. Businesses interested in the Eurasian market should review their design portfolios and filing strategies before the new route becomes operational on October 10, 2026.