On February 9, 2024, the order of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine “On approval of the Regulations of the Appeals Chamber of the National Intellectual Property Body” entered into force.
The Appeals Chamber considers objections to decisions regarding the acquisition of rights to intellectual property objects, applications to declare rights to intellectual property objects invalid in whole or in part, and applications to recognize a trademark as well-known in Ukraine.
Claims and objections may relate to trademarks, industrial designs, inventions, utility models, geographical indications, and semiconductor product designs.
Key provisions of the new version of the regulations of the Appeals Chamber:
• the possibility of consideration of objections to decisions regarding the acquisition of rights to intellectual property objects is provided for in a simplified procedure;
• supplemented by the possibility of conducting mediation at any stage of consideration of objection or appeal statement;
• it is possible to create a personal account in the Office system for the participants of the review to submit documents in electronic form with a qualified electronic signature;
• the requirements, according to which the personal composition of the Appeals Chamber is formed;
• the possibility of storing video and sound recordings of video conferences in the department’s system has been added;
• the procedure for consideration of appeals on recognition of rights to intellectual property objects as invalid has been simplified;
• the requirements for a survey on the issue of the good reputation of a trademark in Ukraine have been eased;
• the procedure for exercising the powers of the National Body in the event of establishing the fact of the application of sanctions has been regulated.
Currently, measures are being taken to form the staff of the Appeals Chamber of the National IP Body, respectively. After the approval and approval of the staff of the Appeals Chamber, the work of the Appeals Chamber will be resumed.