The Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan has approved rules governing the recognition of trademarks as well-known within the country. The relevant order was signed on 28 January 2026 and sets out the procedure for granting well-known status to trademarks or designations used as trademarks in Kazakhstan.
Under the new rules, well-known status may be granted not only to registered trademarks, but also to designations that lack formal legal protection yet have become widely recognized by consumers as a result of extensive and long-term use.
Applications for recognition of a trademark as well-known may be filed by individuals and legal entities. Documents may be submitted in Kazakh or Russian, either in paper form or electronically, through the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Applicants must provide evidence demonstrating the trademark’s notoriety. Such evidence may include data on sales volumes and duration of use, advertising materials, media publications, analytical reports, website traffic statistics, social media activity, search query data, as well as the results of marketing or sociological surveys.
Consumer surveys must be conducted by an independent organization and cover cities of republican significance, the capital, and at least five regional centers. In each location, no fewer than 200 respondents must be surveyed.
Following submission, the application is reviewed within five working days. If the documents meet the formal requirements, information about the application is published in the official bulletin. Interested parties may file objections within three months from the date of publication.
A designated commission then reviews the application and decides whether to recognize the trademark as well-known or to refuse such recognition. The decision is sent to the applicant within ten working days and may be challenged in court.
The order enters into force on 10 February 2026.