The State Duma of Russia adopted a law amending the Civil Code, according to which Rospatent will be able to issue protecting documents in electronic form and accept applications containing three-dimensional models of the claimed intellectual property rights object.
After the law comes into force, applicants will be able to choose whether to receive a patent or certificate in paper form or only in electronic form. The new rules will apply to patents for invention, utility model and industrial design, as well as to certificates of registration of the integrated circuit topology, computer programs, databases, trademarks and appellations of origin.
In addition, applicants will be able to attach to the application materials three-dimensional models of the claimed intellectual property rights object (inventions, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks) in electronic form.
It is expected that this will reduce the time of examination and improve its quality. 3D models will not be published – as before, only diagrams and drawings will be published.
Characteristics and requirements for the formats of three-dimensional models will be established by the Ministry of Economic Development.