Protecting the appearance of your product
IPPRO assists international businesses with assessing Russian national and Eurasian industrial design routes, preparing application materials and responding to examination issues. The intended result is an appropriately prepared and prosecuted application; a patent is obtained only if the competent office grants protection and the required formalities are completed.
Product shape, ornamentation and other appearance features need to be assessed separately from technical function and brand names. A product may require more than one type of intellectual property protection.
Choosing the territory and route
Start with the countries where the product will be sold, manufactured or exposed to copying. The Eurasian industrial design system has its own participation and procedural rules. Its coverage should not be inferred from the list of Eurasian invention patent states or from EAEU membership.
Application process
- Identify the design and owner. Review the product, designers, development agreements and intended applicant.
- Review disclosure history. Establish earlier applications, online publication, exhibitions and sales dates.
- Plan the filing. Discuss the appropriate route, product versions and scope of the design representations.
- Prepare the images. Check consistency between views, image quality and the requirements of the chosen procedure.
- File and prosecute. Prepare the agreed documents and handle official correspondence within the engagement.
- Manage the outcome. Address grant formalities and later maintenance or further product iterations as separately instructed.
Application documents and materials
- Clear views of the same product version, with a short explanation of its use;
- applicant and designer details and evidence relevant to ownership;
- earlier applications and priority documents, where applicable;
- a description of the differences between versions;
- dates and evidence of disclosure, exhibition or sale;
- target markets and the planned launch date.
Please send representative images first. Mixing views from different versions can create inconsistencies. We confirm the final image and document requirements after reviewing the material.
Limitations, budget and timetable
Prior designs, disclosure, functional features and the quality of the representations can affect the outcome. A foreign registration does not guarantee protection in Russia or under the Eurasian procedure. Do not assume that publication before filing is harmless or that a grace period applies.
Fees depend on the number of designs, image work, translation, filing route and later objections. Professional services and official fees are quoted separately. Neither a fixed grant date nor an enforcement outcome is promised. Obtaining your own design right is distinct from checking infringement risk against other rights.
Responsible team and first enquiry
IPPRO confirms the responsible professionals and any specialist participation after assessing the matter and checking conflicts. U.S., UK, Canadian, Australian and other international clients can begin with the product, target countries, earliest disclosure or filing date, and a representative image. The detailed instructions and handling of confidential material are agreed before substantive work.
Official reference: EAPO industrial design application rules (Russian PDF).