New rules for application of inventions and utility models in Ukraine

On October 25, 2024, the new rules for the registration of inventions and utility models in Ukraine officially came into effect. The rules updated the requirements for the writing, submission and examination of invention and utility model patent applications, mainly in the following aspects:

• Entities eligible to file patent applications
• List of documents required to submit your application
• Procedure for submitting documents
• Special requirements for application content, including specific requirements for each industry
• Substantive Examination Procedure
• Special requirements for registering secret inventions and utility models and filing international applications
• Actions that applicants can take regarding patent applications

Specifically include:

• 1. Ukraine has introduced electronic application procedures for certain patent applications
• 2. Important areas where priority review can be applied, such as green energy, transportation technology, nano and biotechnology, and defense sector
• 3. Introduction of a review of the imposition of special economic and other restrictive measures/sanctions on applicants (so-called "sanctions clauses")
• 4. Objection Request Procedure
• 5. Information search based on the claims of the filed application
• 6. Issuance of Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) for active pharmaceutical ingredients of pharmaceutical products, processes for obtaining or using pharmaceutical products, animal protection products or plant protection products.

Overall, the new rules promulgated by Ukraine this time are of positive significance, which means that Ukraine's integration into Europe has taken a big step forward, making it more in line with certain requirements of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.