On March 23, 2017, the Parliament of the Russian Federation ratified the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.

The Hague Agreement gives design owners the opportunity to obtain protection of their designs in all member-countries through filing a single application with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and further designation of the member countries of their interest. Applicants from any Contracting Party now have the opportunity to designate Russia in an international application while Russian applicants, in their turn, will also be able to benefit from the Hague System within their design protection strategies.

Russia signed the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement in 1999. Having ratified the Act, Russia joined such Contracting Parties as the United States, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), etc.

Said ratification is expected to bring significant financial and economic benefits and encourage trade relations between Russian producers and foreign partners.

The Federal Statute ratifying the Geneva Act will come into force in 180 days after the day of its official publication.