On March 21, 2014, the Crimea was annexed by Russia. Formerly a part of Ukraine, this region now has a dual legal status, particularly as concerns intellectual property rights.
On 22 July 2014, the Ukrainian government met to discuss intellectual property protection in the Crimea. This region was then conferred the legal status of an occupied territory and will remain subject to the Ukrainian regime in intellectual property matters.
On the same date, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law to regulate IP protection in the Crimea. The new law provides for the protection of inventions, utility models, industrial designs, service marks and appellations of origin originally registered in Ukraine by persons who are permanent residents of the Crimea, provided that these rights are revalidated in Russia prior to January 1, 2015. Trademarks rights which are already protected in Russia will be automatically protected in the Crimea. There will be no requirement to register anew.
To ensure a blanket protection of trademarks in the Crimea, it is henceforth imperative to hold a registered trademark in both Ukraine and the Russian Federation.