The Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs to the Eurasian Patent Convention, adopted on September 9, 2019 in Nur-Sultan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, enters into force on March 17, 2021.

In accordance with the depositary Notification and Article 22 (4) of the Protocol, this international treaty enters into force in respect of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. In respect of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan the Protocol shall enter into force on April 11 and 12, 2021, correspondingly. In respect of any other State, this Protocol shall enter into force three months after such State has deposited its instrument of ratification, or deposit an instrument of accession.

The starting date for accepting applications for the grant of the Eurasian design patents will be determined by the decision of the EAPO Administrative Council meeting scheduled for 14 April 2021. The EAPO normative legal acts related to industrial designs will be adopted at the meeting as well.

Information on the starting date for the EAPO’s acceptance of applications for the grant of Eurasian design patents will be announced on the EAPO web portal.