Trademark and patent registration, international protection, franchising agreements, and defence against copying and against someone else registering your name.
How do you protect a name and a development in Uzbekistan?
In Uzbekistan a business name is protected neither by the registration of the legal entity nor by the domain, but by a trademark certificate: legal protection arises on the basis of registration of the mark, and the authorised body in this field is the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The certificate is valid for ten years from the filing date of the application and is renewed for ten years each time. Technical solutions are protected by a patent: an invention for twenty years, an industrial design for ten years, a utility model for five years from the filing date. Copyright in software or design arises by the very fact that the work was created and requires no registration.
These are not abstract risks but the scenarios that break deals and turn decisions of state bodies against you.
Replacing signage, packaging, labels and advertising, sales halted for the rebranding period, and on top of that the claims of the rights holder.
Typical mistake: They assumed the name was protected by company registration, the domain and a social media account. Legal protection of a trademark arises only on the basis of its registration, and priority is determined by the filing date of the application — whoever filed first is right.
No territorial exclusivity, no protection of the investment, no obligations on the franchisor. The money for renovation and equipment has already been spent and is not coming back.
Typical mistake: The agreement was never registered. Article 863 of the Civil Code requires written form and registration by the body that registered the licensor; failure to observe this requirement renders the agreement invalid.
The certificate ceases in whole or in part — precisely for the classes that were «reserved for the future» — and the mark goes to whoever actually uses it.
Typical mistake: They registered a dozen classes in reserve with no intention of using them. A certificate may be terminated early where the mark has not been used continuously for the last three years.
The monopoly is lost exactly when the product becomes profitable: copying can no longer be prohibited and no compensation can be claimed.
Typical mistake: They assumed a patent always lasts twenty years. A utility model patent runs for five years and an industrial design patent for ten, and the count starts from the filing date of the application, not from the start of sales.
The company can neither prohibit reuse nor transfer the rights to an investor — this is the first thing that surfaces in pre-deal due diligence.
Typical mistake: They paid the invoice and assumed the rights had passed. Rights transferred under an author's agreement are deemed non-exclusive unless the agreement expressly provides otherwise.
The application is lost together with its priority, and a refiling may now run into someone else's earlier application.
Typical mistake: They did not use the appeal route: the results of the state examination may be appealed to the Appeals Board of the Ministry of Justice within three months.
A search across registered and applied-for designations, an assessment of the risk of refusal, and a choice of classes that matches the actual business.
The application, support through the formal examination and the examination on the merits, responses to office actions, and obtaining the certificate.
Invention, utility model or industrial design — choosing the object that fits the task and the term of protection, and preparing the application materials.
Going beyond Uzbekistan through the international systems for registering marks and industrial designs.
The comprehensive entrepreneurial licence agreement and its registration — without which the agreement is invalid.
Agreements with staff and contractors drafted so that the exclusive rights genuinely end up with the company.
We check the designation for conflicts and determine what exactly should be protected: a mark, a patent, copyright, or a combination of them.
The application, the list of classes or the claims, and the annexes — arranged so that priority is secured as early as possible.
Formal examination, then examination on the merits; we respond to office actions and clear provisional refusals.
The certificate or patent, licence agreements, monitoring of renewal deadlines, and action against infringers.
Every point comes with a link to the primary source so you can check it yourself.
The authorised state body for the protection of trademarks and appellations of origin of goods in Uzbekistan is the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Law No. 267-II of 30 August 2001).
lex.uz — Law on TrademarksA trademark certificate in Uzbekistan is valid for ten years from the filing date of the application and is renewed, at the request of the owner, for ten years each time.
lex.uz — arts. 21, 22 of Law No. 267-IIThe formal examination of a trademark application is carried out within thirty days of its filing date (art. 14 of Law No. 267-II).
lex.uz — art. 14 of Law No. 267-IIThe results of the state examination of a trademark may be appealed to the Appeals Board of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan within three months (art. 16 of Law No. 267-II).
lex.uz — art. 16 of Law No. 267-IIA trademark certificate may be terminated early, in whole or in part, where the mark has not been used continuously during the last three years of its validity (art. 25 of Law No. 267-II).
lex.uz — art. 25 of Law No. 267-IIIn Uzbekistan a patent for an invention is valid for twenty years, for an industrial design ten years, and for a utility model five years, counted from the filing date of the application (Law No. 397-II of 29 August 2002).
lex.uz — art. 5 of Law No. 397-IINeither registration of the work nor compliance with any other formality is required for copyright to arise and be exercised (art. 10 of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights).
lex.uz — art. 10 of the copyright lawRights transferred under an author's agreement are deemed non-exclusive unless the agreement expressly provides otherwise.
lex.uz — copyright lawA comprehensive entrepreneurial licence (franchising) agreement is concluded in written form and is subject to registration by the body that registered the licensor; failure to observe this requirement renders the agreement invalid (art. 863 of the Civil Code).
lex.uz — art. 863 of the Civil Code (part two)The administrative regulation for the public service of registering comprehensive entrepreneurial licence agreements was approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 346 of 24 June 2022.
lex.uz — CM Resolution No. 346Uzbekistan has been a party to the Madrid Protocol on the international registration of marks since 27 December 2006.
WIPO — notification of accession| Object | Instrument | Term of protection | Is registration required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name, logo | Trademark | 10 years, renewable | Yes — protection arises only from registration |
| Technical solution | Patent for an invention | 20 years from the filing date | Yes |
| Simple device | Patent for a utility model | 5 years from the filing date | Yes |
| Appearance of a product | Patent for an industrial design | 10 years from the filing date | Yes |
| Code, texts, design | Copyright | As set by the copyright law | No — arises from the moment of creation |
The mistake is most often in the choice of instrument: companies patent what copyright already protects, and conversely rely on copyright where a trademark is needed. The instrument is chosen to fit the object, not the budget.
We will go through your situation, tell you what can realistically be done and by when, and name the fee once we understand the scope. Without that, any figure would be made up.
Консультация по задаче — бесплатно. Стоимость работы называем после того, как поймём объём.
There are no testimonials and no case studies here: they cannot be verified. Only what you can confirm yourself.
This material is for reference only and is not legal advice on your specific situation. Rules and tariffs change — check the current wording via the links to the primary sources above. To have your case assessed, send us a request.