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Modernization of Ukrainian Trademark Law: A New Generation of Protection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2025

Galyna Mykhailiuk
Affiliation:
Scientific-Research Institute of Intellectual Property, National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, 03142, 7-A Dobrokhotov Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, [email protected].
Larry A. DiMatteo
Affiliation:
Warrington College of Business and Levin College of Law, University of Florida, 201 Criser Hall, PO Box 114000, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA, [email protected].

Abstract

This article examines the current state of Ukrainian trademark law to enhance further Ukrainian integration into the European and global intellectual property law systems. Ukraine must be seen as a jurisdiction with a high level of trademark protection, as the momentum has swung in favor of Ukraine's admission to the European Union (EU). It also serves as a case study of a country transitioning from an older, obsolete trademark system to a modern one. The article explores the facets of trademark law, both substantive and procedural, that make up a modern, progressive trademark protection law system. The article uses United States (US) and EU trademark laws as benchmarks to compare the development of Ukraine's law on the subject. It explores recent legislative reforms and existing proposals to enhance trademark protection. Particular attention is paid to the 2020 and 2023 Amendments that recognize trademark dilution as a separate cause of action and provide a more precise delineation of the fair use of a trademark, as well as the modernization of the registration process and actions related to trademark opposition and infringement. Additionally, issues related to the revocation, invalidity, and enforcement of trademarks are analyzed. The article concludes that, when fully implemented, the existing intellectual property reform legislation will improve the efficiency of trademark protection in Ukraine.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by International Association of Law Libraries

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