A dedicated item on the agenda of the 66th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was devoted to the presentation of the WIPO Secretariat Report on the assistance and support for Ukraine’s innovation and creativity sector and intellectual property system under conditions of war (document A/66/8).
The discussion was introduced by Daren Tang, WIPO Director General, who informed Member States that on July 7, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and WIPO for 2025-2027 – a document that opens a new stage of practical cooperation in the field of IP, particularly in the areas of digitalization, SMEs development and support for innovation and creativity sectors.
Daren Tang noted that since the previous Assemblies, WIPO’s International Bureau has conducted nearly 40 online and in-person meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO/IP Office), and other relevant stakeholders from Ukraine. In particular, within the framework of the 2025 General Assembly, a meeting was also held with Oleksandr Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization.
The structure and key findings of the report were presented by Habip Asan, Director of WIPO’s Division for Transition and Developed Countries (TDC).
In the photo: Daren Tang and Habip Asan
At the request of Member States, the WIPO International Bureau conducted a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the russian federation’s full-scale aggression on Ukraine’s innovation, creativity and IP sectors. The analysis included surveys, interviews with key stakeholders, desk research and data analysis.
According to the report, russia’s war against Ukraine continues to negatively affect the innovation, creativity sectors, and the IP ecosystem in Ukraine. Most of the consequences, documented in earlier WIPO reports (A/64/8 and A/65/7), not only persist but have deepened, causing even greater damage to the innovation and creativity ecosystem.
Medium- and long-term perspectives remain uncertain, given the evolving security situation and the prospects for peace and recovery.
At the same time, the report highlighted the resilience of Ukraine’s national IP system:
The report also noted the growth of the digital music market since the start of the war, creating new opportunities for Ukrainian musicians.
Under its approved Program of Work and Budget, WIPO continued to ensure adequate financial and human resources for the implementation of technical, legal assistance and educational initiatives aimed at supporting and rebuilding Ukraine’s IP sphere.
The report also lists measures taken by WIPO to ensure that publications in global IP registries comply with the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
The WIPO Secretariat remains committed to continuing its close cooperation with Ukraine to ensure that the ongoing support yields tangible outcomes. Special focus will be paid to mitigating the adverse effects of the war and on rebuilding an innovative and creative ecosystem in Ukraine that benefits all stakeholders and strengthens the country’s economy.
In the photo (left to right): representatives of the Ukrainian delegation: Bogdan Paduchak, Olena Orliuk and Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk
Despite last year’s General Assembly decision requiring the WIPO to uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity, at least three new international trademark registrations under the Madrid System have been published with addresses listed in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, erroneously shown as part of the russian federation. This was emphasized by the Ukrainian delegation in a statement delivered by UANIPIO Director Olena Orliuk.
“These applications – filed even after the adoption of the 2024 General Assembly decision – demonstrate clearly that the current disclaimer-based safeguard is ineffective and does nothing to prevent systematic abuse”, stated Orliuk.
While acknowledging WIPO’s steps taken in response to the 2024 mandate, the Ukrainian delegation stressed that these efforts remain insufficient. WIPO must act decisively and transparently to fully restore the integrity of its systems without further delay.
“This is not merely a technical issue. It is a profound institutional test for the entire international IP community – a test of our collective ability to uphold the principles of international law and our commitments under the UN Charter”, Orliuk added.
The Ukrainian delegation called on the WIPO International Bureau to strengthen technical measures ensuring adherence to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. This should be achieved through technical solutions that prevent the misrepresentation of applicant addresses and block any applications suggesting unlawful appropriation of Ukrainian territory.
“WIPO has the necessary legal basis and institutional responsibility to consistently uphold these principles. Upholding Ukraine’s territorial integrity is not optional – it is a matter of international law and a critical benchmark for WIPO’s credibility as a UN agency responsible for administering global IP systems”, concluded Orliuk.
Despite these concerns, the report represents a significant step that confirms WIPO’s meaningful assistance to Ukraine. The Ukrainian delegation expressed sincere gratitude to Daren Tang, WIPO Director General for his consistent leadership and to Hasan Kleib, WIPO Deputy Director General, Habip Asan, TDC Director, and the entire TDC team for their impactful support.
Special thanks were addressed to all WIPO divisions involved in preparing document A/66/8 and to the Member States for their solidarity and support in adopting decisions in previous years. These collective efforts played a vital role in helping Ukraine defend and sustain its innovation and IP ecosystem under extreme conditions.
“As our delegation stated at the opening of these Assemblies, the extent of the damage and the estimated cost of Ukraine’s recovery are colossal. While this report provides valuable insights into the path to recovery, it only offers a brief overview of the immense suffering and destruction caused by the russian federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine”, emphasized Orliuk.
The Ukrainian delegation detailed the direct consequences of the war for Ukraine’s IP system. Since the start of the full-scale invasion:
Despite the war, Ukraine continues to work on strengthening its IP system. Together with the Ministry of Economy, the draft National Strategy for the Development of the IP Sphere, a roadmap for recovery, has been finalized. It was developed with expert support from WIPO and will soon be subject to public consultations.
UANIPIO is actively expanding the TISC network, now with over 50 centers across the country, including war-affected regions. The Ukrainian IP office is also collaborating with academic institutions on IP policy, launching new initiatives to support inventors, veterans, and the creative sector, including the Lab2Market UA: Veterano and Medtech programs.
For the first time in Ukraine, a pilot regional project for partial reimbursement of IP-related costs for small businesses was implemented in cooperation with the Kyiv regional authorities. Efforts are currently ongoing to expand the initiative.
“Every Ukrainian trademark registered, every patent granted, every creative work protected – is not only an act of economic resilience but an act of defiance in the face of aggression”, Orliuk emphasized.
Ukraine urged WIPO Member States to join these efforts through support for Ukrainian applicants in national jurisdictions and through participation in IP capacity-building projects in Ukraine.
“We call on you to be active supporters in this effort – and to stand with Ukraine on the battlefield of freedom, creativity, and democratic values”, concluded Orliuk.
On behalf of the members of the Central European and Baltic States (CEBS) Group, which includes Ukraine, the Estonian delegation delivered a statement expressing appreciation to WIPO for the updated report and its efforts to support Ukraine’s IP system and stakeholders amid russian military aggression.
The group commended WIPO’s measures in support of Ukraine’s IP infrastructure despite the devastating consequences of the war. The report notes that three years of full-scale war have taken a profound social, humanitarian, and economic toll. While some indicators show positive trends, overall activity still remains lower than in 2021. Of particular concern is a 4.5% decrease in mentions of Ukraine in international TM applications in 2024.
CEBS underscored the long-term effects on Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem from institutional collapse to the loss of human capital due to mass migration. The group called for long-term, tailored WIPO assistance, which is critically needed for recovery and overcoming the war’s consequences.
The group reaffirmed its solidarity with Ukraine and support for continued WIPO assistance in accordance with decision A/65/8 (the 2024 resolution to extend support to Ukraine).
In a statement delivered by the Danish delegation on behalf of the European Union, its Member States, as well as Iceland, Norway, Monaco, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, it was emphasized that the WIPO report clearly outlines the profound negative impact of russia’s war against Ukraine on the country’s IP system, innovation and creative sectors.
EU representatives stressed that the war has caused a humanitarian catastrophe, major loss of life, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and an economic collapse, with the economy now operating at a level less than 70% of its pre-war time. Recovery will take decades and substantial investment.
Nonetheless, the statement highlighted the resilience of Ukrainian innovators and creators who continue their work under extremely difficult conditions, as well as institutions that have preserved their functions and expanded services. Progress was highly appreciated in the agrifood, medtech and ICT sectors, as well as the effective WIPO–EU collaboration in supporting Ukrainian SMEs was also praised.
The EU and like-minded states reaffirmed their solidarity with Ukraine, called for an end to the aggression and thanked WIPO for its practical support. They expressed expectations for an updated assessment of the medium- and long-term impacts of the war in upcoming Assemblies.
A joint statement on WIPO Report A/66/8 was delivered by the United Kingdom on behalf of a group of like-minded countries. The group thanked the WIPO Secretariat for preparing the report, noting that its necessity stems from the russian federation’s aggression against Ukraine. As noted, continued support will be required as long as these unlawful actions persist.
The statement emphasized that russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are causing serious harm to the innovation and IP ecosystem and must be stopped.
The group also recalled the 2024 WIPO General Assembly decision requiring the Secretariat to respect Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders in all publications. It noted that the current disclaimer practice is insufficient, while applications from occupied territories continue, citing specific examples of Madrid System applications listing addresses in the russian federation that are, in fact, within temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
The group urged the WIPO Secretariat to take all necessary steps to effectively implement the 2024 decision, ensure full transparency, inform Member States of its actions and systematically monitor and report such cases within global IP systems.
This statement was supported by: Albania, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Japan, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Additionally, statements of support in national capacities were made by the delegations of Poland, Moldova, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Following the discussion, the WIPO Secretariat expressed its readiness to take all necessary measures to find solutions for effective implementation of last year’s decision, including the continuation of support to Ukraine and ensuring that all WIPO publications and platforms uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
In the photo: Olena Orliuk and Daren Tang
Members of the Ukrainian delegation at the 66th Series of WIPO Assemblies included:
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