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  • General Assembly 2025: Ukrainian delegation opposes inclusion of aggressor state’s language in WIPO Global IP Systems
    16 July 2025 No Comments Олексенко Олексій

    General Assembly 2025: Ukrainian delegation opposes inclusion of aggressor state’s language in WIPO Global IP Systems

     

    At the 66th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), currently taking place in Geneva, the Ukrainian delegation, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO), delivered two principled statements regarding the functioning of global IP systems: the Madrid and Hague Systems.

     

    The statements concerning both issues were delivered on behalf of Ukraine by Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director of UANIPIO.

     

    Madrid System

     

    Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment to the constructive development of the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, expressed gratitude to the WIPO Secretariat for the prepared roadmap, and voiced support for several technically substantiated initiatives. These included further discussion of proposals to amend Article 6 of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement, as well as the proposal by the Republic of Moldova concerning Rule 8(2) of the Regulations.

     

    At the same time, the Ukrainian delegation firmly opposed the proposal to include the russian language in the list of official languages of the Madrid System.

     

    Ukraine sees no justification for the introduction of the russian language into the Madrid System. As reflected in the most recent statistical data, there is limited demand for such a development from actual users of the System”, stated Bogdan Paduchak.

     

    He emphasized that any decisions concerning the language policy of the system must be based on clear, demonstrable user needs rather than political reasons:

     

    Considering the current geopolitical context and the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, we emphasize that proposals lacking technical merit but pursued for political purposes must not be allowed to distort or undermine the integrity of global IP services”.

     

    Therefore, the Ukrainian delegation called on the Secretariat and member states to refrain from advancing any such proposals in the absence of consensus and conclusive evidence.

     

    Hague System

     

    In its statement regarding the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, the Ukrainian delegation supported the modernization of the system, thanked the WIPO Secretariat for the achieved progress, and confirmed its active work toward integration of the WIPO Digital Access Service (WIPO DAS).

     

    At the same time, the delegation reiterated the unacceptability of including the russian language in the Hague System.

     

    We \note with concern the absence of credible evidence supporting the inclusion of the russian language into the Hague System. The continued lack of user demand, as well as the potential administrative and financial burden that would be created by such an addition, are well-documented. Introducing a new language must not negatively affect the efficiency, affordability, or accessibility of the system for current users”, said Bogdan Paduchak.

     

    Ukraine’s core message and support from like-minded countries

     

    Throughout its statements, Ukraine consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining the efficiency, inclusiveness, and transparency of global IP services. All changes to international registration systems must be technically justified, supported by data, and aligned with the actual needs of users.

     

    We remain committed to constructive engagement within WIPO and to supporting efforts that advance IP systems grounded in transparency, efficiency, and respect for international law”, Bogdan Paduchak concluded.

     

    The Central European and Baltic States (CEBS) Group, whose statement was delivered by the Estonian delegation, also stressed that the introduction of new languages into the system should be considered solely as a tool to enhance user access. Taking into account this and the current geopolitical context, the CEBS Group did not support the inclusion of the russian language in either the Madrid or Hague Systems.

     

    Additionally, in their national capacity, the delegations of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia voiced opposition to the inclusion of the russian language in global IP systems.

     

    Ukrainian delegation to the 66th Series of Meetings of the WIPO Assemblies includes:

     

    • Oleksandr Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalization, Head of the Delegation;

     

    • Alina Podolieva, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine;

     

    • Olena Orliuk, Director of UANIPIO;

     

    • Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director of UANIPIO;

     

    • Vladyslav Bilotskyi, Deputy Director of UANIPIO;

     

    • Inna Dmytrenko, Head of the Unit of Cooperation with National and International Institutions in Intellectual Property Sphere, Division of Intellectual Property and Innovations, Ministry of Economy;

     

    • Dmytro Guzii, Chief Specialist of the Unit of Cooperation with National and International Institutions in Intellectual Property Sphere, Division of Intellectual Property and Innovations, Ministry of Economy.

     

    Read also:

     

    Ukraine’s position on WIPO budget and the fair reallocation of resources: statement at the 2025 WIPO General Assembly

     

    Ukraine made a statement on the protection of the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities at the WIPO General Assembly 2025

     

    General Assembly 2025: Ukraine calls on WIPO and its member states to protect the global intellectual property system from russia’s aggressive policy

     

    The Ministry of Economy and WIPO signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the sphere of Intellectual Property

     

    UANIPIO and EPO signed a renewed Memorandum on Reinforced Partnership – outcomes of the Ukrainian delegation’s meeting with EPO management

     

    Олексенко Олексій
    Олексенко Олексій
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