Current challenges in the enforcement of intellectual property rights in Ukraine are gaining particular relevance as the country advances on its path toward European integration and were the focus of a strategic meeting involving representatives of the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO/IP Office), the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, and the Prosecutor`s Training Center of Ukraine.

 

The participants outlined several key challenges:

 

• a limited level of specialized knowledge in the IP field among prosecutors, which complicates the effective investigation of offences in this area;

 

• a low level of awareness among businesses, law enforcement officers, and the judiciary regarding the specifics of the legal regime governing intellectual property assets;

 

• the absence of a systemic mechanism to provide Ukrainian businesses with clear and accessible information on protection instruments for their IP rights.

 

Addressing these challenges is essential not only for strengthening the rights-protection infrastructure in the IP field but also for bringing Ukraine closer to the EU standards. This was emphasized by the Head of the IP Office, Olena Orliuk:

 

“Intellectual property is a key intangible asset that underpins the economic resilience and development of the state. It reinforces the trust of foreign investors and facilitates the growth of Ukrainian business, science, and the creative industries.

 

However, effective IP rights enforcement requires coordinated efforts at the interdepartmental level. The IP Office’s Intellectual Property Rights Infringement Monitoring Center is already playing an important role in the fight against counterfeiting, as it brings together key stakeholders for effective communication. We are building partnerships with law enforcement, customs authorities, businesses, and the civil sector to jointly develop effective tools to address IP violations”.

 

The IP Office was also represented at the meeting by:

 

• Vladyslav Bilotskyi, Deputy Director;

 

• Yurii Romaniuk, Head of the Department of Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement;

 

• Oleksandra Kosenko, Head of the Unit for European Integration Processes Support of the International Cooperation Department.

 

Oleksii Boniuk, Head of Criminal Law Policies and Investments Protection Department, Prosecutor General`s Office, stressed the importance of experience-sharing at both national and international levels, which is the key to an effective response to modern challenges in the field of legal protection of intellectual property.

 

In turn, Olesia Otradnova, Director of the Prosecutor`s Training Center of Ukraine, and her Deputy Andrii Orlean, spoke about the current activities of the institution, including international cooperation and the development of new tools for prosecutor training, expressing a clear interest in involving the IP Office in developing training content related to the protection of IP rights.

 

The outcomes of the trilateral meeting included agreements on the following:

 

• institutional cooperation between the IP Office and the Prosecutor`s Training Center of Ukraine on incorporating IP topics into professional training programs for prosecutors and other interested parties, as well as the joint development and implementation of such programs and training courses;

 

• enhancing information exchange with the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine aimed at improving law enforcement practices in the IP field and the development of proposals for advancing specialized legislation.

 

In addition, the possibility of conducting such initiatives was discussed to enhance inter-institutional cooperation:

 

• information campaigns for businesses on IP rights protection mechanisms;

 

• exchange of analytics, case studies, and practical experience to develop consistent practices for investigating IP-related offences.

 

   

 

Read also:

 

2025 Special 301 Report: The United States recognizes Ukraine’s efforts in the field of intellectual property rights enforcement

 

Ukraine’s Accession to the EU: Implementation of the EU Trade Secrets Legislation – Discussion at UANIPIO