Strengthening IP Protection Across Eurasia: Insights from EAPO President Grigory Ivliev by Alexey Vakhnin

Strengthening IP Protection Across Eurasia: Insights from EAPO President Grigory Ivliev by Alexey Vakhnin, Partner and Managing Director of Vakhnina and Partners, sat down for an interview with Grigory Ivliev, President of the Eurasian Patent Office.

In The Global IP Magazine Issue 25, Alexey Vakhnin, Partner and Managing Director at Vakhnina and Partners, speaks with Dr Grigory Ivliev, President of the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO), about the evolving landscape of intellectual property protection across Eurasia. From rising patent filings and pharmaceutical enforcement to industrial design protection, artificial intelligence, and greater harmonisation between national patent offices, the discussion explores how the EAPO is strengthening regional cooperation and preparing for a more digital and interconnected future.

Eurasian Patenting Continues to Gain Momentum

The Eurasian patent system provides applicants with a streamlined route to securing protection across eight Member States through a single application and patent. Its regional structure reduces the need for multiple national filings, translations, and separate validation procedures, offering businesses a more efficient way to protect inventions across Eurasia.

In 2025, invention applications increased by 12% compared with 2024, with pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, fine organic chemistry, and medical technology among the leading fields. Around 83% of Eurasian patents remain in force, while applicants from China, Russia, and the United States have shown particularly notable growth in activity.

Strengthening Pharmaceutical Patent Protection

One of the EAPO’s major areas of development has been the Eurasian Pharmaceutical Register, which provides structured and verified information on patents protecting pharmacologically active substances with international non-proprietary names.

The Register expanded by 16% in 2025, reflecting growing demand from rights holders and enforcement stakeholders. Its data can support disputes involving patent infringement and help prevent generic products from entering markets while relevant patent rights remain in force.

The EAPO has also introduced specialised tools for identifying patents associated with active pharmaceutical ingredients and developed mechanisms that allow interested organisations to automatically verify Register data, including for public procurement purposes.

IP Disputes and the Growing Value of Patent Rights

As intellectual property becomes increasingly commercially significant, patent disputes across Eurasia are also receiving greater attention. Since 2023, EAPO representatives have participated as third parties in litigation concerning the validity of Eurasian patents.

Pharmaceutical and organic chemistry inventions account for more than half of the disputes considered across Member States. Between 2023 and 2025, disputes involved 35 Eurasian pharmaceutical patents across Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, highlighting the growing importance of robust patent enforcement mechanisms within the region. Expanding Industrial Design Protection

The Eurasian industrial design system continues to broaden its geographic and procedural scope. Since the beginning of 2025, protection has been extended to Turkmenistan, creating further opportunities for businesses seeking regional design rights.

Applicants can include up to 100 designs within a single application where they fall within the same international classification. Looking forward, the EAPO is also preparing for greater integration with the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, with the Eurasian Patent Office expected to begin accepting international registrations in 2026. Building the Digital Patent Office of the Future

Digitalisation is central to the EAPO’s future strategy. The Office is developing an integrated information system designed around user requirements, legislative developments, and emerging technologies.

Artificial intelligence tools are already being tested for patent classification, similarity searches, machine translation, examiner workload distribution, and user support. These technologies are intended to improve efficiency while maintaining the quality and reliability of patent examination.

Alongside technological development, the EAPO continues to invest in human capital through fellowship programmes, examiner collaboration, and knowledge-sharing between the Eurasian Office and national IP authorities.

Greater Harmonisation Across Eurasia

The Eurasian Patent Network is also helping build a more consistent patent examination and information environment across participating jurisdictions. Cooperation initiatives include shared patent searches, patentability reports, the EA-PPH framework, and greater information exchange between national offices.

For applicants, greater harmonisation can improve legal certainty, reduce duplicated work, and lower costs when seeking protection across several countries. Looking further ahead, the EAPO is also considering expanding the regional framework to new forms of IP protection, including Eurasian trademarks and utility models.

Conclusion

The Eurasian patent system is continuing to evolve through stronger enforcement tools, digitalisation, expanded design protection, and closer cooperation between Member States. These developments are helping strengthen legal certainty while making regional protection more accessible and efficient for applicants.

Read the full article in The Global IP Magazine Issue 25,  essential reading for IP professionals, businesses, and innovators seeking insight into the future of patent protection and regional cooperation across Eurasia.

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