The Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) has officially joined the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs by depositing its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement on 10 July 2026. The Geneva Act will enter into force for EAPO on 10 October 2026.

The accession represents another important expansion of the Hague System and offers designers and businesses a more efficient route for securing industrial design protection throughout the Eurasian region.

Protection Across Eight Eurasian Countries

Once the accession takes effect, applicants filing international design applications through WIPO’s Hague System will be able to designate EAPO and obtain design protection covering all eight EAPO member states through a single designation.

The EAPO currently comprises:

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Russian Federation
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan

This centralized approach simplifies the protection of industrial designs across multiple jurisdictions while reducing administrative formalities.

Hague System Continues Its Global Expansion

With EAPO’s accession:

  • the Hague System expands to 101 countries;
  • EAPO becomes the third regional intergovernmental organization participating in the Hague System;
  • it becomes the 78th Contracting Party to the Geneva Act; and
  • the Hague Union grows to 84 members.

The continued expansion of the Hague System further strengthens its role as the principal international mechanism for obtaining and managing industrial design rights worldwide.

Practical Benefits for Design Owners

From 10 October 2026, businesses and designers will be able to:

  • designate EAPO through a single international Hague application;
  • obtain industrial design protection covering all eight EAPO member states;
  • manage international design portfolios through a centralized WIPO procedure; and
  • reduce the complexity and costs associated with filing separate national applications.

The new filing option is expected to be particularly valuable for companies operating in sectors such as consumer products, automotive, furniture, packaging, electronics, fashion, graphical user interfaces and other design-driven industries.

Additional Guidance to Be Published

WIPO has announced that detailed information regarding EAPO’s domestic legislation, filing requirements and examination procedures will be published in the Hague System Member Profiles before the accession becomes effective.

This guidance will assist applicants in preparing international design applications that designate EAPO.