Eurasian Patent Convention and the Eurasian Patent Organization
The Eurasian Patent Convention (EAPC) was signed in Moscow on 9 September 1994 and entered into force on 12 August 1995. The Convention established the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO).
Although EAPO was initially created solely as a regional patent system, it has gradually evolved into a broader intellectual property framework that also includes regional industrial design protection.
Under the EAPC system, applicants may obtain a single regional patent protection effective in multiple member states through one patent application.
Unlike the European patent system, a Eurasian patent has a more centralized character rather than functioning as a traditional “bundle of national patents.” It operates as a single regional patent producing common effect in the designated member states.
Following completion of the filing and examination process, Eurasian patents become effective in all designated member states. However, patent enforcement, infringement actions, and invalidation proceedings are largely governed by national laws and handled before national courts.
Today, the Eurasian Patent System includes 8 member states.
Key Features of the Eurasian Patent System
- Multi-country protection through a single application
- Centralized filing and examination procedure
- Single regional patent system
- Direct effect in member states
- Patent infringement and invalidation proceedings are conducted before national courts
- Russian is used as the official working language
- Applications must generally be processed in Russian, and translations are required for filings made in other languages
Eurasian Patent System Member States — 8 Countries
| # | Code | Country | EAPC Accession Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AM | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 25.12.1995 |
| 2 | AZ | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 25.12.1995 |
| 3 | BY | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 25.12.1995 |
| 4 | KZ | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 25.12.1995 |
| 5 | KG | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 25.12.1995 |
| 6 | RU | 🇷🇺 Russia | 25.12.1995 |
| 7 | TJ | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 25.12.1995 |
| 8 | TM | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 25.12.1995 |
Eurasian Industrial Design System
Under a protocol that entered into force on 1 June 2021, EAPO also provides regional industrial design protection.
Through this system, applicants may:
- Obtain design protection in multiple countries through a single application
- Benefit from a centralized filing and examination process
- Secure regional design protection in designated member states
Note: Unlike the EPC framework, the EAPO system does not provide a regional trademark system. Regional protection is primarily limited to patents and industrial designs.
Notes on the System
- Following grant of a Eurasian patent, annual maintenance fees are calculated separately for the relevant member states.
- However, renewal fee payments are made centrally to EAPO, which distributes the fees among the relevant member states.
- Patent infringement and invalidation proceedings are conducted before the national courts of the respective member states.
- The system is particularly important for applicants seeking multi-country patent protection in Russia, Kazakhstan, and the broader Central Asian region.
- The EAPO framework remains largely patent-focused and does not contain as broad a regional IP mechanism as systems such as the EPC or OAPI.
Sources:
- https://www.eapo.org/en/
- https://www.eapo.org/en/?basic_documents=convention
- https://www.eapo.org/en/?basic_documents=protocol_industrial_designs
Last updated: May 2026