Adoption of EUIPN common practices in Ukraine: development of examination guidelines and capacity building on trade mark registration and examination

Target Country: Ukraine
IPR area: Trade marks

The European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) brings together MS IP offices and user associations to cooperate and harmonise practices and standards in trade mark and design examination. Through the Convergence Programmes, the EUIPN work to develop and implement common principles based on Court decisions and best administrative practices. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the European IP system is efficient, predictable, and accessible to all stakeholders.

Even within a common regulatory framework, IP offices may apply differing practices at various stages of the trade mark registration lifecycle. Therefore, achieving approximation of examination practices between IP offices has become a key priority for both EU and international IP user associations. 

Following the progress highlighted in the Enlargement Report 2025, the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO) will be presented with the EUIPN Common Practices (CPs) and invited to assess their relevance for inclusion in its own procedures and guidelines. The EUIPO has developed comprehensive guidelines reflecting EU case law and best practice. The objective is to develop and adopt trade mark examination guidelines aligned with those of the EUIPO/EUIPN, ensuring that Ukrainian trade mark practices are harmonised with EU standards. Developing common guidelines for Ukraine, inspired by the EUIPO model, will be a significant step toward aligning the Ukrainian IP system with the EU acquis and facilitating Ukraine’s eventual integration into the European IP framework.