Who it is for
Owners whose goods are sold in Russia by partners, distributors and marketplace sellers.
What you get
An agreement that fits your sales model and a registered grant of the right to use the mark.
Cost and timing
CNY 1,500 for the work plus a CNY 1,200 official fee. Rospatent review takes up to 68 business days.
When you need a trademark license
- Sales through a Russian distributor or importer. The partner uses the mark lawfully and you keep control of the terms.
- Marketplaces. Platforms ask for the trademark certificate or a document showing the seller may use the brand, for example a license agreement. From March 1, 2027, a licensee can confirm its right in the listing with the state registration number of the agreement (details).
- Production under license in Russia.
- Protection against early termination for non-use. Use of the mark by a licensee counts as use (Russian Civil Code, Art. 1486(2)).
Registration is mandatory
Without state registration the grant of the right to use the mark is treated as not having taken place (Art. 1232(6)). An unregistered license protects neither you nor the licensee.
How the license is arranged
- We discuss your sales model
The type of license, its term, the goods and the territory.
- I draft the license agreement
With a translation where needed. The parties sign it.
- I prepare the application and pay the fee
I pay the fee on your behalf.
- I file with Rospatent
I track the review, answer queries and tell you when the license is registered.
What to agree on in the license agreement
| Clause | If the agreement is silent |
|---|---|
| Type of license: simple (non-exclusive) or exclusive | The license is treated as simple (Russian Civil Code, Art. 1236(2)) |
| Goods and services covered | Must be listed in the agreement: all or some of the goods in the certificate (Art. 1489(1)) |
| Territory | All of Russia (Art. 1235(3)) |
| Term | 5 years (Art. 1235(4)) |
| Remuneration in a paid agreement | The agreement is treated as not concluded (Art. 1235(5)) |
| Quality of goods and the right to control it | The licensee must meet your quality requirements and you may check compliance (Art. 1489(2)) |
| Sublicenses | Only with the licensor's written consent (Art. 1238) |
How much a trademark license costs
| Official fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration of a license grant: 1 trademark | CNY 1,200 |
| Each further mark in the same agreement | +CNY 1,050 |
| Registration of termination of a license agreement | CNY 300 |
Regulation on Patent and Other Fees (Government Decree No. 941 of December 10, 2008, as amended on September 23, 2025). License payments between the parties are not included.
Rospatent's official fees are set in rubles. They are converted to yuan here at the Bank of Russia's official rate of October 11, 2026 (RUB 12.67 per CNY 1) and rounded; the exact amount is stated in the invoice.
Questions about trademark licenses
Can I grant a license while the mark is still at the application stage?
No. A license grants the right to use the mark, and the exclusive right it is based on arises only when the mark is registered. Before that you can sign an agreement on a future license, but it can be registered only after the mark is registered.
How does an exclusive license differ from a simple one?
Under an exclusive license you may not grant the same license to others in the same territory; under a simple one you may (Russian Civil Code, Art. 1236). Whether you can still use the mark yourself under an exclusive license is set by the agreement.
Must amendments and termination of a license be registered?
Yes. Changes to the terms and early termination of a registered agreement are also registered at Rospatent. I can handle that too.
How do I pay from China?
Against an invoice in Chinese yuan (CNY) by international transfer. The service contract is in Russian or English, and I pay the Rospatent fee on your behalf.