Uzbekistan Introduces New Regulations for Digital Patent Procedures
Uzbekistan has introduced a number of changes in the field of intellectual property. They affect electronic patent filing, expedited examination, the forms of IP protection documents, monitoring of potential IP infringements and the use of geographical indications.
For companies, the importance of these changes goes beyond the adoption of new regulations. They affect the practical management of intellectual property — from filing patent applications to monitoring the use of trademarks, content and geographical indications.
Transition to Digital Procedures
On 10 June 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan approved six new administrative regulations in the field of intellectual property (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 297 dated 10 June 2026).
The regulations establish procedures for public services relating to:
- patents for inventions;
- patents for utility models;
- patents for industrial designs;
- patents for selection achievements;
- maintenance of patents for intellectual property objects;
- issuance of duplicate IP protection documents.
The Resolution implements Presidential Resolution No. PP-358 dated 27 November 2025.
One of the practical changes is the further transition of patent procedures to electronic channels.
Uzbek residents may submit applications through Public Service Centres, the competent authority’s dedicated information system or the Unified Interactive Public Services Portal. Non-residents may file through the dedicated information system. Subsequent actions relating to an application are also handled through the system.
Patent fees are paid electronically through the unified billing system.
What This Means for Foreign Companies
Where a foreign IP owner files an application in Uzbekistan, it is advisable to determine in advance not only who will act as the local representative, but also who will monitor electronic correspondence, examination requests, response deadlines and payment of official fees.
As communication becomes increasingly digital, a missed electronic notification or deadline can create the same procedural risks that previously arose from missed paper correspondence.
Expedited Examination for Inventions
The new regulations also provide for expedited examination of invention applications under Resolution No. 297 dated 10 June 2026.
At the applicant’s request, state examination may be conducted on an expedited basis within three months from the date on which the application is accepted for examination.
The request may be filed together with the application or within three months after filing. The information search under the expedited procedure is conducted within one month.
For businesses, this may be particularly relevant where obtaining patent protection is connected with a product launch, technology licensing, investor negotiations or another transaction in which the timing of IP protection has commercial significance.
New Forms of Patents and Certificates
On 24 July 2026, the Minister of Justice approved new forms of patents and certificates (Order No. 24-mh dated 24 July 2026, registered with the Ministry of Justice under No. 3909; effective from 27 July 2026).
Forms were approved for 12 categories of IP protection documents:
- inventions;
- utility models;
- industrial designs;
- plant varieties;
- animal breeds;
- trademarks and service marks;
- well-known trademarks;
- appellations of origin;
- geographical indications;
- computer programs;
- databases;
- integrated circuit topographies.
For rights holders, this is primarily an administrative change, but it also demonstrates that the digitalisation of the IP system is being accompanied by an update of the documents used to confirm registered rights.
Previous Filing Rules Repealed
On 19 August 2026, the Ministry of Justice repealed a number of earlier departmental rules (Order of the Minister of Justice No. 30-mh dated 19 August 2026, Reg. No. 3929).
The repealed rules included those relating to applications for selection achievements (Reg. No. 3486), industrial designs (Reg. No. 3490), inventions (Reg. No. 3801) and utility models (Reg. No. 3802).
This is particularly relevant for companies and foreign patent advisers that continue to use older templates or filing instructions.
Before submitting a new application, it is therefore advisable to check the current requirements under the administrative regulations approved by Resolution No. 297 rather than rely on earlier filing templates and instructions.
IP Risk Analysis System
A further change affecting companies already operating in Uzbekistan will take effect on 30 September 2026.
The Ministry of Justice has approved the introduction of an electronic Risk Analysis system for monitoring compliance with intellectual property legislation (Order of the Minister of Justice No. 22-mh dated 26 June 2026, Reg. No. 3864; effective from 30 September 2026).
The system covers potential infringements involving:
- trademarks and service marks;
- geographical indications and appellations of origin;
- company names;
- inventions;
- utility models;
- industrial designs;
- selection achievements;
- copyright and related rights.
The analysis may use administrative data, complaints submitted by individuals and legal entities, information from the media and other external sources — including websites and social media — as well as the results of test purchases.
This means that the public use of intellectual property becomes increasingly relevant. Potentially problematic use of a trademark, content or another IP object may be identified not only following a complaint from a rights holder, but also through the analysis of publicly available information.
How Risk Levels Will Be Determined
Businesses will be divided into three categories according to their risk score:
- high risk — 81 to 100 points;
- medium risk — 61 to 81 points;
- low risk — below 61 points.
Preventive measures and inspections may be conducted in relation to medium- and high-risk entities in accordance with applicable legislation. Businesses classified as low risk are not subject to inspections under this system.
The new mechanism should not, however, be interpreted as an automatic sanctions system.
The regulation expressly provides that the risk level itself does not constitute grounds for enforcement measures against a business. The risk-analysis procedure should not suspend a company’s activities or directly interfere with its ordinary operations, and businesses cannot be required to provide documents or information solely for the purpose of the risk analysis.
The system is therefore primarily a mechanism for identifying and prioritising potential IP infringements rather than automatically imposing liability.
Why Businesses Should Review Their Websites and Public Materials
Because websites and social media are expressly identified as sources of information for risk analysis, companies should review how intellectual property is used publicly.
Particular attention should be paid to:
- the legal basis for using third-party trademarks and logos;
- the use of protected designations on marketplaces and in advertising;
- ownership of photographs, videos, website texts and design elements;
- whether intra-group licences and permissions expressly extend to Uzbekistan.
For trademarks, the regulation specifically addresses unauthorised manufacture, sale and use of goods or designations that are identical or confusingly similar to protected marks.
For international groups, this is also a reason to verify that a global licence actually covers Uzbekistan rather than assuming that it does.
New Rules for Geographical Indications
On 5 September 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the forms and descriptions of warning marks for geographical indications and appellations of origin (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 469 dated 5 September 2026; effective from 7 September 2026).
The approved marks apply to geographical indications and appellations of origin relating to the territory of Uzbekistan. Their use must comply with the approved forms regardless of the size in which they are displayed.
The Ministry of Justice was also instructed to arrange, through the Intellectual Property Protection Portal, real-time publication of information on individuals and legal entities entitled to use the relevant geographical indication or appellation of origin.
For producers of food, beverages, agricultural products and other goods whose origin forms part of their marketing, this has direct practical significance: the right to use the designation must be properly established and the relevant marking must comply with the approved requirements.
What Companies Should Do Now
The 2026 changes go beyond a purely technical reform of patent administration.
Before filing a new application, businesses should review the current filing procedure and documentation requirements. Where timing is commercially important, applicants may consider whether expedited examination of an invention is appropriate.
Companies already operating in Uzbekistan should also review the use of trademarks, content and other IP assets on websites, in advertising, on social media and on marketplaces in light of the new risk-analysis system taking effect on 30 September.
Foreign rights holders should separately verify that their IP ownership, licences and permissions are properly structured for use in Uzbekistan.
Overall, the direction of the reform is clear: IP registration is becoming increasingly digital, while IP compliance monitoring is becoming more systematic and data-driven.
