Russia has been committed to international IP protection for decades.

Despite its current hostility towards foreign IP, Russia has been part of the global market for decades, beginning its modern-era protection of IP rights following the Soviet Union’s collapse.26 Legislation such as the 1992 Law on Trademarks, Service Marks, and Designations of Origin as well as the Patent Law sought to stabilize the Russian economy after it underwent a turbulent restructuring.27 Moreover, the government authorized the creation of the Russian Agency for Patents and Trademarks (Rospatent), a federal body established to grant and register IP designs and trademarks.28 Rospatent aimed to foster cooperation with its counterparts in other countries.29

In addition to bolstering its IP protections during the early 1990s, the Russian government committed to several international treaty regimes on the matter, including the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.30 After Putin’s rise to power, the Russian government enacted several amendments bolstering IP protections to ensure legal clarity and boost foreigninvestor confidence.31 These amendments were eventually transferred to the Civil Code in 2006.32 This was a critical step in demonstrating Moscow’s intent to obtain membership in the WTO—a feat that was accomplished several years later under the Obama administration as part of the United States’ “reset” in relations with Russia.33 Upon joining the WTO, Russia became bound to the Agreement on TradeRelated Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).34 The TRIPS agreement details member-states’ standards for enforcing IP rights in administrative and civil actions, including detailing the subject matter eligible for protections, the minimum duration of the protections, and the scope of rights.35