Ukraine is taking effective steps to regulate intellectual property (IP) issues and address IP problems in Ukraine. This was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Oleksiy Lyubchenko during a meeting of the Intellectual Property Council on October 18 in Kyiv.

"The National Economic Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 contains principles for the protection of intellectual property rights. This document was initiated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, comprises long-term and short-term plans for each point and is binding. The initial steps in this direction should be the adoption of a Strategy of Intellectual Property Development. After all, intellectual property can be a fundamental tool in creating an enabling environment for innovation, investment, invention and the development of creative industries. We are grateful to the experts who took part in the development of the Strategy, and we hope for a similar proactive position during its implementation," said Oleksiy Lyubchenko.

The Strategy of Intellectual Property Development was drafted with the participation of international and national experts. This document provides for the disclosure of the powerful potential of the intellectual property sector, inventory of IP objects for further protection and commercialization. The strategy is a list of measures that will be developed and implemented by the Government to stimulate and strengthen the effective creation, development, management and protection of intellectual property at the national level.

"We are aware that the field of intellectual property needs protection and development. Full protection of intellectual property rights and the creation of the necessary tools for its functioning will promote the development of human capital as the greatest value for the Government of Ukraine," Oleksiy Lyubchenko stressed.

The Council’s meeting dealt with the discussion of the use of licensed software by the authorities, as well as ways to withdraw Ukraine from List 301 (Special 301 Report of the Office of the US Trade Representative, which indicates an insufficient level of protection of intellectual property rights in Ukraine). In order to improve the situation with the protection of rights in this area, the Ministry of Economy has elaborated a number of draft laws.

Particular attention was paid to the draft laws developed by the Ministry of Economy in the field of intellectual property protection - "On Copyright and Related Rights" and "On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine for responsibility for copyright and (or) related rights violation". The purpose of adopting these bills is to improve the mechanisms for combating Internet piracy in terms of strengthening legal liability for such crimes.

In addition, the Ministry of Economy has developed a draft Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Strengthen the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights" in order to implement into national law the provisions of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement on general obligations, civil measures, procedures and means of protection of intellectual property rights. It is planned to submit the draft for examination to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine by the end of October, after which it will be submitted to the Government for consideration.