Uzbekistan has adopted legislative amendments aimed at strengthening protection of intellectual property rights while significantly reducing state fees for legal protection of IP objects for businesses.

The reform introduces important changes affecting trademarks, licensing rules and patent-related state duties, with several provisions entering into force from 8 August 2026.

Early termination of trademark protection

 

The amendments to the Law on Trademarks introduce additional grounds for early termination of trademark certificates by court decision upon application of an interested party.

Trademark protection may now be terminated where:

• the legal entity owning the trademark is liquidated; or
• the individual owner dies without legal or testamentary heirs.

The changes are intended to improve the integrity and accuracy of trademark registries.

Licensing no longer qualifies as trademark use

 

The amendments to the Civil Code clarify that granting a trademark license alone does not constitute actual use of a trademark.

This is an important development because Uzbek law permits cancellation of trademark registration where a trademark is not used continuously in Uzbekistan for three years without valid reasons.

As a result, trademark owners will need to demonstrate genuine commercial use of trademarks rather than relying solely on formal licensing arrangements.

Significant reduction of state fees

 

One of the most notable changes is the substantial reduction of state duties payable by legal entities for legal protection of intellectual property objects.

Reduced fees apply to:

• inventions;
• utility models;
• industrial designs;
• plant varieties and breeding achievements;
• software and databases;
• appeals and applications submitted to the Appeals Council under the Ministry of Justice.

The amendments are expected to reduce administrative and financial barriers for businesses seeking IP protection in Uzbekistan.

Broader modernization of IP regulation

 

The law also includes broader technical and procedural amendments aimed at improving the legal protection framework for intellectual property objects and strengthening enforcement mechanisms.

Among other things, the reforms support:

• modernization of IP administration procedures;
• stronger protection of trademark rights;
• improved legal clarity and harmonization of legislation;
• simplification of certain procedural requirements.

Implications

 

The reform is particularly important for:

• technology companies;
• consumer brands and trademark owners;
• software developers;
• manufacturing and industrial businesses;
• foreign investors managing IP portfolios in Uzbekistan.

The amendments signal continued modernization of Uzbekistan’s intellectual property framework and a stronger focus on practical trademark use and accessibility of IP protection mechanisms.

The law entered into force on 7 May 2026, while key amendments relating to intellectual property protection and state duties will become effective from 8 August 2026.