BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has approved amendments to
the law “On Patents,” Trend reports.
The updated legislation envisages simplification of procedures
for filing and registering applications for inventions, utility
models, and industrial designs, as well as their examination. The
duration of the examination process, which currently stands at 12
months, is expected to be significantly reduced.
The amendments also allow foreign applicants to carry out
certain patent-related procedures directly through Azerbaijan’s
national patent office, streamlining access to the system.
In addition, the document establishes a legal framework to
ensure fair remuneration for authors who create inventions, utility
models, or industrial designs under employer assignments. Under the
new rules, inventors will be entitled to at least 50% of the
remaining income generated from a patent after deducting the
employer’s expenses related to obtaining and maintaining it.
The amendments are designed to align Azerbaijan’s industrial
property legislation, covering inventions, utility models,
industrial designs, trademarks, and geographical indications, with
the requirements of the World Trade Organization.
The law is expected to stimulate a marked rise in invention and
patent activity across the country, while significantly
streamlining application procedures and shortening examination
timelines.
It will also substantially increase the royalties paid to
inventors, improving their financial well-being and creating
stronger incentives for innovation, particularly for inventions
with practical industrial applications.
In parallel, Azerbaijan’s standing in international rankings,
including the Global Innovation Index, is projected to improve, as
the reforms further strengthen and modernize the country’s
intellectual property framework.
