Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has passed a bill in its third reading aimed at improving the legal protection of intellectual property rights.
The legislation seeks to simplify administrative procedures, expand the rights of individuals and businesses, and improve the legal framework for domestic and foreign investors.
One of the key amendments concerns economic rights to works and software products created by employees in the course of their official duties.
The bill proposes abolishing a provision under which economic rights to employee-created works automatically reverted to the author after 10 years. Instead, the allocation of these rights would be determined by agreement between the parties.
The proposed changes would also expand the options available to those wishing to challenge decisions made by state intellectual property examiners. Applicants who disagree with examination results would be able to appeal not only to the Appeals Board but also directly to the courts.
Another amendment concerns the state fee for maintaining patents on inventions, utility models, industrial designs and plant varieties. The bill would allow the fee to be paid ahead of schedule, simplifying compliance with the relevant obligations for rights holders.
According to the bill’s developers, the amendments are intended to improve intellectual property protection mechanisms, create more predictable conditions for domestic and foreign investors, encourage innovation and enhance the country’s investment appeal.
Following its approval in the third reading, the bill has been submitted to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis for consideration.
