History
The State System of Intellectual Property Protection of the Republic of Belarus began to form due to the Regulations of the Council of Ministers of 9 April 1992 № 199 “On the formation of the State Patent Office of the Republic of Belarus under the Council of Ministers” and of 7 August 1992 № 490 “On transformation of the Belarusian Republican Copyright Agency to the Department of Copyright and Related Rights under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus”.
On February 5, 1993, the first laws of the Republic of Belarus on the protection of industrial property objects - inventions, industrial designs, and trademarks were passed. On May 16, 1996, the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Copyright and Related Rights” was adopted.
Based on the importance of effective use of intellectual resources, in compliance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 11 January 1997 № 30 the State Patent Office was transformed into the State Patent Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
On September 24, 2001 in compliance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus № 516 “On improvement of national government bodies and other state organizations subordinated to the Government of the Republic of Belarus” the State Patent Committee of the Republic of Belarus was reorganized into the state institution called “The National Center of Intellectual Property”.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 12 February 2004 № 66, and the Council of Ministers Regulation of 31 May 2004 № 641 the protection of rights on intellectual property objects is provided by the National Center of Intellectual Property.
Nowadays the system of protection and management of intellectual property functions in Belarus, which is formed by a multi-level legislation and relevant infrastructure.
Legislation of the Republic of Belarus in the sphere of intellectual property corresponds with international requirements, including the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and enables to protect intellectual property objects of domestic and foreign entities.
The advanced infrastructure including the National Patent Office, the State Patent Foundation, the Institute of Patent Attorneys and Appraisers of intellectual property objects, the regional advisory and methodological points of service for the protection and management of intellectual property at the industry level and in organizations is formed. Legal issues related to intellectual property are considered by the Judicial Board on issues of intellectual property of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus.
