Patenting of Information Technologies in Russia

Intellectual property (patents)

Main article: Intellectual property (patents)

Chronicle

2024

Rospatent named 10 main IT inventions of recent years

On December 11, 2024, the Federal Intellectual Property Service announced Rospatent a rating of 10 major inventions in the field of and, IT cyber security registered RUSSIAN FEDERATION since 2021. We are talking about means of protecting information systems, next-generation computing platforms, solutions for, etc. smart home

1. Detection of cyber attacks

Specialists of the Krasnodar Higher Military School named after S.M. Shtemenko proposed a way to improve the operation of cyber attack detection systems, while not making it difficult for legal subscribers to access servers. The development allows you to quickly identify unauthorized access and attacks on servers and block them.

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2. Data recovery

Employees of the same university have developed a way to build crypto-code control structures and restore the integrity of structured data arrays. By continuously monitoring the parameters associated with stored information, it is possible to detect and correct errors in the data structure. Thus, you can restore the storage system after the actions of an attacker.

3. Countering Information Attacks

Trust has patented a way to detect information attacks in an electronic environment. The program scans the Internet, highlights words and phrases that characterize the purpose of the information attack, finds the corresponding publications and tracks accounts with which false or negative information is posted. In addition, the system can determine that a number of records are made by a computer bot.

4. Countering interventions

Yandex has proposed a way to protect against third party interference when visiting sites. The development allows you to track operations while browsing the web directly in the browser and block the installation of unwanted applications.

5. Detection of abnormal activity

The Cyberlimf company has developed a method for prompt response to abnormal activity of computer network nodes. During the interception of network packets exchanged by nodes, communication protocols are detected and state clusters of nodes of the computer network are created. The system analyzes said clusters and determines deviations of the state of computer network nodes from each other and responds to changes in network packets based on the degree of their criticality.

6. Data protection

InfoWatch has created a new mechanism for protecting against unauthorized transfer of databases when they are unloaded. The system allows you to control the dissemination of information and protect it from misuse.

7. Smart Home LAN

NeoBIT specialists have developed a way to detect anomalies in the operation of smart home devices at the hardware level, including those related to cyber attacks. The solution allows you to prevent hacker intrusions.

8. Improving the energy efficiency of IoT devices

Employees of the Volga State University of Telecommunications and Informatics have developed energy saving technology in Internet of Things (IoT) devices using autonomous power.

9. Quantum computing

Scientists of the joint venture "Quantum" have created a new way to solve complex computing problems, for example, in the field of quantum cryptography. The technology provides an efficiently tunable interaction between computer qubits and simplifies the procedure for monitoring their states.

10. Improving Quantum Platforms

Specialists of the Foundation for Advanced Research propose to use interferometers (electromagnetic radiation meters) of various types as a photon quantum computer, by supplying a signal to the inputs of which their operating parameters can be adjusted. The developed method simplifies complex calculations that require significant time and hardware resources.^[1]

Rospatent will expand the list of IT solutions for patenting

Federal Intellectual Property Service prepared a bill to expand the list of patentable IT solutions. The amendments Civil Code Russia were announced on November 25, 2024 at a meeting of the Council on Intellectual Property under the Chairman. of the Federation Council

According to Rospatent, the number of applications for patenting only computer technologies has increased by 35% since the beginning of 2024. This is evidence of the industry's growing demand for greater IT rights protection capabilities.

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The head of Rospatent, Yuri Zubov, said that the bill would recognize as patentable solutions that are not technical in nature, but ensure progress in the field of development. These include search, computer processing, and semantic text analysis systems.

RCIS Chairman Andrei Krichevsky stressed that patenting software will give a powerful incentive to the development of the IT industry and will form a new market, allowing companies to more efficiently evaluate intangible assets.

Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko noted the need to form legislation that meets modern challenges, given the growing importance of intangible assets in the economy.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko announced the commissioning of 14 services of the Science and Innovation domain, into which it is planned to integrate the functionality of Rospatent.

The bill provides for the consolidation of a list of IT solutions that will be recognized as inventions, useful models and industrial models. In particular, the graphical user interface can be referred to as the latter.

The initiative received conceptual support from the authorities. The adoption of the amendments will simplify the receipt of legal protection for software products and will stimulate developers to more actively patent and commercialize their decisions.^[2]

Russia allowed to patent IT products

IT products were allowed to be patented in Russia. All necessary changes to the documents regulating the registration of inventions in the field of information technology have already been made. This was announced in Novosibirsk on August 27, 2024 by Georgy Kotlyar, Deputy Director of the Department for Strategic Development and Innovation of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

Now IT solutions can be patented along with other inventions and useful models, which opens up new opportunities for the development of the domestic technology industry.

Georgy Kotlyar noted that the changes were made to the order regulating the registration of inventions and useful models as part of the implementation of the roadmap for the transformation of the business climate in Russia.

Work on the introduction of changes was carried out jointly with Rospatent, Sber, Yandex, Sirius and other organizations. Kotlyar urged companies and developers to actively take advantage of the new opportunity, stressing that this will make it possible to more effectively protect investments in the IT sector and stimulate innovative activities.

The head of Rospatent Yuri Zubov also confirmed that the information technology sector in Russia is developing at a rapid pace. He expressed the hope that domestic IT companies will actively patent their developments in the field of inventions and useful models, which will help strengthen Russia's position in the global technological market.

In addition, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has prepared a new set of events involving amendments to the roadmap for the transformation of the business climate in Russia. The project includes 13 new activities, including nine bills. Kotlyar noted that there is a wide discussion of these initiatives, which were designated by the business as priority.^[3]

Ministry of Economic Development simplified patenting of IT products

In May 2024, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation issued an order that simplified the patenting of IT developments. The department called the innovation a response to business requests.

We now provide certainty on patenting IT solutions. The changes will help Russian developers defend their innovative solutions, "Deputy Minister of Economic Development Maxim Kolesnikov explained to Vedomosti.

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As Vedomosti writes with reference to the document, in Ministry of Economic Development accordance with the new rules for patenting IT solutions, the developer will have to confirm the operability of the technology using real devices to obtain legal protection of the invention. Previously, such patents software were not issued, since there were no patent rules, and IT developments were protected only by copyright, which protected the design and code on paper, but not the principle of operation of the product. Because of this, there were cases of theft of IT developments by competitors, the publication clarifies.

The Ministry of Economic Development stressed that the order was prepared jointly with representatives of Russian business and experts from Rospatent. This document addresses the gap in regulating the registration of inventions and useful models in the field of information technology. In addition, the order clarifies the procedure for checking the compliance of such inventions and useful models with the conditions of patentability, establishes lists of signs that they can be characterized by, the ministry added.

According to the head of Rospatent Yuri Zubov, the new rules for patenting inventions in the IT field are dictated by the need to adjust the existing mechanisms for ensuring the legal protection of the results of intellectual activity in the field of computer technologies, while taking into account the opinions of key players in this area.^[4]

2023

The number of applications for IT patents in Russia for 4 years increased by 70%

In 2023, the number of applications for patents in the field of information technology in Russia increased by 70% compared to 4 years ago. This was announced in August 2024 by the head of Rospatent Yuri Zubov during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The growth of applications demonstrates the active development of the IT industry in the country, despite the departure of foreign companies from the market.

According to Rospatent, in 2023 the number of patent applications from Russian companies increased by a record 37%. An important role in this growth was played by government support measures and new opportunities for the self-employed, who are now allowed to register trademarks for themselves as a personal brand. In 2023, 11 thousand applications for trademark registration were submitted by self-employed.

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Yuri Zubov paid special attention to the high activity of Russian companies and scientific centers in submitting applications for high-tech developments. In 2023, this figure increased by 9%, which indicates the desire of businesses to actively invest in the development of intellectual property in the context of a changed economic situation.

According to the head of Rospatent, the successes in the field of IT patenting are due to both an increase in the number of innovative developments and legislative initiatives aimed at expanding the possibilities for patenting IT solutions. Work is underway to create appropriate legislation, which is expected to be approved within the Federation Council by the end of 2024.

A significant increase in the number of patent applications is also associated with an increase in business investments in intangible assets. In 2023, these investments amounted to almost ₽2 trillion, which is a third more than in 2022. Yuri Zubov emphasized the importance of including intellectual property in the intangible assets of companies, which contributes to their subsequent commercial use.^[5]

The number of software patents in Russia for the year increased by 23.3% to 31.9 thousand programs

In 2023 Rospatent , he registered 31.9 thousand computer programs, which is 23.3% more than a year earlier. This was reported in mid-January 2024 by Online Patent, referring to the statistics of the department.

As Kommersant writes with reference to the materials of Online Patent, the most evidence of registration of rights to software (503) and databases (270) in 2023 was received by the Department of Information Technology and Communications, subordinate to the Committee on Information and Communications of St. Petersburg. In the case of relay software, there are components of the Safe City systems, other city monitoring and document management systems, the newspaper clarifies with reference to the SPARK-Interfax system. Data Base, in addition to the authorities of St. Petersburg, universities were most actively registered: RANEPA, HSE, Sechenov Institute and others.

Rospatent registered 31.9 thousand computer programs

The publication also notes that the registration of rights to software and databases is growing faster than for inventions and industrial designs. Thus, the number of patents issued during 2023 for inventions and utility models remained actually at the level of 2022 - 30.1 thousand against 30.4 thousand. And the number of patents for industrial designs decreased by 5.5%, to 5.2 thousand.

Experts associate the growth of registration of rights with the plans of companies to include products in the registers of Russian software and databases. Registration of rights is not a prerequisite for inclusion in the list, but it facilitates confirmation of the ownership of rights to a specific person, believes Ekaterina Abashina, lawyer of the Central Control Commission of Moscow "DBA and Partners."

According to Anton Yakovlev, an expert Kontur the.Focus service, registration of rights to the software does not guarantee protection against plagiarism, but allows providing copyright holders with evidence in case of a dispute^[6]

In Russia, an increase in patenting of IT developments was recorded

In 2023, Russian IT developers submitted 30,463 applications for registration of intellectual property. This is approximately 14.8% more compared to the result for 2022. Such figures on December 20, 2023 are cited by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent).

According to the Vedomosti newspaper, referring to the Rospatent data, domestic developers are actively occupying the niches that were vacated after the departure of foreign companies from the Russian Federation against the background of the current geopolitical situation. And this stimulates research and development work in the IT field, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the number of patent applications.

IT developers have submitted 30,463 applications for registration of intellectual property

The head of Rospatent, Yuri Zubov, notes that the main trend in patenting in 2023 was the increase in the number of developments in critical technological areas. Among them are named medicine, instrumental diagnostics, oil refining, aircraft, etc. The number of patent applications in the field of domestic software in annual terms has doubled, and in the field of artificial intelligence - by more than 50%.

We saw such figures for the first time in several years. This means that companies are striving to replace the vacated niches in the market, increase their capitalization at the expense of intangible assets and understand that it is the patent that is the entry point to state support measures, says Zubov.

According to estimates, in 2023, 4333 decisions were included in the register of domestic software: this is 16% more than in 2022. At the same time, it became three times more common to exclude products from the register: if in 2022 250 decisions were withdrawn from it, then in 2023 - 792. The bulk of the excluded packages - about 600 - are records of the same type from one company. In other words, individual names have been removed, which have been collected under one registry entry. As of the end of 2023, 19,417 products are listed in the register of domestic software.^[7]

Named Russian leading companies in the number of patents for digital technologies

In June 2023, the Institute for Statistical Research and Knowledge Economics (ISIEZ) of the Higher School of Economics published the results of a study assessing the "manufacturability" of Russian IT companies, digital platforms and ecosystems. The result was a rating of such organizations by the size of the patent portfolio in the field of digital technology. The top 3 includes Yandex (411 patents for inventions, utility models, industrial designs), Kaspersky Lab (408) and Sber (305).

The top was compiled by the size of the patent portfolio in the field of digital technologies, that is, by the number of existing Russian patents in "digital" areas. Nevertheless, they did not get there,,, Ozon Wildberries VK"", Avito"" - Tinkoff many large Russian digital platforms and ecosystems currently do not have valid patents.

The patent analysis showed that the country's digital companies make a significant contribution to the development of digital technologies. However, it is provided, for the most part, by a rather narrow group of "national champions." The top three account for about 76% of "digital" patents for inventions that belong to companies included in the rating, and almost 95% for industrial designs in this area.

It is noted that the approaches of the rating leaders to the formation of a patent portfolio differ significantly. For example, Yandex uses a mixed approach: in the company's portfolio, almost three quarters are patents for inventions and one quarter for industrial designs. Kaspersky Lab protects almost all patented developments as inventions. In the digital portfolio of Sberbank, most (almost 70%) are occupied by patents for industrial designs.

The top 10 with the number of existing patents of the Russian Federation in the range from 67 to 11 includes small or specialized companies InfoTeCS, National Radio Engineering Bureau, ITV, Smart Engines, ElVIS-NeoTech, Vizex, InfoWatch and Supertel^[8]

2022

The number of applications for patents in the field of quantum technologies in Russia decreased for the first time since 2019

In 2022 Russia , 16 applications for inventions in the field of quantum technologies (quantum communications, sensors and computing) were filed against 28 in 2021. The decrease in the number of such requests for patents occurred for the first time since 2019. This is evidenced by the data of the analytical company Dsight and the investment fund "," Rising which were published in mid-June 2023. More. here

The number of applications for registration of chips in Russia soared by 40%

According to the results of the first half of 2022, Rospatent registered 40% more applications for registration of integrated circuit topologies (TIMS, detailed layout of the microcircuit) than in the same period of 2021. The agency disclosed the relevant data in August 2022. Read more here.

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognized for IT developers the right to protect authorship in a collective product

In June 2022 , the Constitutional Court (CC) of Russia recognized for IT developers the right to protect authorship in a collective product. The decision was made based on the situation of the Rostov programmer Anton Mamichev, who defended the copyright for the eLearning Metadata Manager program he created. Read more here.

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