Russia Doubles the Grace Period for Patent Filings After Public Disclosure

Russia Doubles the Grace Period for Patent Filings After Public Disclosure

Russia’s parliament approved a legal change that extends the deadline for filing a patent application after an invention has been publicly disclosed from 6 months to 12 months, including disclosures made at international exhibitions. The measure, adopted in early July 2026, is aimed at giving inventors more time to secure patent protection without losing novelty rights. [2]

The amendment updates the Russian Civil Code and is expected to matter for technology inventors, startups, and research teams that showcase prototypes before filing. It also aligns the patent process more closely with the realities of international technology markets, where public demonstration often precedes formal filing. [2]

Industry observers say the change may reduce the risk that promising technical inventions lose patentability because of early publication or exhibition, while also encouraging more participation in global innovation events. [1][2]