Artificial intelligence, the "Bolar rule" and the end of patent trolling: the Cabinet of Ministers approved the intellectual property megastrategy until 2030

Despite the war, Ukrainian business is demonstrating miracles of adaptability. After a deep decline in 2022, a powerful recovery was recorded in 2023–2024: inventive activity (applications for inventions and utility models) increased by 42,5%, and the number of trademark applications jumped by 55,4%, reaching 30,798 applications per year. The new strategy should restart the rules of the game, turning patents and copyrights into a tool for billions of dollars in profits.

The dev.ua editorial team delved into the document and selected the 10 loudest and most interesting facts about how the lives of inventors, IT professionals, and Web3 developers will change by 2030 — using the language of numbers and hard indicators.

1. Artificial Intelligence will receive legal frameworks (and exceptions for training)

The strategy directly prescribes the creation of a balance of rights in the field of AI. The main feature is the introduction of European exceptions and limitations for text and data mining for the purposes of machine learning. In addition, in Ukraine, the registration of special kind of rights (sui generis) for non-original objects generated by computer programs will finally be fully operational.

2. A loophole for NFTs and crypto startups: legalization of generative art and code

Although the words «crypto» or «blockchain» are not mentioned in the Strategy, the aforementioned sui generis rights to computer content actually pave the way for the legalization and protection of generative art (the basis for NFT collections) and code automatically generated by smart contracts. In addition, the Cabinet plans to adopt a separate law on the protection of trade secrets (know-how) in accordance with EU Directive 2016/943. This will allow crypto startups to protect their closed protocols and network architecture without disclosing the code to competitors through public patents.

3. Launch of AI-based examination of patents and trademarks

The Ukrainian National Intellectual Property Office (NOIP) plans total digitalization. Applications will be analyzed by artificial intelligence: it will be trained to automatically search for matches in patent information, assess brand similarity, and generate market analytics. The procedure for obtaining TMs and patents will transition to a «user-centric digital» format through a single user account.

4. The end of the era of «patent trolling» of utility models

In Ukraine, blackmailing businesses through the registration of obvious «inventions» as utility models has flourished for years (since they were issued without in-depth verification). Patents for utility models currently make up about 60% of all objects on the balance sheets of universities. The model of their legal protection will be completely rewritten: rights will be issued quickly (especially during martial law), but strict liability of the owner for abuse and the possibility of instant verification of patentability upon request or ex officio will be introduced.

5. A hard blow to the pockets of violators: confiscation of all income

Civil legal protection is being adjusted to the EU Directive 2004/48/EC. Revolutionary methods will be developed for Ukrainian courts: now the infringer of intellectual property rights will be able to recover the full amount of income received as a result of the infringement, as well as lost profits and a lump sum. In addition, the losing party will be forced to pay in full for expensive expert examinations, storage of seized property, and execution of court orders.

6. Total exit from the shadows: brands and software will double their share in GDP

Ukraine plans to make a giant leap in the capitalization of digital and creative businesses. The share of investments in intangible assets (code, TM, patents) should increase from the current 5,94% to 11,58% in 2030 (and to 20,98% by 2040). In addition, the government has set strict KPIs for the share of industries with intensive use of intellectual property in the structure of the economy by 2030:

• Brand-based industries should account for 21,53% of GDP (currently 10,01%) and provide 24,12% of employment (currently 12,12%).

• Invention-intensive industries should grow to 9,53% of GDP (currently 4,13%).

• Creative industries (copyright) should provide 4,59% of GDP (currently 1,95%) and 8,21% of employment (currently 2,27%).

7. Tremendous growth in innovation spending

The state predicts a colossal infusion of money into the innovation sector. Total spending on innovation in Ukraine should increase from UAH 15.1 billion (the figure for 2024) to UAH 63.7 billion in 2030 (the forecast for 2040 is a whopping UAH 144.8 billion). At the same time, the share of spending on scientific research and development (R&D) in GDP should increase from 0,37% to 0,67%, and the share of sold innovative products in the total volume of production of enterprises should soar from a modest 2,1% to 10,5%.

8. Special IP court and online mediation platform

By 2030, the government plans to finally launch the Supreme Court for Intellectual Property. At the same time, in order to relieve the system, they are betting on pre-trial settlement. A full-fledged online platform for mediation will appear with the support of WIPO, and businesses will receive legislative financial incentives (for example, reduced fees or tax breaks) to resolve conflicts out of court. Currently, the technology transfer sector suffers from a lack of capital: in 2024, only UAH 110.96 million was received from licenses and agreements, of which as much as 74,95% had to be spent solely on marketing research.

9. «Bolar Rule» and MilTech Registry: Protection of Medicines and Weapons

In the healthcare sector, a full-fledged «Bolar rule» is being introduced. This will allow Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies to develop and register generics (analogs of innovative drugs) before the original patent expires, which will significantly reduce the cost of medicines for the population. In the defense sector (MilTech), a Unified Information System for Accounting for Military Intellectual Property is being created. It will bring together all R&D and design documentation, which is critically important for protecting Ukrainian technologies when creating joint ventures with Western arms giants.

10. The emergence of «orphan works» and green patents on Fast-Track

To build a creative ecosystem, they will legalize «orphan works» (books, audio, photos whose authors are unknown), creating a separate state Register for them, which will allow museums and archives to legally return them to public circulation. And Ukrainian developers in the field of CleanTech and renewable energy will receive a huge bonus: Ukraine will join the global Patent Prosecution Highway program and the WIPO GREEN platform — applications for «green» inventions will undergo examination in a priority fast-track mode (Fast-Track).