On September 3, 2024, the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan, supported by the European Union, hosted a seminar on "Intellectual Property Rights Protection on Marketplaces." With the rapid expansion of online trading platforms, safeguarding intellectual property rights has become a critical priority for businesses and governmental bodies.

Speakers and attendees recognized the rise in counterfeit products on marketplaces, stressing the harmful effects on rights holders and the distortion of fair competition. The seminar aimed to enhance legal awareness among rights holders and promote stronger collaboration between them and online platforms to ensure better protection of intellectual property rights.

Vice Minister of Justice, Botagoz Jakselekova, underscored the significance of this issue in her opening remarks, highlighting key challenges and initiatives in ensuring robust intellectual property protection. She pointed out a notable 49% increase in trademark registrations during the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, signaling growing awareness and enforcement efforts in the digital domain.

Kapellaku Galateia, a Senior Intellectual Property Lawyer representing the European Union, shared insights and best practices from European countries, emphasizing collaborative strategies for effective rights protection.

The seminar highlighted Kazakhstan's commitment to strengthening intellectual property protections in its expanding digital marketplace. Continued collaboration between stakeholders will be key to fostering a fair and competitive environment while safeguarding the rights of businesses and creators.

If you have any inquiries regarding intellectual property matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Angelina TARASOVA, S&O IP Eurasia, Kazakhstan Country Manager