Alert: important development in trademark registration and protection in Georgia under the Law on Promotion and Guarantees of Investment Activity

Effective: November 2027

Georgia's Law on Promotion and Guarantees of Investment Activity has been amended to expressly bring intellectual property assets — including registered trademarks — within the scope of statutory investor protections available to qualifying foreign investors. The amendment confirms that IP assets held by a foreign investor in Georgia attract the same stabilisation guarantees and non-expropriation commitments as other categories of protected investment.

This development is material for two categories of foreign company. First, foreign businesses that have registered trademarks with Sakpatenti — Georgia's National Intellectual Property Centre — but have not formally structured their Georgian presence to qualify as a protected investor under the investment law. Second, companies that hold Georgian trademark registrations through a parent or intermediate holding entity outside Georgia, where the qualifying investor status of that entity has not been assessed against the amended statutory criteria. In both cases, the IP asset may not automatically attract the enhanced protection — the investor must affirmatively satisfy the eligibility conditions set out in the Law.

Recommended action:

• Verify whether the legal entity that holds your Georgian trademark registration qualifies as a protected foreign investor under the current text of the Law on Promotion and Guarantees of Investment Activity.
• Where trademark rights are held through an intermediate entity, review whether that structure supports investor-protection eligibility — or whether a straightforward restructuring would improve protection.
• For companies operating across the South Caucasus and CIS-adjacent markets, consider whether your Georgian IP position is consistent with your broader cross-border strategy, including any related registrations in Kazakhstan (/jurisdictions/kazakhstan/ip/) or Uzbekistan (/jurisdictions/uzbekistan/ip/).

For advice on Georgian trademark registration, investor-protection structuring, or related cross-border IP matters, contact the team: info@vetrovpartners.com | WhatsApp / Telegram: +7 (983) 510-38-76

This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Vetrov & Partners is a Russian-qualified law firm. For matters governed by Georgian law, we collaborate with trusted counsel in Georgia, including our Contributing Regional Analyst for Georgian matters. Contact info@vetrovpartners.com for advice on your specific situation.

— Nino Beridze Contributing Regional Analyst — Georgia, Vetrov & Partners vetrovpartners.com/contributions/

About Vetrov & Partners Vetrov & Partners is a Russian boutique law firm established in 2009, recognised by Pravo-300 for eight consecutive years. The firm advises foreign companies on cross-border IP matters across Russia and adjacent jurisdictions. For Georgian law matters, the firm works with Nino Beridze, Contributing Regional Analyst — Georgia, specialising in business relocation, investment structuring, and IP protection under Georgian law. Enquiries: info@vetrovpartners.com | WhatsApp / Telegram: +7 (983) 510-38-76 | t.me/vitvetcom