Adapting to Adaptive Behavior: Dealing with the Intellectual Property Laws of the Russian Federation: 1992-2008

Abstract

In most modern-day industrialized nations, the concept and body of intellectual property laws is well into its third century of development and testing. The Russian Federation, however, has been forced to create and implement an entirely new body of intellectual property law since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. In the last 15 years, it has adapted itself from a legal philosophy that denied the existence of personal or corporate intellectual property to one possessing a body of intellectual property laws and philosophies aspiring to fulfill the nation's claim to be a twenty-first century commercial and industrial power. This adaptation is still evolving and foreigners considering a commitment to the Russian economy must keep this in mind. Due to publication constraints, this paper has been extensively edited to reduce its length. Full-length copies may be obtained from the author.