Client: Fozzy Group

Essence: Obtaining authorization for the use of the “UA” country code within a trademark

Team: Viktoriia Ostapchuk, Viktoriia Tomyk

Result: Successful authorization granted by the Commission and continuation of the trademark registration process

Project overview

Fozzy Group is one of the largest trade and industrial groups in Ukraine, combining companies across retail, manufacturing, and other business sectors.

Within the scope of this project, one of the group’s companies filed a trademark application containing the international country code of Ukraine — “UA”. Under Ukrainian law, the inclusion of such elements in a trademark requires prior authorization from a competent state authority.

This procedure involves an increased level of scrutiny, as it is aimed at preventing consumers from being misled as to the origin of goods or services, as well as protecting public and state interests. In particular, the use of a country name or its code may create an impression of enhanced product quality, official endorsement, or affiliation with the state.

Authorization procedure

Authorization to use the official name of Ukraine or its international country code in a trademark is granted by a specially authorized body — the Commission. During the examination process, the Commission assesses:

  • compliance with public order and generally accepted principles of morality;
  • absence of misleading elements for consumers;
  • the existence of justified grounds for using such designation (e.g., scale of operations, market presence, economic significance, or international activity).
Our work

Within this project, our team:

  • conducted a legal assessment of the applied-for designation;
  • prepared a well-grounded justification for the use of the “UA” country code;
  • compiled and submitted a comprehensive set of supporting documents to the Commission;
  • managed communication with the Commission’s experts throughout the review process.
Business impact

As a result, the Commission granted authorization for the use of the “UA” country code within the trademark. This allowed the client to proceed with the registration process and ultimately obtain trademark protection.

The project enabled the client to incorporate a strategically important branding element while ensuring full compliance with legal requirements and mitigating the risk of refusal.