Client
The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, established in 2005, is Ukraine’s largest private charitable foundation. The Foundation implements large-scale humanitarian, medical, and social assistance programs, particularly for war victims, orphans, medical institutions, and internally displaced persons.
Legal Support Area
International registration of the word and figurative (soundwave-shaped) trademark CIVILIAN VOICES.
Project Summary
In February 2023, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation sought our assistance in protecting the branding and visual identity of its humanitarian initiative Civilian Voices in Ukraine and abroad. The project documents civilian war survivor testimonies, provides psychological support, conducts international advocacy, and implements cultural and educational programs. The client needed to secure legal protection for the project’s name and core emblem in key jurisdictions—the European Union, United States, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.
Client’s Goal
To secure international legal protection for both the word and figurative trademark CIVILIAN VOICES, safeguarding the humanitarian initiative’s brand identity, reputation, and recognition worldwide – particularly in the United States, where the project maintains active communication and advocacy efforts.
Project Complexity
The registration process encompassed both word and figurative marks. We needed to carefully tailor the list of goods and services to meet USPTO’s strict standards for precise and standardized wording. Additionally, positioning the marks within the humanitarian context required strategic consideration to prevent potential objections regarding descriptiveness or lack of distinctiveness.
Polikarpov Law Firm’s Actions
We crafted a comprehensive international trademark protection strategy for the Civilian Voices project. Our team analyzed legal requirements and adapted the goods and services list to align with USPTO standards while preserving the project’s humanitarian essence. We prepared and submitted trademark applications for both word and figurative CIVILIAN VOICES marks in the United States. We coordinated with U.S. patent attorneys and delivered a compelling response to the USPTO Office Action. Our firm provided thorough legal support throughout the registration process until the successful issuance of trademark certificates.
Lawyers
Anton Polikarpov: Managing Partner, led strategic development and client interaction.
Anastasiia Shevchuk: Senior Associate, developed jurisdiction-specific lists of goods and services and managed U.S. patent attorney communications.
Result
In December 2024, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation secured registration certificates for both word and figurative CIVILIAN VOICES trademarks in the United States. This achievement protected the project’s identity in a key global jurisdiction and enhanced its position in the international humanitarian community.
