Draft Law of Ukraine

"On Amendment of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising"

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has already registered alternative draft laws N 4184 , N 4184-1, N 4184-3 introduced respectively by People's Deputies Yu.Artemenko, V.Yavorivskiy and L.Myrymskiy.

The draft suggests distributing advertising on Ukrainian territory in Ukrainian, Russian and other languages of national minorities. In case of using foreign language in advertising, it should be dubbed in Ukrainian, Russian or languages of national minorities.

Trademarks for goods and services, logotypes registered according to the established procedure may be provided in the original language. In this case foreign-language trademarks for goods and services, logotypes should be dubbed in Ukrainian letters.

Trademarks for goods and services, logotypes of domestic companies are to be provided in Ukrainian, Russian and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine on Ukrainian territory. Trademarks for goods and services, logotypes of domestic companies may be provided in other languages outside Ukraine.

The draft, if approved, will bring the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" to conformity with the Constitution of Ukraine, according to which Ukraine guarantees free development, use and protection of Russian and other languages of national minorities in Ukraine.

Apart from that, according to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Ukraine should contribute to use of regional or minority languages in oral and written form, in state and private life and/or encourage such use.

At the same time amendments establishing that trademarks for goods and services, logotypes of domestic companies outside Ukraine may be provided in other languages, are not within the competence of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" and are regulated only by normative and legal acts or international agreements approved according to the procedure set forth by the legislation of the country, where foreign subjects of entrepreneurial activity are engaged in advertising activity.