Despite its exit from the Russian market, South Korean
automaker Hyundai has filed 18 trademark registration applications with
Rospatent, though Russian publication Kommersant notes that this
does not necessarily indicate the company's return to the market.
Among the trademarks are HMC Hyundai, Hyundai Transys, and
trademarks related to the premium sub-brand Genesis. These applications pertain
to vehicles, auto components, and accessories.
According to Russian law, a trademark can be canceled if it
is not used for three years. Margarita Tarasova, a patent attorney at Online
Patent, told Kommersant that trademark registration is a strategic protective
measure.
It helps prevent third parties from copying names and
protects the company’s interests from unauthorized sales by unofficial dealers.
Hyundai halted vehicle production in Russia in March 2022
and sold its Russian industrial assets to Art-Finance at the end of 2023.