Turkmenistan Adopts Law on Scientific Intellectual Property

Turkmenistan has adopted a Law on Scientific Intellectual Property that regulates relations arising from the creation and use of scientific intellectual property. The measure aims to protect ownership rights to such assets, the newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan reported Saturday.

The law defines which results of scientific work qualify as intellectual property and sets rules for their use, transfer and protection.

Under the document, scientific intellectual property includes results created or obtained during scientific activities — whether intermediate, final or auxiliary. These results may be recorded in any form and on any medium, either existing or developed in the future.

Owners of scientific intellectual property may include individuals and legal entities in Turkmenistan or abroad.

A developer who creates an object holds the initial ownership right. However, if the work is performed under a contract, assignment or employment agreement, the rights may transfer to the employer or other legal successors. Developers are entitled to compensation, including a share of revenue from the object’s use, and these rights may be inherited.

The protection period for scientific intellectual property is determined in accordance with national legislation. In the event of the owner’s death or an organization’s reorganization, rights transfer to heirs or successors.

Funding for scientific intellectual property is provided through the state budget, off-budget funds, revenues of scientific institutions and other legal sources.

Registration and recordkeeping are carried out by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the State Intellectual Property Service under the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The Cabinet of Ministers oversees state policy in this field.

The law enters into force upon its official publication.