In a dramatic escalation of the rift between Russia and the West, the Russian Federation has issued an edict allowing its citizens to copy and use Western patents without payment or requiring authorization for use. Regulation No. 299, issued on and in effect as of March 6, amends the prior decree on licensing patents to state Russians will pay 0% for patent use to those who reside in what Russia has defined as an “unfriendly nation.”

The Russian Federation has issued a list of 48 “unfriendly nations,” including the United States and Canada, the EU member states, the United Kingdom (including Jersey, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar), Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, North Macedonia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.