Russia has stopped protecting the famous Western brands BP and partially Snickers.

Thus, in January, Rospatent registered the termination of the British BP’s rights to its BP brand in Russia. The rights expired in mid-2024, but their official termination was recorded in January 2025. In 2023, BP also terminated the sublicensing agreement with Rosneft for the use of the brand. The trademark was protected in Russia for 30 years.

In addition, the American Mars did not renew the rights to the Snickers brand in two classes of the International Classification of Standards (the rights were protected for 20 years). As the Russian division of the American Mars (copyright holder) explained to RB.RU, Rospatent’s message refers to two ICGS 05 and 29 related to medical nutrition and products made from milk, nuts and eggs. This ICGS data does not apply to confectionery products produced under the Snickers brand, the company clarified, without naming the types of products to which the rescinded rights applied.

“The legal owner of the rights to the Snickers brand is the global office of Mars. The Snickers brand is registered in the Russian Federation. According to the information available to the Russian office of Mars, no measures are planned to cancel the registration,” the company informed RB.RU.

In addition, the Dutch Unilever, which sold the business to the Arnest group in 2024, did not renew the rights to the Sunsilk shampoo brand.

The companies left the Russian Federation or announced plans to do so after the start of the military operation.

Traditionally, foreign entities try to maintain their rights to trademarks in the Russian Federation. Experts explained this with plans to return to the country. For example, Coca-Cola, Apple, Nestlé, LVMH and others extended the validity of trademarks for 10 years.