On March 30, 2026, the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) made a positive decision on the state registration of the combined trademark "GIRVAS CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM" (application No. 2025730909). The rights holder is the head of the company "Karelian Developer", Andrei Ruslanovich Shestakov, an entrepreneur from Petrozavodsk and a native of the village of Nadvoitsy in the Republic of Karelia.
This decision was the next step in the systematic work on the legal protection of the company"s intellectual property. Earlier, on March 17, 2026, Rospatent had already made a positive decision on the registration of the combined trademark "Karelian Developer" (application No. 2025710082) for services of Class 42. Thus, positive decisions have currently been obtained for both key areas of activity: the developer"s corporate brand and the name of the flagship software product — CMS "GIRVAS".
It is important to note: the decisions have currently entered into force, but the trademark registration certificates will be issued after payment of the corresponding fees. Nevertheless, the positive decision of the examination is the determining stage of the proceedings, confirming the compliance of the designations with legislative requirements.
Legal aspects of the registration of the trademark "GIRVAS"
The examination by Rospatent, conducted with respect to application No. 2025730909, established that the verbal element "CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM" is a commonly used term in the applicant"s field of activity (CMS — content management system for websites). In accordance with Article 1483, paragraph 1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, this element does not possess distinctiveness as it directly indicates the type, properties, and purpose of the goods (software of Class 09).
The applicant agreed with this conclusion of the examination, as a result of which the said descriptive element has been excluded from legal protection. However, protection is granted to the combined designation as a whole due to the original, non-common name "GIRVAS". It is this unique name that has become the core of the trademark"s legal protection.
Symbolism and origin of the name "GIRVAS"
The choice of the name for the content management system is not accidental. Girvas is a paleovolcano in the Kondopoga District of the Republic of Karelia, one of the oldest in the region. The age of the geological natural monument is about 2 billion years.
The name symbolizes strength, reliability, and a long-term foundation — those qualities that are built into the architecture of the content management system. The connection to a unique geographical feature of Karelia also emphasizes the regional identity of the development and its link to the founder"s homeland.
State recognition of the product
On November 27, 2024, the software "GIRVAS" was included in the Russian Software Registry of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation. Registry entry No. 25012 confirms that the product was developed in Russia, meets the established requirements for domestic software, and can be used in government and corporate projects within the framework of the import substitution policy.
In the official registry entry, the address of the website page containing the description of functional characteristics and information necessary for installation and operation is indicated as cms-girvas.ru. The same resource uses the applied designation, which further confirms the actual use of the brand in civil circulation.
Significance of the positive Rospatent decision for product development
Obtaining the positive decision on the registration of the trademark "GIRVAS" has strategic importance for the further development of the project:
- A legal basis is created for the commercialization of the product. The presence of a registered trademark allows the identification of the software manufacturer, protection against unfair competition, and building brand recognition in the market.
- Trademark registration is an important element for participation in government and corporate tenders. Many procurements in the field of information technology require participants to have rights to trademarks or, at a minimum, confirmation of the legal purity of the designations used.
- The decision creates the prerequisites for the formation of an ecosystem around the product: the development of a partner network, the creation of official documentation, the conduct of certifications and other procedures requiring a legally protected name.
- The symbolic connection to the Karelian paleovolcano Girvas strengthens the regional identity of the brand, which is an important intangible asset for a company positioning itself as a "Karelian Developer".
Relationship with the registration of the "Karelian Developer" brand
The positive decision regarding the CMS "GIRVAS" trademark organically complements the corresponding decision taken by Rospatent on March 17, 2026, on application No. 2025710082 for the registration of the combined designation "KARELIAN DEVELOPER".
Within the framework of that examination, the word combination "KARELIAN DEVELOPER" was also recognized as an unprotected element based on Article 1483, paragraph 1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, as it indicates the location of the source of services and the type of activity. However, legal protection was granted to the combined mark as a whole due to the original graphics (stylized element in the letter "A", white/red color scheme) and acquired distinctiveness, confirmed by evidence of actual use.
Practical steps after the decisions
Currently, the company is preparing the necessary payment documents for the payment of fees for the registration of trademarks and the issuance of certificates. In accordance with Article 1503, paragraph 1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, the registration of a trademark is carried out subject to the payment of the fee.
The applicant must pay the fees in the established amount within two months from the date of sending the decisions. In case of missing the two-month period, an additional monthly period is granted with payment of a fee increased by 100 percent. After payment of the fees, the trademark information will be entered into the State Register of Trademarks and Service Marks of the Russian Federation, and the rights holder will be issued certificates (by default in electronic form or on paper upon separate request).
Prospects for the development of CMS "GIRVAS"
Inclusion in the domestic software registry and obtaining the positive decision on trademark registration create the conditions for further development of the system. The company"s plans include expanding functionality with e-commerce modules, integrating with external services via API, and developing a developer community around the product.
The "GIRVAS" system is positioned as an affordable alternative to foreign content management systems (CMS), which is particularly relevant in the context of the state policy of import substitution and ensuring technological independence. The free distribution model and open source code make the product attractive for government institutions, socially oriented non-profit organizations, and small and medium-sized businesses.
Conclusion
The positive decision of Rospatent on the registration of the trademark "GIRVAS CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM" is an important legal and strategic event for the company "Karelian Developer". Together with the corresponding decision on the corporate brand, made on March 17, 2026, this completes the initial stage of forming the legal protection of the company"s intellectual property.
Now it remains to pay the fees and obtain the registration certificates, after which the brands will be officially entered into the state register. This will allow the company to more confidently develop both its own product — CMS "GIRVAS" — and software development services under the "Karelian Developer" brand.
The systematic work on the legal protection of intellectual property, combined with the actual development and implementation of the product, confirmed by inclusion in the Digital Ministry"s registry, forms a solid foundation for the long-term development of the company in the Russian IT sector.
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