Protection against unfair competition

Unfair competition is not only outright copying of a brand. The law also covers the spreading of misleading information and the improper collection of trade secrets.

When to get in touch

• a competitor is using a sign, name or get-up similar to yours
• false information about your company or product is being spread
• a former employee has passed trade secrets to a competitor
• claims of unfair competition have been made against your company

What the lawyer does

• classifies the competitor’s conduct against the specific statutory head
• builds the evidence: preserving the material, comparing the signs, quantifying the loss
• prepares the application for protection of rights and follows it through
• represents the client during the proceedings
• deals with the seizure of goods and with retraction of the information
• defends the company where the claims are made against it

Legal basis

These relations are governed by the Law of Ukraine “On Protection against Unfair Competition”: unfair competition is any act in competition that is contrary to trade and other honest practices in business (Article 1); improper use of designations is dealt with in Article 4; gaining an improper competitive advantage in Article 15; and the improper collection and disclosure of trade secrets in Articles 16 and 17. The types of liability are set out in Article 20 and fines in Article 21; the seizure of goods bearing an improperly used designation in Article 25; and retraction of false information in Article 26. The period for applying for protection of rights is six months (Article 28).

Legislation and case law are updated over time; this page reflects the position as of August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is a registered trademark needed for protection?

Not necessarily: the law also protects against improper use of signs used earlier — but a registered mark makes proof considerably easier. We handle trademark registration and disputes separately.

What are the consequences for the infringer?

The law provides, among other things, for fines (Article 21), the seizure of goods bearing an improperly used designation (Article 25) and retraction of the information (Article 26).

Need legal assistance? Call us or leave a request — a lawyer will contact you and explain what to do in your situation.