Trademarks as a type of intellectual property in the field of medicine
The article aims to study trademarks as a type of intellectual property in the field of medicine. It gives a clear definition of a trademark. The author of the article makes an attempt to identify the features of the regulation of issues related to trademarks in the medical field and to define the main aspects of the legal protection of trademarks used in the field of medicine. Such requirements as the use of symbols and novelty are imposed on trademarks in order to provide legal protection by the civil legislation of the Russian Federation. The article describes the features of these requirements. International nonproprietary names are one of the important issues contributing to the legal protection of trademarks in the medical sphere. The article uses the results of the research conducted by Russian and foreign scholars. The author comes to the conclusion that means of individualization, including trademarks, perform not only an individualization function. They also carry out reputational, warranty, informational, advertising and protective functions. A huge number of trademarks have been registered in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct a kind of examination to identify existing exclusive rights, which will ensure the protection of companies and their owners from possible sanctions.