Uzbekistan is taking steps to strengthen the role of intellectual property as a commercial asset, with lawmakers advancing legislation that would allow IP rights to be used as collateral and give patent representatives broader authority in IP-related transactions.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has approved a draft law designed to increase the participation of intellectual property assets in civil and commercial transactions and establish stronger mechanisms for their commercialization.

The proposed legislation introduces amendments to seven laws and four codes, with the use of IP rights as collateral among its key provisions. The framework would establish clearer rules governing the pledging of property rights associated with intellectual property and strengthen the legal basis for their state registration.

The proposed changes could enable owners of inventions, trademarks and other protected intellectual assets to leverage the economic value of their rights when seeking financing. This would give businesses and rights holders an additional option for raising capital beyond conventional forms of collateral.

The draft also seeks to make IP transactions more efficient by expanding the powers of patent representatives. Under the proposed amendments, patent representatives would have greater authority to formalize contracts involving IP rights and assets and to represent parties in matters concerning those rights.

Lawmakers expect the expanded role of patent representatives to help streamline IP-related transactions and reduce administrative procedures involved in registering and formalizing such arrangements.

Together, the measures address two key areas of IP commercialization: establishing a legal framework for using intellectual property rights as collateral and strengthening professional representation in transactions involving those rights.

The information released on the draft law does not specify how pledged IP assets would be valued, which financing products could be secured against them, or what procedures financial institutions would follow when accepting intellectual property as collateral. These details could be important to the practical implementation of the new framework.

The broader objective, however, is to increase the economic use of intellectual property by enabling rights to move more freely within civil and commercial transactions. By recognizing the financial value of IP rights, Uzbekistan is seeking to create additional pathways for businesses to monetize their intangible assets and support innovation-driven activity.

The draft legislation covers property rights associated with intellectual assets, including inventions and trademarks. Following discussion in its second reading, the Legislative Chamber adopted the bill in its third reading. It has since been forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.

The initiative forms part of Uzbekistan's continuing efforts to strengthen its intellectual property infrastructure. In December 2025, authorities announced plans to establish an “Intellectual Property Protection” portal by integrating the Ministry of Justice's existing “Industrial Property Protection” and “IP Protection” information systems.

The latest legislative proposal signals a further shift toward treating intellectual property not only as a legal right requiring protection, but also as an economic asset that can support investment, financing, and commercial growth.