About us

NGO “KNOW IP” was registered in Ukraine on 04.08.2025 under EDRPOU code 46034156.

Lack of understanding of national laws, actual registration fees, and rights protection is one of the biggest obstacles facing companies looking to expand into foreign markets. Entrepreneurs consequently frequently fall prey to deception.

Many businesses that expand overseas run a serious risk of making mistakes and falling victim to fraud because they are unaware of local regulations and the actual expense of maintaining intellectual property (IP) rights. Breaking into new markets is never easy. Businesses can quickly lose money and become victims of fraudsters if they lack a clear awareness of the legal complexities and the true expenses of defending their rights.

Our NGO was created to help businesses overcome these risks:

1. Closing the information gap

• A single resource: A knowledge base with up-to-date information on IP legislation across different countries, including deadlines, filing requirements, and typical challenges.
• Real cost transparency: Publication of indicative fees and cost checklists for registration and maintenance of rights in various jurisdictions, helping businesses budget properly and distinguish fair offers from inflated ones.

2. Protection against fraud

• Blacklists and alerts: Warnings about known fraudulent firms posing as patent attorneys or lawyers, using aggressive marketing and offering “urgent registration” at inflated prices.
• Verified professionals: A register of certified specialists and trusted law firms.

3. Practical education for non-specialists

• Step-by-step guides: Practical instructions for trademark registration procedures.
• Workshops and consultations: Events where practitioners explain key aspects of entering specific markets, required documentation, and how to evaluate legal offers.

4. Support network

• Mentorship programs: Opportunities for businesses to receive short free consultations or referrals to trusted experts.
• Business community: A platform where entrepreneurs share experiences of protecting their rights abroad and warn each other about risks.

NGO “KNOW IP” serves as both a “guide” and a “filter” for businesses aiming to protect their intellectual property in international markets but lacking the internal resources for in-depth risk analysis. It provides not only information but also reliable tools and access to real experts, reducing the likelihood of mistakes and fraud.

Legal Status

The organization operates in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, the Civil Code of Ukraine, the Tax Code of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine “On Public Associations,” the Law of Ukraine “On State Registration of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Formations,” the Law of Ukraine “On Volunteer Activity,” and other applicable legislation of Ukraine.

The organization is non-profit, non-governmental, and non-commercial, functioning as a legal entity with the status of a non-entrepreneurial society. Its main purpose is not to generate profit.

Its activities are public in nature, reflected in cooperation with government authorities, local self-government, enterprises, institutions, and organizations of various forms of ownership; in building partnerships with other NGOs, movements, funds, and legal entities in Ukraine and abroad; and in engaging with Ukrainian citizens, foreigners, and stateless persons.

Mission

The organization’s primary mission is to raise awareness, knowledge, and legal literacy on the protection and commercialization of IP rights worldwide; to promote a culture of respect for IP rights; and to protect the interests of socially vulnerable groups, individuals from developing countries, as well as SMEs, startups, and innovators with limited financial resources.

Main Activities

Education

• Planning and conducting IP-related conferences, webinars, trainings, seminars, and lectures, including online ones.
• Creating, publishing, and disseminating reference, methodological, educational, and informational resources via social media, the official website, and other online platforms.
• Maintaining and growing the organization’s website as a resource for IP knowledge, offering news, analysis, materials, and suggestions at no cost.
• Organizing online marathons, flash mobs, awareness campaigns, and other digital events to encourage adherence to intellectual property laws.
• Fostering an IP-related legal culture among the general public, including students, teachers, researchers, and business owners.

Legal and Consulting Support

• Offering guidance and information on IP registration, protection, and use.
• Representing entrepreneurs and socially vulnerable people in IP-related proceedings before governmental agencies, courts, and other institutions.
• Finding and exposing instances of infringement of intellectual property rights.

International Cooperation

• Establishing partnerships and cooperation with international organizations, associations, research institutions, funds, and other entities.
• Studying, adapting, and implementing international best practices in the field of IP.

Research and Analytical Work

• Conducting studies, expert assessments, surveys, and legal analysis on IP protection in Ukraine and abroad.
• Preparing and submitting proposals to government authorities to improve IP legislation.

Financial Support Initiatives

• Attracting grants, sponsorships, donations, and other legal sources of funding to support the NGO’s initiatives.
• Running support programs (including pro bono) for applicants unable to independently defend their IP rights.

Leadership

The head of the organization is Olena Polosmak.

Olena Polosmak is an intellectual property specialist with experience in the field since 2007 and a partner in an international law firm. She has worked both in patent and law firms and as an in-house IP expert in the corporate sector.

She carried out research on trade names, trademarks, and geographical indications while working as a forensic expert at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine’s Research Center for Forensic Expertise on Intellectual Property Issues.

Olena has a wealth of experience offering full-service legal support for registering patents, trademarks, and industrial designs both domestically and internationally; managing intellectual property infringement cases (litigation and pre-trial settlements); helping businesses create IP protection plans; carrying out audits; and organizing IP-related transactions.

She is a member of both Ukrainian and international professional associations and has been recognized among Ukraine’s leading specialists by top international rankings including Legal500, IPStars, and WTR1000.

In 2025, Olena founded NGO “KNOW IP” to promote and advance intellectual property in Ukraine and worldwide. Its main task is to spread IP knowledge among businesses, entrepreneurs, startups, and creative communities. The organization’s goal is to create an environment where innovation is protected and where creators and businesses understand the value of IP rights.

Registration

The organization is included in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions and Organizations based on the decision of the controlling authority of the State Fiscal Service No. 2526504600584 dated 20.08.2025.

Non-profit status code: 0032 – non-governmental organizations (public associations).

Contact Information

Legal address: 03061, Ukraine, Kyiv, 2a Voloshyna Avhustyna St., apt. 12
Email: info@knowip.org