Military Technologies Made in Ukraine: Who Owns the Future?

War has changed everything. Ukraine has become a military Silicon Valley, where unique technological solutions emerge daily, shaping the course of events. Military units of the Defense Forces and volunteer developers create innovative IT products to enhance combat effectiveness. But there is one major problem.

Most of these products are developed on informal agreements. The military requests assistance, volunteers with resources agree to help, and as a result, a powerful tool is created and quickly gains popularity. This raises crucial questions:

• Who owns the rights to the product?
• Who defines the terms of its use, development, and scaling?

The allocation of intellectual property rights in military technology is not just a legal issue—it’s a matter of national security. We must be prepared for these technologies to form the foundation of Ukraine’s future defense industry. That is why it is essential to define legal ownership and usage frameworks at the development stage to protect both the state’s and developers’ interests.

After the war, countries will be lining up to acquire rights to Ukrainian military technologies. Some are already expressing interest in purchasing certain developments. This further underscores the importance of properly structuring intellectual property rights today, ensuring that in the future, Ukraine can fully leverage the potential of its technologies. These innovations can become not only a strategic asset but also a valuable export, strengthening Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities.

Ukraine possesses unique combat experience that no other army in the world has. This experience drives breakthrough military technologies. Now is the time to establish the right principles of cooperation to ensure these developments contribute to our security and growth.

The time to set the rules of the game is now. At MORIS, we were among the first to take steps in this direction and already have expertise in distributing intellectual property rights for military technologies.

If you are a startup, product company, volunteer, investor, or any other stakeholder – we are ready to help you navigate the legal aspects and protect your interests.