Myanmar Launches First Trademark Registration Gazette and Issues Certificates of Registration
14 Jan 2025
Myanmar
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On December 1, 2024, Myanmar’s Intellectual Property Department (IPD) reached a significant milestone by releasing its first trademark registration Gazette and issuing the initial set of trademark certificates under the 2019 Trademark Law. This development follows the IPD’s soft opening period, which began in 2020, marking the first official notice of trademark registration in the country.
The Gazette, published via the IPD’s online system, includes registered marks submitted during the soft-opening phase. Moving forward, the IPD will release monthly grant and opposition publications. This initiative enhances transparency and accessibility while promoting efficient trademark administration.
With trademark registration now in effect, owners benefit from stronger legal protections. These include the exclusive authority to prevent third parties from using identical or similar marks without authorization, as well as the ability to pursue administrative and enforcement actions. The introduction of Myanmar’s "first-to-file" system further underscores the importance of early registration, granting priority to earlier-filed applications for identical or confusingly similar marks.
Certificates of registration are issued electronically for online filings, while physical certificates are available for paper-based applications. Registered marks have an initial validity of 10 years from the filing date, renewable for successive 10-year periods. Additionally, the IPD provides public access to registered mark data through its official website.
The launch of the Gazette and the issuance of registration certificates represent a significant advancement in Myanmar’s intellectual property framework. These measures reaffirm Myanmar’s commitment to aligning with international standards and strengthening legal protections for trademark owners and other rights holders.
If you have any inquiries about intellectual property matters in Myanmar, please contact us at [email protected].
