On 10 March 2023, the State Administration Council issued Notification No. 82/2023, declaring 1 April 2023, as the effective date for the much-anticipated Trademark Law. Enacted in 2019, this law is set to bring a new era of trademark protection to the country, providing trademark owners with a well-structured registration process in line with international standards.
Despite the announcement, the authorities have not yet determined the cut-off date for the Soft Opening, nor have they fixed the Grand Opening date for the new registration system. During a seminar organized by the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) in Yangon on 8 and 9 March for trademark representatives, further steps were discussed, although no specific dates were set. These include the plan to release the Rules and Regulations governing the procedures under the new system, as well as upcoming phases, such as the payment of the official filing fee, the appointment of a representative, and eventually, the Grand Opening. It remains largely speculative when all these events will take place.
The official fee structure has yet to be formally announced, and the Appointment of Representative form, known as “TM-2,” is still under revision by the IPD. Some developments may be expected before the mid-April Myanmar New Year holidays. Read more