Myanmar 2019 Trademark Law expected to come into force in March 2023

30 January 2023

On 12 January 2023, the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce announced that the Trademark Law issued in 2019 is expected to come into force in March 2023. 

This follows the “soft opening” of the new trademark registration system which began on 1 October 2020. The soft opening is part of a two-phased approach to roll out the Trademark Law and the Intellectual Property Department has been accepting applications for re-registration of trademarks registered under the previous regime. 

The Trademark Law was passed in 2019 and seeks to bring about significant changes to the current process of trademark registration and protection in Myanmar, bringing Myanmar’s trademark regime into greater alignment with international frameworks and standards. Notably, the Trademark Law changes Myanmar’s trademark system from “first-to-use” to “first-to-file”. 

Should the Trademark Law come into force in March 2023, users that were not eligible for registration during the soft opening will be able to file their trademarks.