Myanmar Intellectual Property Department begins accepting industrial design applications

28 February 2024

On 1 February 2024, the Myanmar Intellectual Property Department (“IPD”) officially began accepting industrial design applications pursuant to the Industrial Design Law (“IDL”) which entered into force on 31 October 2023. The Ministry of Commerce issued the Industrial Design Rules on 29 September 2023 setting out the procedure and guidelines for the registration of industrial designs. 

The IDL provides that an industrial design can be registered if it is new (that is, not publicly disclosed in Myanmar or abroad) and original. Registration can be done via online filing, in person, or by post and is to be done with the Registrar
of the IPD. Applicants seeking a priority claim can also apply to the IPD. Registration is valid for five years from the application filing date and can be renewed twice for a period of five years each.