Myanmar

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a country in Southeast Asia. At the northwestern of the Indochinese Peninsula, Myanmar is bordered by Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to its south and southwest.

The population of Myanmar is over 54 million in 2021 with GDP per capita at 1.400,22 USD (estimated in 2020).

The economy of Myanmar was confronted by the effect of a coup d’état in 2021 and the pandemic Covid-19, which brings deep pressure to the propitious development progress which has been built up over the decade. Nevertheless, in the future, Myanmar having experienced many great hardships will raise up strongly and firmly. Therefore, we believe the lion of the Indochinese Peninsula is still a promising investment destination.

Myanmar has become a member of WIPO since 2001. Before the new trademark law was enacted, there was no law of trademark registration except trademark’s definition on Penal Code.

In 2016, a draft of new trademark law was in progress and expected to be passed in 2017. In August of 2017, the trademark bill was reviewed by Draft Law Committee of the Parliament and published for public comment.

In February of 2018, the trademark bill was passed by the National Parliament. In October of 2018, the trademark bill was reviewed by the Lower House’s Bill Committee. And it was pending until 2019.

On January 30, 2019, new trademark law was enacted by the Parliament. The new law was expected to standardize trademark registration procedure and adhere to International standards for Myanmar to participate in International Treaties of Intellectual Property as well as WTO.

The new law proceed in 2 stages of Soft and Grand Opening. The Law was expected to come into force in Myanmar from January 1, 2020. But both stages were delayed due to Covid-19 and Ministry of Commerce needed more time to completed their system.

“Soft opening” and “Grand opening”

On August 28, 2020, the Ministry of Commerce anounced that the Soft opening period under Myanmar’s new trademark law launched on October 1, 2020 with establishment of the Myanmar Department of Intellectual Property (MDIP).