As previously informed in this blog, Myanmar is set to finally launch a trademark system analog to the rest of the world shortly, with its grand opening expected for April 2021. We pick this matter again to announce that the "soft opening period" started October 1, 2020 until March 31, 2021.
The Myanmar IP Office is now accepting the following types of applications:
· Trademark applications based on Declaration of Use registered with Registrar of Deeds before October 01, 2020;
· Trademark applications for the marks already in use in Myanmar subject to submission of concrete evidence of use (such as class and list of goods/services, tax receipt showing use of the mark, evidence of promotional activities featuring the mark, evidence of actual use of the mark in Myanmar, etc.)
Myanmar is one of the few places in the world where the trademark system has yet to be introduced. Until now, a very particular system was in place whereby the owners declared the possession of the trademark before a government registry and published an announcement in the press to publicize this fact. With Myanmar's entry into international trade after years of isolation, the development of an intellectual property system in harmony to the rest of world was only a matter of time. The plans to normalize the system has been affected by the pandemic but reform is already back in track. As Myanmar transitions to become a globalized economy and manufacturing hub, we recommend to all companies with commercial interests in Asia to ensure that their brands are being properly registered there too. --- Adrian Esquivel Vargas
Esquivel & Martin Santos
Trademark, Patent and IP law firm in Spain
www.emps.es