Myanmar Enacts First-ever Patent Protection Law

2019/04/09

 

Myanmar has enacted legislation that specifically addresses the protection of patents in the country for the first time. Enacted on Monday, March 11, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No 7/2019 provides a framework for the protection of inventions related to products and processes. But patent applications are not currently being accepted, because the country doesn't have an IP office yet. Along with an IP office, the country is set to establish IP rights registries and IP-dedicated courts. The patent law will not be enforced until a further notification is issued by Myanmar's President Win Myint. The country's long-awaited trademark and industrial design bills, which were signed into law in late January by Myint, will also have to await a notification. Myanmar's copyright bill is still awaiting further approvals by parliament. It also includes a national security clearance procedure, which requires applicants and inventors residing in Myanmar to obtain written authorisation from the directorate of patents (part of the IP office) before applying for patents outside of Myanmar.

Source: www.worldipreview.com