Organisation: ASEAN

While the global trademark community is currently descending on Hong Kong, with Asian attendance clearly up, only a small number of China’s most valuable brands are on the delegate list. However, one practitioner argues that this is a result of the voice domestic legal counsel currently have in their organisations, something which will change over time.

10 May 2014

At present, there are no specific IP laws in Myanmar - but this is about to change. The Trademark Law is now being drafted and reviewed, and is likely to be the first IP law to be established in the country. Trademark owners should immediately seek protection for their marks under the Registration Act; by doing so, they will qualify for trademark protection under the new Trademark Law as soon as it comes into effect.

23 September 2013

OHIM and WIPO used the MARQUES conference in Monte Carlo as a platform to outline plans for future expansion, in terms of both existing offerings and wider remits.

23 September 2013

With the first ASEAN IP Conference in Myanmar held recently, momentum continues to build as the nation moves toward passing its first set of IP laws. The most important piece of advice for brand owners now, say trademark practitioners, is that they should file immediately under the draft law in order to best protect their marks.

19 April 2013

A conference held in Alicante this week, to celebrate 10 years of the Community design, was attended by over 600 counsel, office representatives and students. The future of designs was front and centre, with trademark counsel urged to take on responsibility for ensuring judges are fully equipped to make consistent decisions.

10 April 2013

ASEAN is working to establish an economic community for its 10 nations by 2015, to promote the free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and capital. There are a number of possible IP impacts - for example, to achieve the economic community, ASEAN is seeking to build IP rights enforcement cooperation systems.

02 April 2013

The Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne has successfully recorded the first GI - ‘Champagne’ - in Myanmar under the recordation procedure with the Registry of Deeds and Assurance. The Ministry for Science and Technology of Myanmar has been working on the first comprehensive draft Trademark Law, which includes provisions on the protection of GIs.

12 March 2013

Within the food industry, all eyes are currently turned towards the European Union because, as of December 14 2012, new limitations have been introduced for acceptable health claims on food products. For companies set up within the ASEAN countries, implementation of the regulation will have a significant impact.

08 January 2013

As Coca-Cola becomes available in Myanmar for the first time in 40 years, more international brands are likely to follow suit. There is great potential in this untapped jurisdiction - however, brand owners need to be aware of the challenges of dealing with a country that was, until very recently, under military rule.

25 September 2012