Yuwadee Thean-ngarm, director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ office in Myanmar, was recently interviewed by Managing Intellectual Property, for an article entitled “Myanmar Prepares for New IP Laws,” which examines draft bills on trademark, copyright, patent, and industrial design that are under consideration and will transform the country’s IP when they enter into force.
In the interview, Yuwadee examined some of the challenges to be overcome when the four laws are implemented. “It is expected that Myanmar authorities will need to receive substantial training on enforcement, especially in light of additional subordinate legislation that will be drafted to implement the country’s four new IP laws. Clarification of roles and responsibilities will be an important consideration, particularly as the Myanmar Intellectual Property Office and IP courts will be newly established entities,” she said.
Yuwadee views that the new laws, especially the trademark law, will contribute substantially to economic growth in Myanmar. “The passage of the (trademark) law is likely to boost investment by brand owners in the consumer goods sector, including in food and beverages, and textiles and garments,” according to Yuwadee.
She highlighted the need for trademark owners to be sufficiently prepared. “An impact for trade mark owners is the new trade mark’s law’s first-to-file principle, which means that brand owners should strongly consider assessing their portfolios to determine which marks are the most crucial to their business operations, and prepare to file those trade marks on the first day that the Myanmar Intellectual Property Office accepts applications.”
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