In a significant step towards the implementation of Myanmar’s suite of new IP laws enacted in 2019, the Union Government of Myanmar has announced the formation of the Central Committee for Intellectual Property Rights (CCIPR) via Notification No.18/2020 dated March 6, 2020, published in the Myanmar Gazette on May 8, 2020. A subsequent amendment to the composition of the committee was made via Notification No. 21/2020 dated March 18, 2020.
The authority to form the committee was exercised by the government under sections 4(a) of the Industrial Design Law, Trademark Law, Patent Law, and Copyright Law respectively.
The table below summarizes the 30 appointments to the CCIPR:
The CCIPR has the following statutory duties and obligations:
- Setting national policies, strategies, and action plans for intellectual property rights;
- Supervising the implementation of policies, strategies, and action plans for intellectual property rights;
- Providing guidance to foster the system of intellectual property rights for the state’s economic development, foreign investment promotion, and development of small and medium-sized enterprises;
- Fostering training and capacity building of human resources for the development of jobs related to intellectual property rights;
- Coordinating with relevant government departments, organizations, and other stakeholders for the systematic growth of intellectual property rights;
- Fostering communication and cooperation with local and foreign organizations for the development of technology and to seek necessary assistance;
- Other duties related to intellectual property rights assigned periodically by the government.
It is expected that the CCIPR will soon exercise its statutory responsibility to form the Intellectual Property Rights Agency, as part of the Union Government’s mandate to progress the implementation of the new IP laws.
We will continue to monitor the progress of Myanmar’s implementation of its new suite of IP laws, and update you on developments as they occur. For more information on intellectual property in Myanmar, please contact Tilleke & Gibbins’ Yangon office on [email protected].
