Endowed with natural resources and situated strategically between China and India, Myanmar is widely regarded as the last frontier market with huge potential for growth. Myanmar’s economy is picking up speed and regaining stability despite a challenging global environment. The recent decisions to ease trade restrictions, open the financial sector to greater foreign competition and begin large scale infrastructure projects signal a decisive acceleration in Myanmar’s reform momentum.

Appropriate laws to protect and enforce intellectual property rights assure foreign investors that their intangible assets will receive due protection in the market that they are entering. One of the last remaining countries which have yet to implement IP specific laws is Myanmar. However, with the significant economic reforms in the last few years, Myanmar is on the road to establishing new laws to improve the business environment and to attract investments from around the world.

Myanmar’s patent, design, trade mark and copyright laws were enacted earlier this year and implementation is envisaged to begin in the coming months. However, the transition from Myanmar’s old Registration of Deed of Ownership system to the IP registration system used by the rest of the world poses unique challenges. With the introduction of a first-to-file trade mark registration system as well as a new patent register and copyright regime, companies are strongly advised to apprise themselves of these new laws. Whether you are already active in Myanmar, have plans to enter into the Myanmar market in the foreseeable future or are adopting a wait-and-see approach, it is critical that you plan ahead and take appropriate steps to ensure that your rights in this fast-growing emerging market are not compromised when the new laws come into force.

This seminar will provide a broad overview of the business climate in Myanmar, take attendees through key features of Myanmar’s new intellectual property regime, and discuss some of the issues to look out for. We are honoured to have Dr. Moe Moe Thwe and Dr Seint Thandar Tun from the Intellectual Property Department of Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce, join us to discuss the new laws, and hope many will take this opportunity to better understand the changes which will take place during this significant milestone in Myanmar’s legal development.