KENFOX IP & Law Office > Our Practice  > Laos (Page 5)

How to register a trademark in Laos?

To register a trademark in Laos, you are advised to follow the following steps: (i)  Conducting a pre-filing trademark search: Before applying for trademark registration, it is important to search the trademark database to ensure that your proposed trademark is available and not already in use by another party. (ii) Prepare the trademark application: Your trademark application should include the following information: the name and address of the applicant, a clear representation of the trademark (in words and/or images), a list of the goods and services that the trademark will be used for. (iii) File the trademark application: The trademark application can be...

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What types of trademarks can be registered in Laos?

Marks are categorized into 04 (four) types for examination and registration purpose as per Article 5 of Decision No. 2822/MOST dated 17 December 2019. Type 1: “Trademark”: A trademark is defined as a symbol or a combination of symbols used to distinguish the goods of individuals, legal entities, or organizations from the symbols of others. Symbols may be words, including invented words, signatures, names, figures, shape elements, outlines, photographs, three-dimensional pictures, animated images or packaging of goods, or a combination of colors or symbols; Type 2: “Service Mark”: A Service mark is a symbol or a combination of symbols used to distinguish the...

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Customs recordal for IPR protection in Laos – What you must know?

Download 1. Overview Customs recordal, also known as customs registration or customs watch or customs supervision, is a procedure that allows trademark owners to request customs authorities to monitor imports bearing infringing or counterfeit trademarks to be imported into a country. Customs recordal aims to prevent the entry of counterfeit goods into the market and protect the trademark owner's rights. Customs recordal in Laos can be an effective tool for trademark owners to detect and prevent the importation of trademarked counterfeit goods. However, it is not explicitly provided under the Laos laws on whether infringing goods for export are subject to any penalties...

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Questions on trademark registration and protection in Laos

Download What types of trademarks can be registered in Laos? Marks are categorized into 04 (four) types for examination and registration purpose as per Article 5 of Decision No. 2822/MOST dated 17 December 2019. Type 1: “Trademark”: A trademark is defined as a symbol or a combination of symbols used to distinguish the goods of individuals, legal entities, or organizations from the symbols of others. Symbols may be words, including invented words, signatures, names, figures, shape elements, outlines, photographs, three-dimensional pictures, animated images or packaging of goods, or a combination of colors or symbols; Type 2: “Service Mark”: A Service mark is a symbol...

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Conducting a trademark search in Laos: Why and How?

Before filing a trademark application in Laos, it is advisable to conduct a search based on the trademark database of the Department of Intellectual Property of Laos (DIP) to determine the registrability of a proposed mark. Conducting a pre-filing trademark search is highly recommended for several reasons: Avoid potential trademark infringement: A trademark search conducted before filing a trademark application in Laos might help uncover any existing marks that may be similar to the one you intend to register. This can help you avoid infringing on the trademark rights of others and prevent costly legal disputes down the road. Save time and...

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How can I file a cancellation action against an industrial design in Laos

Download Entitlement: You or any third party has the right to submit a cancellation or elimination request of an industrial design registration within 05 (five) years as of the registration date in the publication in an official gazette for an industrial property registration with DIP. Grounds: Grounds for cancelling validity of industrial designs are provided in Article 45 of Lao IP Law as follows: The term of protection is expired; The design owner fails to renew his design patent and pay the applicable fees and service charges; The design patent is invalidated based on a finding that one or more requirements for...

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Can an industrial design be amended after registered/granted in Laos ?

Download The Lao IP Law only permits the correction of errors related to name, address or the applicant’s name and address according to the template form provided by DIP found in the publication of a patent after it has been granted. Correction requests must be made within 60 days of the date of publication and DIP shall record all changes in the database, document the registration and publish in the official gazette for the registration of industrial property. After the industrial design has been registered, an industrial design owner may submit a request to modify partial information in the documents related to...

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How can I file an opposition to an industrial design application in Laos ?

Download Entitlement: Any third party is statutorily entitled to file a Notice of Opposition to a pending design application in Laos after such design application is published in the official gazette for registration of industrial property in Laos. Deadline: A Notice of Opposition must be filed with DIP within 60 (sixty) days from the publication date on the official gazette for the registration of industrial property. Required documents: The documents shall be completed according to the form template provided by DIP and service charge paid, and the request for opposition to a design application shall comprise the following documents: (i) A Notice of Opposition...

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When and to what extent can applicant amend the industrial design application in Laos ?

Download As provided in Article 42 of the Intellectual Property Law, at any time an application is pending with the Department but before DIP has granted an industrial design thereon, and before the abandonment, final rejection, or other termination of proceedings on the application, the applicant may amend/divide the application, provided that any such amendment/division shall not change the essential appearance of an industrial design, that is, within the disclosure in the initial application. An application may be divided into one or more divisional applications by filing one or more subsequent applications that make reference to the application being divided. The second...

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How is an industrial design application examined in Laos ?

Download An application for a deign patent filed with DIP shall be subject to 2 phases of examination, i.e., formality examination and substantive examination. Formality Examination and Publication  Within sixty (60) days since the date of receiving the application for an industrial design, DIP shall conduct a formality examination of the application regarding the completeness, accuracy and conformity with prescribed requirements. In case that the application is incomplete, incorrect, or not in accordance with the requirements set forth, DIP shall notify the applicant to provide documents or correct the application to meet the requirements within sixty (60) days from the date of notification. In case that the...

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