EC Circular: MYANMAR IMPOSES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR EXECUTION OF TRADE MARK REGISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE FORMS

The Myanmar Registration Office has recently implemented amendments to the documentary requirements regarding applications for trade mark registration and maintenance. The changes came into effect as of 1 June 2016.

In particular, under the new regulation, in order for an application to be accepted by the Registration Office, any applicable Power of Attorney or Declaration of Ownership / Renewal / Change of Ownership form submitted must be notarised, authenticated and legalised up to the Myanmar Embassy/Consulate in the country where the applicant company is incorporated, or (in the absence of such embassy/consulate) the nearest Myanmar Embassy/Consulate. Previously, this requirement only applied to the Power of Attorney document, whilst the Declaration documents only needed to be simply signed.

Trade mark owners interested in trade mark registration or maintenance in Myanmar should take note of this important update. The Registration Office is enforcing the new regulation strictly, with no grace period or exception made to comply. Unfortunately, this means that prospective applicants who have already executed documentation based on the old requirements will have to wait until they perfect the execution accordingly, before the Registration Office will accept their applications.

We would be happy to address any specific questions regarding this matter which may be directed to .