In this report we provide an overview of the current IP legislations of Myanmar and report the statistics of the IP re-filings, applications and registrations in Myanmar from 2020 to May 2026 to keep our readers updated on the progress of IP protection in Myanmar.

Trademarks

The Trademark Law 2019 (TML2019) came into force in 1^st April 2023.

The Intellectual Property Department (IPD) allowed re-filing of trademarks previously registered under the old law and used trademarks during the soft opening period from 1^st October 2020 under Order No. 63/2020 dated 28^th August 2020.

1^st April 2023, the IPD started to accept the filings of applications for new trademarks, the payment of official filing fees for refiled applications, the filing application (TM-2) for appointment of representative, and has accepted the filing applications at the counters of the IPD under the IPD’s Announcement No.1/2023 date on 1^st April 2023.  The IPD also announced that the Grand Opening Date is 26^th April 2023 and the IPD has granted the Grand Opening Date as the filing date of the refiled trademarks if the applications meet the filing requirements.

Starting from 1^st May 2024, the IPD publishes trademark applications and registrations in the monthly electronic Trademark Journal (published in the website of the IPD).  The IPD issues trademark registration certificates in the form of e-certificate of trademark registration.

From January 2024 to April 2026, the IPD accepted around 14,500 new trademark applications and issued over 15,000 trade registration certificates for trademarks which were re-filed in 2020 and 2021.

Industrial Designs

On 29^th September 2023, the MOC issued the Industrial Design Rules (IDR) under Industrial Design Law 2019 (IDL 2019) effective from 31st October 2023 under the Notification No. 271/2023 of State Administration Council.

The IPD started to accept applications for registration of industrial designs on 1st February 2024 and launched the monthly Industrial Design Journal on 5th September 2024 to publish design applications and registrations. As at the end of April 2026, the IPD has allowed registrations of 265 designs.

Patents

The Patent Law 2019 (PTL) came into force on 31^st May 2024.  The MOC announced the Patent Rules on 4^th June 2024 to set out examination, publication and registration procedures for patent and petty patent (utility model).  The Intellectual Property Agency (IPA) announced the rates of official fees for application, examination, registration and renewal of patents and petty patents on 22^nd Oct 2024.

The IPD started accepting the patent application filing on 31^st October 2024.  On 27^th October 2025, the IPD issued its Announcement No. 26/2025 to set out the substantive examination process where the substantive examination (1) can be based on the evidence and documents as already examined by the relevant Foreign Patent Office (FPO) if the priority of the foreign application is claimed in the Myanmar application, or (2) is carried out by the IPD with cooperation from an FPO if the application is newly filed first time in Myanmar.

On 21^st October 2025, the IPD issued its Announcement No. 22/2025 to prescribe the time period for payment of the annual fees for patent and utility model applications.  Starting from May 2026, the IPD publishes patent applications in the monthly Patent Journal on the 7^th day of each month. The opposition period for each published patent application is 90 days from its publication date.

As at the end of April 2026, the IPD has published 3 invention patents.  No patent has yet been granted.

 Copyrights

The Copyright Law 2019 (CRL) came into force on 31^st October 2023.  The CRL provides protection to copyright works without copyright registration.  Copyright registration is not mandatory.  The MOC announced official forms and rates of official fees for optional (voluntary) registration of copyright works by Myanmar citizens and residents under the MOC Notification No. 73/2023 dated 20^th November 2023.

The IPD started to accept applications for registration of copyrights on 9th February 2024.   The IPD publishes the monthly Copyright Journal every the 15^th day of the month.  As at the end of April 2026, the IPD has published 24 registered copyright works.

Geographical Indication (GI)

The GI is protected under the TML2019.  The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) issued Notification No. 103/2025 re Geographical Indication Rules (GI Rules) and Notification No. 104/2025 re Standard Forms for GI Registration (GI Forms) to set out rules and official forms for registration of GI (application, examination, publication, opposition, registration, use, monitoring, etc.).  There are 15 GI Forms in the Myanmar and English languages.  The IPD is expected to accept the filing of GI applications in the second half of 2026.

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