Intellectual Property lawyers in Yangon (AS)

Intellectual property lawyers in Yangon offer these services:

• Trademark registration and searches
• Patent application preparation and filing
• Industrial design protection
• Copyright registration assistance
• IP enforcement and anti-counterfeiting measures
• IP licensing and franchising agreements
• Mediation in IP disputes
• Legal opinions on IP matters

These services align with Myanmar’s recently implemented IP laws, including the Trademark Law (2023), Industrial Design Law (2023), Copyright Law (2023), and Patent Law (2024).

Myanmar’s Patent Law came into effect on May 31, 2024, with the official acceptance of patent applications beginning on October 31, 2024. For businesses in Yangon, this development means:

Patent protection is now available for inventions that meet patentability requirements. Companies must file applications through registered patent attorneys based in Yangon. The system operates on a first-to-file basis, creating urgency for innovators to secure protection promptly. The Myanmar IP Department, while headquartered in Nay Pyi Taw, processes applications that are typically prepared by legal professionals in Yangon’s commercial district.

Foreign businesses can find trademark attorneys in Yangon through these channels:

1. The intellectual-property.org directory lists verified trademark attorneys practicing in Yangon
2. The Myanmar IP Department maintains a registry of authorized trademark agents
3. Business associations in Yangon, such as EuroCham and AmCham, provide referrals to IP specialists
4. The quote request system on intellectual-property.org allows businesses to submit service inquiries to multiple Yangon-based attorneys simultaneously

Most trademark attorneys in Yangon are located in the downtown business district, particularly in Kyauktada and Pabedan townships, and offer English-language services for international clients.

The Myanmar Department of Intellectual Property is headquartered in Nay Pyi Taw, the administrative capital. However, it works closely with Yangon-based attorneys through a structured system.

Yangon attorneys serve as authorized agents, preparing and filing applications with the Department. The Department maintains an electronic filing system accessible to registered attorneys in Yangon. While official decisions come from Nay Pyi Taw, most client interactions occur through law firms in Yangon. The Department publishes the Trademark Journal regularly, which Yangon attorneys monitor for clients to identify potential conflicts requiring opposition proceedings.

Industries in Yangon that frequently require copyright protection services include:

• Media and publishing companies concentrated in Kyauktada and Botahtaung
• Software development firms in Yangon’s emerging tech hubs
• Advertising agencies clustered in downtown Yangon
• Film and music production studios primarily located in Bahan township
• Educational content creators serving Myanmar’s growing education sector
• Digital content platforms operating from Yangon’s commercial center

Since the Copyright Law implementation in October 2023, these industries increasingly seek legal protection for their creative works through copyright attorneys based in Yangon.

The first-to-file principle for industrial designs in Myanmar, implemented on October 31, 2023, is important for businesses because:

It grants exclusive rights to whoever files the application first, regardless of who created the design. This creates urgency for designers and manufacturers to register promptly before competitors. Unlike copyright protections, which generally rely on the expression of the work, the first-to-file system directly influences who can legally claim the design.