Applications
can be filed for registration of trademarks, service marks, collective marks
and figurative marks. Multi-class applications are not accepted in Laos.
Foreign
individuals or entities can file trademark applications in Laos if they have legal presence in Laos, for example representative offices.
Otherwise, applications must be filed through Lao trademark agents.
In
compliance with the "first-to-file" principle, Laos grants certificate of trademark
registration to the person/entity who first files the application in the
country. Upon expiry of such period, if the trademark is found to be of
inherent distinctiveness and distinguishable from earlier filed trademarks, the
Lao Trademark Department shall grant Certificate of Registration to the mark.
Documents Required for Filing:
To file a
trademark application in Laos, the following information and
documents are required:
(ii) Trademark
specimens (20 specimens) with the size not larger than 100mm x 100 mm and not
smaller than 50 x 50 mm. Colours can be claimed for the marks provided that the
trademark specimens are in colour. In case that the trademark includes
characters not of English, translation or transliteration of the characters is
required;
(iii) A
list of goods/services and the International Classification of respective goods/services
(if applicable);
(iv) Priority
data for claiming priority right under the Paris Convention (if any), including
application number, priority date, country. The Power of Attorney should
identify particular mark(s). One notarized Power of Attorney can be used for
filing a single trademark or for several trademarks provided that all the
identified marks are filed simultaneously (at the same time).
The term of
protection of trademark in Laos is 10 years from the filing date. Trademark
registration is renewable for unlimited times, each of 10 years.
The
trademark owner shall be obliged to use the trademark in Laos. Non-use with justifiable reasons
may be acceptable for the recordal the trademark owner change and amendments.
Any changes
in respect of the ownership of the registered mark or registered mark is
required to be recorded in Laos to have the change effected.
