2 January 2024
The four copyright laws – Trade-mark Law, Industrial Design Law, Patent Law and Copyright Law were enacted in 2019 to develop an international standard Intellectual Property (IP) system after becoming a member of World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), said Chairman of the Central Committee on Intellectual Property Rights Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo at the meeting 2/2023 of the central committee at the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
The General also said, out of four copyright laws, the Trade-mark Law came into force on 1 April 2023, and the registration of trademarks was officially accepted on 26 April this year.Similarly, the Patent Law and Copyright Law came into force on 31 October 2023, and the preparations are being made to accept the IP applications. Therefore, 2023 was the significant year in which the country established a new international standard IP system.
Moreover, the IP protection system can contribute to the emergence of creative, innovative, and competitive government and private sectors.
The General urged all to participate in implementing the copyrights laws and accelerate the IP-related awareness programmes for the public to follow and carry out as per the stipulations in the law.
Moreover, he continued that Myanmar is actively participating in the ASEAN IPR Action Plan and so all should make efforts to be a leading country in developing the regional IP actions.
He also mentioned the benefits of copyright laws such as supportive action to develop the State economy, strengthen the IP protection system for entrepreneurs, develop foreign investment and human resources, new job opportunities, and improve the manufacturing sector by transferring high technologies.
Then, Union Minister for Commerce Vice-Chair U Tun Ohn of the Central Committee explained the enhancement of the copyright system while the secretary and the joint secretary of the Central Committee reported on implementations based on the 1/2023 meeting and remarks submitted to the 2/2023 meeting.
Members of the central committee deputy ministers and officials presented undertakings of relevant ministries in copyrights measures. Then, the decision (draft) of the 2/2023 meeting was approved.
