News and developments
Myanmar’s Patent Law 2019 came into Force on 31st May 2024
enacted as Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No. 7, 2019, in accordance with Section 1, Sub-section (b). This announcement marks a significant advancement in the comprehensive implementation of statutory patent protection in Myanmar.
The Ministry of Commerce issued the Patent Rules with the notification no. 43/2024 on 4th June 2024 in accordance with the Patent Law. These Rules outline the procedures and requirements for registering patent and utility model rights in Myanmar. The Intellectual Property Department (IPD) will soon issue notifications regarding the acceptance date, prescribed official application forms; official fees; annual fees and other necessary forms for patent and utility model registration and prosecution in Myanmar.
Registrability Criteria
Under the Patent Law enacted in 2019, inventions eligible for registration must meet the following criteria:
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- Novelty: Not have been publicly disclosed before the filing date or claimed priority date.
- Inventive Step: Involve an inventive step.
- Industrial Applicability: Be capable of industrial application.
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- Discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods
- Schemes, rules, and methods for doing business, purely mental acts, or playing games
- Computer programs
- Essentially biological processes for producing plants and animals, except man-made living micro-organisms and their processes
- Plant or animal varieties
- Methods for treating the human or animal body and diagnostic techniques
- Inventions related to known substances or naturally occurring objects, including their new uses and features
- Inventions that contravene the morals, peace, and tranquility of Myanmar