10 July, 2017
The Ministry of Commerce recently launched an online trademark registration gateway portal allowing local and foreign individuals and firms to register their trademarks in Cambodia to protect them against infringement. The Online Mark Filing System allows trademark applicants to upload the required documents and information using an internet-connected device to register their mark. This option for online filing trademarks is in addition to the existing manual registration system.
The new platform was designed by a technical team from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and took 20 months to develop. This online trademark filing will improve the speed and ease of registering trademarks in Cambodia to protect brands. It is also a first step to accessing the Madrid System, a centralised global registration system that allows applicants to file a single application to register their trademark for protection in multiple jurisdictions.
Any applicant with permanent residence or a place of business in Cambodia can register online. However, for those applicants who do not have permanent residence or a place of business in Cambodia, the online registration must be done through a legal representative or agent in Cambodia.
Trademark registration has increased in Cambodia since its accession to the Madrid System in 2015. A total of 6,913 trademarks were registered in Cambodia last year, compared to 6,339 in 2015, according to WIPO data. So far this year, 1,884 trademarks have been registered.
For more information, please contact:
Siphana Sok, Managing Partner, SokSiphana&associates (a member of ZICO Law)
sok.siphana@zicolaw.com
