Trademark Registration Order: Ministry of Commerce Order No. 63/2020- Soft Opening of New Registration System

On 28 August 2020, the Ministry of Commerce ("MOC") issued Order No. 63/2020 ("Order") directing all Trademark Owners to apply for trademark registration. A "Trademark Owner" is defined under Section 93(a) of the Trademark Law as an owner of a mark which is registered at the Deeds Registration Office, or an owner of a mark which is not registered but is actually in use in the Myanmar market. The Order requires such Trademark Owners to apply for Trademark Registration starting from 1 October 2020 as the Government seeks to transition from a First to Use System to a First to File System.