Cambodia: Slight increase in trademark registration

• Aug 17, 2018

The Ministry of Commerce saw a slight rise of 2 percent in trademark registration in the first half of 2018, with applications increasing by 16 percent, said an official yesterday.

Op Rady, director of intellectual property at the Ministry of Commerce, told Khmer Times the ministry has approved 1,871 trademarks in the first half of the year, compared to 1,827 in the same period in 2017.

He said 703 of the approved trademarks are from local applicants and 1,168 from foreigners.

The ministry registered 2,670 applications, an increase from the first half of 2017, when 2,310 application forms were filed. 1,062 of the applications registered during the first half of 2018 came from local applicants, Mr Rady said.

He also said the ministry has entered into a collaboration with Canadia Bank to facilitate payments for trademark registration.

“Canadia Bank will become the second bank with which the ministry has partnered after Acleda Bank for the payment process on trademarks registration.

“More banks as partners will facilitate payment for companies or trademarks owners,” he said.

Mr Rady said in the first half of the year the ministry has re-registered about 1,002 trademarks, certified 33 exclusive ones, and recorded about 29 franchise licenses. The ministry cancelled 11 trademarks in the first six months of the year, he added.

In May last year, the Ministry of Commerce launched a trademark e-filling system to facilitate the registration process, aiming to make it easier for organizations to protect their intellectual property.

According to the Ministry, the new e-filling system saves businesses time and money and is helping to eliminate corruption.

Cambodia is the fifth country in Asean to launch an online trademark registration system after Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50523716/slight-increase-in-trademark-registration/