Intellectual Property Cooperation between Japan and Myanmar has Advanced

In the second ASEAN-Japan Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting in July 2012, the JPO and ASEAN countries concluded the Memorandum of Cooperation on Intellectual Property. They adopted the action plan concerning the specifics of the cooperation, such as the development of human resources and support for the introduction of IT. At the same time, the JPO is strengthening intellectual property cooperation with emerging countries in Asia in order to support the global business activities of Japanese companies, such as by aiming to reach agreement on another action plan for 2013-2014 in the third ASEAN-Japan Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting that is to be held in April 2013.

As an increasing number of Japanese companies have been expanding their businesses to Myanmar recently, it is necessary to properly protect IP in Myanmar. However, the legal system related to IP in Myanmar is yet insufficient, and currently the government of Myanmar is endeavoring to prepare for developing IP legislation or establishing an IP office.

On February 28, 2013, the Commissioner of the JPO held a meeting with the Minister of MOST. Both sides advanced the Japan-Myanmar cooperation toward the establishment of an IP system in Myanmar. At this meeting, the both sides reaffirmed that the JPO will implement the following items while responding to requests from Myanmar:

• Offering comments on the draft Industrial Property Rights Act and its rules in Myanmar to the organizations responsible in Myanmar.
• Accepting study groups from Myanmar to visit Japan, in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO)
• Studying the feasibility of dispatching experts to Myanmar to establish and develop an IP office.
• Inviting people involved from Myanmar to Japan for training, for the purpose of establishing and developing an IP office in Myanmar, e.g., inviting such people to long-term training lasting six-months
• Translating JPO's examination operation manuals and other materials concerning industrial property rights from Japanese to English, and offering such English materials to organizations responsible in Myanmar
• Dispatching JPO's patent examiners etc. to organizations responsible in Myanmar, and offering them advice on examination operations
• Holding seminars on industrial property rights in Myanmar or other countries

The JPO will further advance the Japan-Myanmar cooperation on the development of Myanmar's legal system regarding an IP Act as well as human resources. At the same time, the JPO will continue to enhance the cooperative relationship with emerging countries in Asia, including the ASEAN countries, in the IP field and endeavor to support global business activities of Japanese companies.

February 28, 2013

General Affairs Department, International Affairs Division, Japan Patent Office