The four copyright laws – Trade­mark Law, Industrial Design Law, Patent Law and Copyright Law were enacted in 2019 to de­velop an international standard Intellectual Property (IP) sys­tem after becoming a member of World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), said Chair­man of the Central Committee on Intellectual Property Rights Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Com­munications General Mya Tun Oo at the meeting 2/2023 of the central committee at the Minis­try of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

 

The General also said, out of four copyright laws, the Trade­mark Law came into force on 1 April 2023, and the registration of trademarks was officially accept­ed on 26 April this year. Similarly, the Patent Law and Copyright Law came into force on 31 Oc­tober 2023, and the preparations are being made to accept the IP applications. Therefore, 2023 was the significant year in which the country established a new in­ternational standard IP system.

 

Moreover, the IP protec­tion system can contribute to the emergence of creative, inno­vative, and competitive govern­ment and private sectors.

 

The General urged all to participate in implementing the copyrights laws and accelerate the IP-related awareness pro­grammes for the public to follow and carry out as per the stipula­tions in the law.

 

Moreover, he continued that Myanmar is actively participat­ing in the ASEAN IPR Action Plan and so all should make efforts to be a leading country in developing the regional IP actions.

 

He also mentioned the ben­efits of copyright laws such as supportive action to develop the State economy, strengthen the IP protection system for entre­preneurs, develop foreign invest­ment and human resources, new job opportunities, and improve the manufacturing sector by transferring high technologies.

 

Then, Union Minister for Commerce Vice-Chair U Tun Ohn of the Central Committee explained the enhancement of the copyright system while the secretary and the joint secretary of the Central Committee report­ed on implementations based on the 1/2023 meeting and remarks submitted to the 2/2023 meeting.

 

Members of the central com­mittee deputy ministers and offi­cials presented undertakings of relevant ministries in copyrights measures. Then, the decision (draft) of the 2/2023 meeting was approved. — MNA/KTZH