Lao Trademark Gazette Issue 371: 45 Trademarks Published, 18 from Chinese Applicants, Your Brand May Be Targeted

老挝商标公报第371期：45件商标公示，中国申请人占18件，你的品牌可能已被盯上

ຈົດໝາຍຂ່າວເຄື່ອງໝາຍການຄ້າລາວສະບັບທີ່ 371: ມີເຄື່ອງໝາຍການຄ້າ 45 ລາຍການຖືກປະກາດ, ຜູ້ຍື່ນຄຳຮ້ອງຈາກຈີນກວມ 18 ລາຍການ, ຍີ່ຫໍ້ຂອງທ່ານອາດຖືກເປົ້າໝາຍແລ້ວ

Published: 2026-09-07 · LaoPaniti legal guides

Your brand, which you have worked hard to build in Laos, may be quietly registered by someone else. Recently, the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of Laos published the 371st issue of the Trademark Gazette, which published 45 trademarks. Among them, applicants from China accounted for 18, nearly 40%. This means that more and more Chinese enterprises and individuals are laying out trademarks in Laos, and Laos implements a "first-to-file" system - whoever files first gets the trademark. If your brand is not yet registered, and someone else beats you to it, you may face the risk of being forced to change your name or even being sued for infringement.

What signals does this issue of the Trademark Gazette reveal?

Among the 45 trademarks published in this issue, popular classes are concentrated in Class 03 (cosmetics, etc., 5 items), Class 09 (electronic technology products, etc., 4 items), and multiple class combinations (e.g., Classes 01, 02, 03, etc., 2 items each). In terms of applicant origin, China leads with 18, followed by South Korea (6), Singapore (5), Japan (4), etc. Published trademarks include AlpsAlpine, TOPLASH, SKIN1004, covering daily chemicals, electronics, food, and other fields.

These data show that the Lao market is becoming a hot spot for brand competition, and Chinese enterprises are the main force. If your business involves these classes, you especially need to be vigilant: has your brand name or logo been applied for by others?

Under the first-to-file system, your brand may be "squatted"

Laos implements a "first-to-file" system, which means that no matter how early you use a brand, as long as someone else files an application with the DIP first, they may obtain the exclusive right to the trademark. Many friends doing business in Laos often first rush to open stores and sell goods, but neglect trademark registration. By the time the brand has some reputation, they find that the trademark has been squatted by others, and even they are complained for infringement.

The 45 trademarks in this issue are opportunities to file oppositions during the publication period. If you find that someone has applied for a trademark that is identical or similar to yours, you can file an opposition with the DIP during the publication period to prevent its registration. But a more proactive approach is to conduct a self-check in advance and register as early as possible.

How to self-check? Use LaoPaniti for free trademark search

Before submitting a trademark application, be sure to do a search to confirm that your brand does not conflict with prior trademarks. LaoPaniti provides a free online trademark search tool. You only need to log in to https://www.123laoai.com, find "Trademark Registration" on the workbench, enter your brand name, and quickly search for registered and pending trademarks in Laos to determine whether there is a likelihood of confusion.

If you are not familiar with the trademark registration process, you can also directly ask LaoPaniti's AI for free to get preliminary guidance. Remember, trademark registration should be done sooner rather than later. Don't let your brand make a wedding dress for others.

This article is compiled by LaoPaniti for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.

FAQ

Is Lao trademark application a "first-to-file" system?

Yes, Laos implements a first-to-file system, meaning that whoever files a trademark application with the Department of Intellectual Property first obtains the priority right to the trademark. Therefore, filing early is key to protecting your brand.

If my trademark is squatted by others, can I still remedy it?

If the other party's trademark is still within the publication period, you can file an opposition with the Lao Department of Intellectual Property. If it has already been registered, you may need to go through legal procedures such as invalidation, which is more difficult. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly monitor the trademark gazette and register your own brand in advance.

How can I check for free whether a trademark is registered in Laos?

You can use LaoPaniti's free trademark search tool. Log in to https://www.123laoai.com, select "Trademark Registration" on the workbench, and enter your brand name to search.

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