Lao PDR Trademark Gazette Issue 369: 182 Trademarks Published, 66 from Chinese Applicants, Your Brand May Have Been Registered by Others

老挝商标公报第369期：182件商标公示，中国申请人占66件，你的品牌可能已被他人抢先注册

ຈົດໝາຍຂ່າວເຄື່ອງໝາຍການຄ້າລາວສະບັບທີ່ 369: ມີເຄື່ອງໝາຍການຄ້າ 182 ລາຍການຖືກປະກາດ, ຜູ້ຍື່ນຄຳຮ້ອງຈາກຈີນກວມ 66 ລາຍການ, ຍີ່ຫໍ້ຂອງທ່ານອາດຖືກຜູ້ອື່ນຂຶ້ນທະບຽນກ່ອນແລ້ວ

Published: 2026-09-09 · LaoPaniti legal guides

You are selling your signature rice noodles at a night market in Vientiane, and business is booming, when suddenly you receive a lawyer's letter—your shop name has been registered as a trademark by someone else. This is not to scare you; in Laos, trademarks follow the "first-to-file" system, meaning whoever files first owns the exclusive right to the brand.

Recently, the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of Laos published the 369th issue of the Trademark Gazette, which discloses 182 trademarks. Among them, Chinese applicants account for 66, far exceeding other countries. This means your brand name may have been targeted and registered by others.

What signals does this issue of the Trademark Gazette reveal?

First, look at popular classes. Among the trademarks published in this issue, Class 34 (tobacco products) has 17, Class 03 (daily chemical products) has 11, Class 43 (food and beverage services) has 11, Class 09 (electronic products) has 10, and Class 12 (transportation tools) also has 10. If you operate in these industries, pay special attention.

Next, look at the origin of applicants. Besides Chinese applicants with 66, US applicants have 11, local Lao applicants only 10, Japan 9, and Vietnam 8. Foreign enterprises are actively filing trademarks in Laos; if your brand is not yet registered, the risk is significant.

Examples of trademarks published in this issue include: Sembilu, 6th Sense, Soho, Promax, Atlas, Kempinski, VISIBLE C, OVALTINE, etc. These names may be related to brands you know, or they could be potential "trademark squatters."

During the opposition period, you still have a chance to file an opposition

Laos's trademark system allows for opposition during the publication period. That is, these trademarks are not immediately registered. If you find that a trademark is identical or similar to a brand you have already used, you can file an opposition with the DIP during the publication period to prevent its registration.

But the prerequisite is that you must know about it. Many business operators in Laos only realize after their trademark has been squatted, and the cost of rights protection is high, and success is not guaranteed.

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

Rather than remedy after the fact, it is better to prevent beforehand. LaoPaniti provides a free online trademark search tool. You only need to visit https://www.123laoai.com, find "Trademark Registration" on the workbench, enter your brand name, and quickly check whether it has been applied for by others.

If you are planning to start a business in Laos or already have a brand, it is recommended to self-check immediately. If you find that your brand has been squatted, you can still file an opposition during the publication period; if it has not been squatted, file an application as soon as possible to protect your rights.

If you want to understand the specific process of trademark registration, you can also read our previous article "Lao Trademark Gazette Issue 370: 397 Trademarks Published, Chinese Applicants Account for 94, Your Brand May Have Been Squatted," which mentions more details.

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

FAQ

Is Laos's trademark application a "first-to-file" system?

Yes, Laos implements a first-to-file system, meaning whoever files a trademark application first owns the exclusive right to the trademark. Therefore, brands should be registered as early as possible to avoid being preempted by others.

How many trademarks are published in this issue of the Trademark Gazette? How many are from Chinese applicants?

This issue (No. 369) publishes 182 trademarks, of which Chinese applicants have 66, the highest proportion.

If I find that my brand has been applied for registration by others, what can I do during the publication period?

You can file an opposition with the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) during the publication period to prevent the registration of that trademark. It is recommended to consult a professional agency as soon as possible to prepare opposition materials.

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