Lao PDR Trademark Gazette Issue 368: 311 Trademarks Published, 89 from Chinese Applicants Ranking First - Has Your Brand Been Squatted?

老挝商标公报第368期：311件商标公示，中国申请人89件居首，你的品牌被抢注了吗？

ຈົດໝາຍເຫດສິນຄ້າເຄື່ອງໝາຍການຄ້າລາວສະບັບທີ່ 368: ມີການປະກາດເຄື່ອງໝາຍການຄ້າຈຳນວນ 311 ລາຍການ, ຜູ້ຍື່ນຄຳຮ້ອງຈາກຈີນ 89 ລາຍການຢູ່ອັນດັບໜຶ່ງ, ຍີ່ຫໍ້ຂອງທ່ານຖືກຍຶດທະບຽນແລ້ວບໍ່?

Published: 2026-09-10 · LaoPaniti legal guides

In the night market of Vientiane, the signboard of your hard-run rice noodle shop is getting more and more eye-catching, but one day, you suddenly 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 are a game of "first to file, first to win."

Recently, the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of Laos published the 368th issue of the Trademark Gazette, which published a total of 311 trademarks. Among them, Chinese applicants submitted 89, accounting for nearly 30%, ranking first among all countries. Following closely are Bulgaria (35), Germany (27), Vietnam (22), and South Korea (17).

Which industries are these trademarks distributed in? According to the Nice Classification, the most popular classes in this issue are Class 09 (electronic equipment, etc.), Class 28 (games and toys, etc.), and Class 41 (education and entertainment, etc.), totaling 36; followed by Class 03 (cosmetics, etc.) with 20; Class 09 alone also has 17; Class 30 (coffee, tea, etc.) has 9; and Class 05 (pharmaceuticals and nutrition products, etc.) has 7.

Seeing these numbers, shouldn't you think: Is your brand also among these 311? Or, more critically - has your brand been quietly applied for by someone else?

First-to-File System: First Come, First Served

Laos implements the "first-to-file" system, meaning whoever submits a trademark application to the authorities first gets priority in obtaining trademark rights. Even if you have been doing business in this market for ten years, as long as your brand is not registered, others can squat it and then sue you for infringement.

Among the trademarks published in this issue, there are many cases that look like "squatting." For example, published trademarks such as ICEBERG and THE GLENLIVET are well-known internationally, but in Laos, they may be applied for registration by different entities.

So, don't think that just because your brand is small or your business is not big, you are safe. During the publication period (usually 90 days from the date of publication), if you find that someone has squatted your brand, you can file an opposition. But once the publication period ends and the trademark is officially registered, if you want to get it back, you have to go through legal procedures, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly.

Your Brand May Be on the Publication List

Want to know if your brand has been applied for by others? The simplest way is to check the trademark gazette of the Lao Department of Intellectual Property. But the gazette is a PDF file, which is troublesome to browse, and the Lao language may be difficult to understand.

Don't worry, LaoPaniti provides a free online trademark search tool. You only need to go to the "Trademark Registration" function on the workbench at https://www.123laoai.com, enter your brand name, and quickly search the published trademarks in this issue and previous issues to see if there is any conflict.

If you find that your brand has been squatted, filing an opposition during the publication period is the lowest-cost remedy. If you haven't registered yet, you should hurry - under the first-to-file system, one day late may mean losing the entire brand.

Don't Let Your Brand "Run Naked"

Doing business in Laos, your brand is your face. Instead of regretting after being squatted, why not spend a few minutes to check now.

If you are not sure how to check, or if you find a potentially conflicting trademark, you can directly ask AI for free at https://www.123laoai.com. The AI assistant of LaoPaniti will give you preliminary advice. Remember, trademark registration should be done early rather than late; don't let your brand "run naked" and be dressed in someone else's clothes.

This article is compiled by LaoPaniti and is for reference only, not constituting legal advice.

FAQ

How long is the publication period for trademarks in Laos?

According to relevant Lao trademark regulations, after a trademark application passes examination, it will be published in the official gazette. During the publication period (usually 90 days), any interested party may file an opposition. Please refer to the official announcement for specifics.

What should I do if my brand has been squatted by someone else?

If you find that someone else has squatted your brand, you can file an opposition with the Lao Department of Intellectual Property during the publication period. If the publication period has passed and the trademark is registered, you may need to resolve it through invalidation or litigation. It is recommended to consult a professional lawyer.

How can I check if my brand has been applied for registration by others?

You can check the trademark gazette published by the Lao Department of Intellectual Property, or use the free trademark search tool provided by LaoPaniti. Visit https://www.123laoai.com, go to the workbench → Trademark Registration, and enter your brand name for a quick search.

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