Lao Trademark Gazette Issue 350: 96 New Trademarks Published, 61 from Chinese Applicants — Your Brand Name May Be Written into Someone Else's Application

老挝商标公报第350期：96件新商标公示，中国申请人占61件——你的品牌名字，可能正被别人写进申请里

ໜັງສືປະກາດເຄື່ອງໝາຍການຄ້າລາວ ສະບັບທີ 350: 96 ເຄື່ອງໝາຍໃໝ່ຖືກປະກາດ, ຜູ້ຍື່ນຄຳຮ້ອງຈາກຈີນ 61 ລາຍ — ຊື່ຍີ່ຫໍ້ຂອງທ່ານ, ອາດຈະຖືກຄົນອື່ນຂຽນໃສ່ໃນຄຳຮ້ອງແລ້ວ

Published: 2026-09-24 · LaoPaniti legal guides

Recently, a friend doing cross-border e-commerce in Laos asked me: "My store hasn't even officially opened yet, how come my trademark has been squatted?" I told him to open the latest trademark gazette from the Lao Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) — Issue 350. He was stunned: of the 96 trademarks published in this issue, 61 applications came from China.

This is not a coincidence. Laos' trademark system follows the "first-to-file" principle: whoever submits an application first is more likely to obtain the Right. While you are still hesitating over which brand name to use, someone else may have already written it into an application document.

What Signals Are Hidden in Issue 350 of the Gazette?

This issue of the gazette published a total of 96 trademarks. In terms of Goods/Service classes, Class 09 (electronics, software, etc.) was the most popular with 14; followed by combined applications in Classes 09, 28, and 41 with 9; Class 05 (pharmaceuticals, health products) with 7; and Classes 07 (machinery) and 34 (tobacco) with 6 each.

In terms of applicant countries of origin, China led by a wide margin with 61, followed by the United States with 8, Hong Kong with 6, Japan with 3, and Bulgaria with 3. Among the trademark examples published in this issue, names such as FOX, LUUGAA, and Royal's Bell can be seen, as well as applications involving different statuses such as Registration and Renewal.

These numbers show that the Lao market is attracting attention from more and more foreign brands, and Chinese applicants are especially active.

Under the First-to-File System, Brand Squatting Is Not Just a "What If"

The core of Laos' trademark system is the "first-to-file" principle. Simply put, for the same Trademark, whoever submits the application first gains the advantage. During the publication period, prior rights holders or other interested parties may file an opposition, but if you have not even submitted an application, the basis for opposition is very weak.

Once your brand is squatted by someone else, you may face: being unable to register it yourself, being forced to change the name, or even being asked for an Assignment/Transfer fee. More troublesome still, if the other party obtains the Registration first, your continued use may also be accused of Infringement.

Spending a Few Minutes on a Similarity Search Is Far More Cost-Effective Than Remedying Things Later

Rather than worrying, check first. LaoPaniti provides a free online trademark similarity search tool, accessible at https://www.123laoai.com under Workspace → Trademark Registration. Enter the brand name you want to use, and you can quickly see whether there is already an identical or similar prior application.

If you are not yet familiar with Laos' trademark system, you can also first read our previously compiled "Lao Trademark Gazette Issue 351: 374 New Trademarks Published, 59 from Chinese Applicants Topping the List — Your Brand Name May Be Written into Someone Else's Application" (https://www.123laoai.com/guide/241) to understand the overall trend.

A brand is the face of a business. Don't wait until someone shows up at your door with a Registration certificate before regretting not taking the first step earlier.

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

FAQ

How many trademarks were published in Issue 350 of the Lao Trademark Gazette?

A total of 96 trademarks were published in this issue of the gazette.

Which countries did the applicants mainly come from in this issue?

The top applicant countries of origin were: China with 61, the United States with 8, Hong Kong with 6, Japan with 3, and Bulgaria with 3.

Is Laos' trademark system first-to-file?

Yes, Laos' trademark system implements the first-to-file principle: whoever submits an application first is more likely to obtain the Right.

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