Population:

General

The Lao People's Democratic Republic is located in the center of Indochina. It has an eastern border with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a northern border with the People's Republic of China, a north-western border with the Union of Myanmar, a western border with the Kingdom of Thailand and a southern border with the Kingdom of Cambodia. The country provides a potentially strategic land link for closer sub-regional cooperation in the Greater Mekong area.

Around 70% of its terrain is mountainous, reaching a maximum elevation of 2,820 m in Xieng Khouang province. The Mekong river is the main geographical feature in the west and, in fact, forms a natural border with Thailand in some areas. The Mekong flows through 1,865 km of Lao territory and shapes much of the lifestyle of the people of Laos. In the south the Mekong reaches a breadth of 14 Km, creating an area with thousands of islands.

Economy
Laos is a less developed country (LDC), with approximately 40 % of its population living below the poverty line. The domestic economy is heavily dependent on the external assistance from bilateral donors and multilateral agencies, as well as remittances of funds from Lao living overseas.
Ten years after the establishment of a socialist economic system (with central planning, nationalization of banks and industrial enterprises as well as collectivization of agriculture), market economy elements were introduced to the Lao economic system in 1986 under a program known as the New Economic Mechanism.
Due to the fact that the Government had neither much economic policy experience nor financial leeway for containment measures after Laos had become caught up in the Asian economic crisis, reform-oriented policy came to a standstill for several years. The stabilization of the situation in 1999/2000 and the conclusion of an agreement with the IMF in April 2001 present new opportunities for pursuing economic reform.
Just under 80% of the population is employed in agriculture, much of which is still subsistence farming. Agriculture accounts for approximately 50% of GDP.
In 2003, the total foreign trade volume amounted to approximately US$ 824 million (with imports of US$ 492 million and exports of US$ 332 million). The landlocked status of Laos puts the country at a strong disadvantage with respect to foreign and particularly overseas trade. The most important exports are precious wood and wood products as well as electricity. Clothing exports (85% of which are destined for the EU) have seen a strong increase in recent years, primarily due to the fact that wage costs are relatively low. This has led to the increased establishment in Laos of manufacturing plants mostly by foreign companies. In addition, the export of coffee, tin, gypsum, spices (cardamom) and resin benzoic (as a raw material for the manufacture of perfume) is of some importance.


A.Patent Law
If the owner of an invention wants him to prevent others from using, copying or making the invention without his consent he shall apply for patent protection..


1. Required Information:
1.1    Name, address and nationality of the applicant;

1.2    Name, address and nationality of the inventor;

1.3    Title of the invention/petty invention;

1.4    Country, application number and filing date of the original foreign          application from which priority is claimed (if priority is claimed);

1.5    International filing number and filing date (in case of PCT applications).


2. Required documents:
2.1     Specification consisting of the title, description, Claims and
         abstract - 0copies;

2.2     Drawings (if any) - 02 copies;

2.3     Notarized Power of attorney

2.4     Notarized Deed of Assignment if the applicant and the inventor are not           the same; 2.5   Attachment of a Search Report, which is  issued by any           patent examination body in a foreign country or by a relevant           international  organization and may be under the consideration   of the           Registration  Unit (if available).  


3. Terms:
3.1    In case a Search Report is not attached with the application, the           Registration Unit will coordinate with any patent examination body in a           foreign country or any relevant international organization but the entire           expenditure will be covered by the applicant;

3.2      Late documents can be submitted within 90 days from the filing date;

3.3     Native language of the applicant (preferably English or French) can be           accepted at the filing time but the Laotian version should be submitted           within 90 days from the filing date;

3.4     Time for claiming priority under Paris Convention is 12 months from the           first filing date;

3.5     Time from the filing to granting date is 50 months (as for Patent) and           12 months (as for Petty Patent);

4. Duration / Renewal
The validity term of a Patent is 20 years and of a Petty Patent is 07 years from the filing date

5. Member of Treaties
Laos is a member of the PCT


B.Trademark Law
Individuals or legal entities having residence and from foreign countries engaged in lawful production, commercial and service activities shall be entitled to register trademarks.

1. Required documents:
The application for registration of trademark shall contain:

1.1.      A request for the registration of trademark;

1.2.      Some specimens of the trademark;

1.3.      A list of the goods or services with the description of characteristics and            quality that are to bear the mark and other necessary relevant            documents.
           Individuals or legal entities requesting to register a trademark shall            apply to the Science, Technology and Environment Organization.
           An individual or legal entity, who has been assigned the right to use            the trademark, shall request to register trademark in the Lao PDR. An            application may contain permission of the owner of trademark,            defining the characteristics and quality of goods and services bearing            the mark. In the case of partial assignments, the agreement shall            provide for the right of the owner of trademark to verify the quality of            goods or services.

2. Registration:

A trademark can not be registered if:
 •  A mark is unclear and is incapable of distinguishing the goods or services     of one enterprise from those of other enterprises;

 •  A mark is contrary to the national cultural morality and public order;

 •  A mark is likely to mislead the public or trade circles, in particular as     regards the geographical origin, nature and characteristics of the foods or     services;

 •  A mark is identical with, or is an imitation of or contains as an element, an     armorial bearing, flag or emblem, national typical culture or historical site, a     name or abbreviation or any state, intergovernmental organization or     organization created by an international convention;

 • A mark possesses the official sign or hallmark relating to the control and    certification of any state or international organization, unless authorized by    the state or organization concerned;  • A mark is identical with, or confusingly similar to a trademark or trade name    of goods or services, which are widely well known.

3. Duration/ Renewal
The term of protection of trademark in Laos is 10 years from the filing date. Trademark registration is renewable for unlimited times, each of 10 years.

The trademark owner shall be obliged to use the trademark in Laos. Trademark registration may be cancelled on non-use basis if the mark under the registration has not been used for five consecutive years. For cases of record of any change in respect of the registered mark, such as ownership change, change of the name and address of the trademark owner, amendment of list of goods, or of mark, etc., Affidavit of Use shall be required for submission. Non-use with justifiable reasons may be acceptable for the recordal the trademark owner change and amendments.

Any changes in respect of the ownership of the registered mark or registered mark is required to be recorded in Laos to have the change effected.

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