Courts to have jurisdiction for intellectual property matters from 1 April

The Union Supreme Court of (USC) released a notification that courts will have jurisdiction over intellectual property matters as IP courts as the Trademark Law enacted in 2019 will come into effect from 1 April 2023.
The USC conferred jurisdiction and mandate over the appeal, revision of the judgment, order and decisions for IP matters under the Trademark Law.
According to Notification 82/2023 dated 10 March of the State Administration Council, the USC released five Notifications 235/2023, 236/2023, 237/2023, 238/2023 and 239/2023 regarding the Trademark Law.
The High Court of the Yangon Region has jurisdiction over the appeal cases against the orders and decisions issued by the Intellectual Property Agency under Section 66 of the Trademark Law and the cases against the suspension orders issued by the Director-General of the Customs Department in line with the section 72 of the Trademark Law.
The courts in Self-Administered zones and district courts can exercise judicial power over the criminal cases filed under the Trademark Law. The judicial power is vested in the High Courts of the regions and states over the appeals and the revisions of the judgements, orders and decisions made by district courts and courts in the Self-Administered zones.
Meanwhile, Kyauktada District Court has original jurisdiction over the civil cases on infringement of intellectual property rights and provisional measures under Section 77 (a) of the Trademark Law.
The High Court of the Yangon Region has jurisdiction over the appeals and the revisions of the judgements, orders and decisions in civil cases made by the IP courts, the USC notified. – TWA/EM