RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.3 
26 May 2010 
 (10-2917) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Lao PDR Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE LAO PDR 
 
Action Plan on the Legislative Work and Implementation of the Agreement on  
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)  
 
Revision  
   The following submission, dated 17 May 2010, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). 
 
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  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.3 
Page 2 Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
General Provisions: 
Participation in Intellectual Property Conventions Participation in: 
 - World Intellectual Property Organization 
- Paris Convention 
- Patent Cooperation Treaty - Berne Convention: 
 - Currently NAST is seeking approval from the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   
- Rome Convention 
- Washington Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect 
of Integrated Circuits  
 
Since 1995 
Since 1998 
Since 2006 
Expected to join by the 
end of 2011 
 
Deferred 
Deferred  
  
 
 TA is required for creating awareness 
on the Berne Convention.  
 (Deferred due to technical capacity 
limitations.  Priority to be given to 
drafting Decree and Regulations to implement the Intellectual Property 
Law). 
Part II, Section 1: 
Copyrights and related rights Intellectual Property Law 
  
 
Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
 
 Regulation on Copyright and Related Rights 
 
 Training of personnel involved in copyrights protection such 
as customs officials, policemen, judges, prosecutors and 
lawyers  
Instrument for Ratification of Berne Convention Adopted in 2007 
  
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2012 
 
 
Ongoing activities 
 
  
To be prepared by 2010 Based on WIPO model law.  Technical 
assistance provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP II Project 2005-2007). 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
  
TA is required for creating awareness 
on the Berne Convention. 
Part II, Section 2: Trademarks Decree on Trademarks 
 
Regulation on Trademarks Registration 
 Intellectual Property Law 
 
 Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
 
 
Training of personnel involved in trademarks protection such 
as customs officials, police, judges, prosecutors and lawyers January 1995 
 
March 2002 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
Ongoing activities In force. 
 
In force. 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
II Project 2005-2007). 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project).  
   WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.3
 Page 3Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
Part II, Section 3: 
Geographical indications Intellectual Property Law 
  
Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
  
Training of personnel involved in protection of geographical 
indications such as customs officials, police, judges, 
prosecutors and lawyers Adopted in 2007 
  
To be adopted by 2011 
  
Ongoing activities TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
II Project 2005-2007).  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project).  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
Part II, Section 4: 
Industrial designs Decree on Patents, Petty Patents (Utility Models) and 
Industrial Designs 
 Regulation on the Implementation of Decree on Patents, 
Petty Patents and Industrial Designs 
 Intellectual Property Law 
 
 
Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
  
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as 
customs officials, police, judges, prosecutors and lawyers January 2002 
 
 
February 2003 
 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
  
Ongoing activities In force. 
 
 In force. 
 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
II Project 2005-2007). 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project).  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
Part II, Section 5: Patents Decree on Patents, Petty Patents (Utility Models) and 
Industrial Designs 
 
Regulation on the Implementation of Decree on Patents, Petty Patents and Industrial Designs 
 
Intellectual Property Law  
 
Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
 
 
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as customs officials, police, judges, prosecutors and lawyers January 2002 
 
 
February 2003 
 
 
Adopted by 2007 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
Ongoing activities In force. 
 
 
In force.  
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP II Project 2005-2007). 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP III Project). 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP III Project).  
  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.3 
Page 4 Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
Part II, Section 6: 
Layout-designs (Topographies) of integrated circuit Intellectual Property Law 
  
Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
  
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as 
customs officials, police, judges, prosecutors and lawyers Adopted in 2007 
  
To be adopted by 2011 
  
Ongoing activities TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
II Project 2005-2007).  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project).  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
Part II, Section 7: Undisclosed information Decree on Trade Competition 
 
Intellectual Property Law 
  
Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
  
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as 
customs officials, police, judges, prosecutors and lawyers April 2004 
 
Adopted in 2007 
  
To be adopted by 2011 
  
Ongoing activities In force. 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
II Project 2005-2007).  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project).  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
Part II, Section 8: 
Control of anti-competitive practices 
in contractual licence Decree on Trade Competition 
 
Intellectual Property Law  
 
Decrees Implementing the In tellectual Property Law April 2004 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 In force. 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP II Project 2005-2007). 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP III Project). 
Part III, Section 2: 
Civil and administrative procedures 
and remedies Law on Civil Procedure 
 
Decree on Trademarks  
Penal Code Law 
 Regulation on Trademarks Registration  
 
Decree on Patents, Petty Pa tents and Industrial Designs 
 
Regulation on the Implementation of Decree on Patents, 
Petty Patents and Industrial Designs  
Constitution of Lao PDR (Amended) 
 
Law on the People's Courts May 2004 
 
January 1995 
 
November 2005 
 
March 2002 
 
January 2002 
 
February 2003 
  
May  2003 
 
October 2003 In force. 
 
In force.  
In force. 
 In force. 
 
In force.  
In force. 
  
In force. 
 
In force.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.3
 Page 5Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
Judicial Enforcement Law 
 Intellectual Property Law 
 
 Decrees Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
 
 Establishment of copyright and related rights information 
section under Copyright Division 
 Establishment of geographical indications information 
section under Industrial Property Division May 2004 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
Adopted in 2009 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 In force. 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
II Project 2005-2007). 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
 Completed. 
 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
Part III, Section 4: 
Special requirements related to border measures Customs Law 
 Decree Implementing Customs Law 
 
Intellectual Property Law 
 
 Decree Implementing the In tellectual Property Law 
 
 Training of officials involved in enforcement such as 
customs officials December 2005 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
Ongoing activities In force. 
 In force. 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
II Project 2005-2007). 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
 TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project). 
Part III, Section 5: 
Criminal procedures Penal Code Law (Amended) 
 Criminal Procedure Law (Amended) 
 
Intellectual Property Law  
 
Decrees Implementing the In tellectual Property Law November 2005 
 
May 2004 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 In force. 
 In force. 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP II Project 2005-2007). 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP III Project).  
  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.3 
Page 6 Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
Others Increased computerization of NAST 
  
Increased computerization of enforcement agencies 
  
Practical training in copy right piracy and trademark 
counterfeiting  
Developing rules, regulations and manuals 
  
Enhancing public awareness on the protection of intellectual 
property rights To be implemented by 
2010 
 
To be implemented by 
2011 
 
Ongoing activities 
  
To be implemented by 
2012 
 
Ongoing activities TA is needed. 
  
TA is needed.  
  
TA is needed. 
  
TA provided by WIPO and EU (ECAP 
III Project).  
TA is needed. 
Note:  The above transition strategy for the implementation of Agreement on Trade-Related Aspect  of Intellectual Property Right s (TRIPS) would be achieved latest by 
January 2013 based on technical assistance and national capacity.  The Lao PDR Governme nt avails itself to special and differen tial treatment for Least-Developed-Countries 
under the TRIPS Agreement and various Minister ial Conference Declarations such as paragr aph 47 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Dec laration and refers in IP/C/40. 
 
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