RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.4 
31 March 2011 
 (11-1587) 
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 March 2011, 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.4 
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 
 
 
- Rome Convention 
- Washington Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect of 
Integrated Circuits  
 
Since 1995 
Since 1998 
Since 2006 
Expected to join by 
September 2011 
 
Deferred 
Deferred  
 
 
 
 
TA provided by USAID for raising 
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 (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013) 
 
 
Regulation on notification of Copyright and Related Rights 
 
 
Regulation on  Copyright and Related Rights 
 
 
Training of personnel involved in copyrights protection such 
as customs officials, policemen, judges, prosecutors and 
lawyers To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
Adopted in 2009 
 
 
To be adopted by 2012 
 
 
On-going activities Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
In force. 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.4
 Page 3Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
Part II, Section 2: 
Trademarks Decree on Trademarks 
 
Regulation on Trademarks Registration 
 
Intellectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013) 
 
 
Training of personnel involved in trademarks protection such 
as customs officials, police, judges, prosecutors and lawyers 
 
Trademarks Registry System January 1995 
 
March 2002 
 
To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
On-going activities 
 
 
Set-up in 1991 In force. 
 
In force. 
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
Part II, Section 3: 
Geographical indications Intellectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013) 
 
 
Training of personnel involved in protection of geographical 
indications such as customs officials, police, judges, 
prosecutors and lawyers 
 
Setting up of the Geographical indications Registry To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
On-going activities 
 
 
 
To be set up by 2012 Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU 
(ECAP III Project). 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III.  
  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.4 
Page 4 Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
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 (2007) 
 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013) 
 
 
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as customs 
officials, police, judges,  prosecutors and lawyers 
 
Setting up of the Designs Registry January 2002 
 
 
February 2003 
 
 
To be amended by June 
2013 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
On-going activities 
 
 
Set up in 2002 In force. 
 
 
In force. 
 
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA provided by WIPO, USAID and 
ECAP III. 
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 (2007) 
 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013) 
 
 
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as customs 
officials, police, judges,  prosecutors and lawyers 
 
Setting up of the Patent Registry January 2002 
 
 
February 2003 
 
 
To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
On-going activities 
 
 
Set up in 2002 In force. 
 
 
In force. 
 
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA provided by WIPO, USAID and 
ECAP III.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.4
 Page 5Agreement 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 (2007) 
 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013) 
 
 
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as customs 
officials, police, judges,  prosecutors and lawyers To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
On-going activities Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU 
(ECAP III Project). 
Part II, Section 7: 
Undisclosed information Decree on Trade Competition 
 
Intellectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013)  
 
 
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as customs 
officials, police, judges,  prosecutors and lawyers April 2004 
 
To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
On-going activities In force. 
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
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 (2007) 
 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013) April 2004 
 
To be amended by June 
2013 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011  
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 In force. 
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects  
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects.  
  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.4 
Page 6 Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
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 
 
Law on the People's Courts 
 
Judgment Enforcement Law 
 
Intellectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decrees Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013)  
 
 
Establishment of copyright and related rights information 
section under Copyright Division 
 
Establishment of geographical indications information section 
under Industrial Property Division May 2004 
 
January 1995 
 
November 2005 
 
March 2002 
 
January 2002 
 
February 2003 
 
 
October 2003 
 
May 2004 
 
To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
Established in 2009 
 
 
Established in 2011 In force. 
 
In force. 
 
In force. 
 
In force. 
 
In force. 
 
In force. 
 
 
In force. 
 
In force. 
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects  
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
 
  
   WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.4
 Page 7Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
Part III, Section 4: 
Special requirements related to border 
measures Customs Law 
 
Decree Implementing Customs Law 
 
Intellectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013)  
 
 
Instruction on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property 
 
 
Training of officials involved in enforcement such as customs 
officials December 2005 
 
Adopted in 2007 
 
To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
On-going activities In force. 
 
In force.  
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects. 
 
TA sought from USAID  
 
TA provided by WIPO and ECAP III. 
Part III, Section 5: 
Criminal procedures Criminal Law (Amended) 
 
Criminal Procedure Law (Amended) 
 
Intellectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decrees Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2007) 
 
 
Decree Implementing the Inte llectual Property Law (2013)  
 November 2005 
 
May 2004 
 
To be amended by 
June 2013 
 
To be adopted by 2011 
 
 
To be adopted by 2014 
 In force.  
 
In force. 
 
Based on WIPO model law.  TA sought 
from ECAP III and USAID Projects. 
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID  
 
TA sought from ECAP III and USAID 
Projects.  
  WT/ACC/LAO/15/Rev.4 
Page 8 Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Laws/Actions Implementation 
Timeframe Remarks 
Others Increased computerization of NAST 
 
 
Increased computerization of enforcement agencies 
 
 
Training for users (development of information brochure and 
training program) 
 
 
Practical training in copy right piracy and trademark 
counterfeiting 
 
Developing rules, regulations, manuals  and operating 
procedures 
 
Enhancing public awareness on the protection of intellectual 
property rights Being implemented in 
2011 
 
To be implemented by 
2012 
 
On-going activities 
 
 
 
On-going activities 
 
 
On-going activities 
 
 
On-going activities TA received from WIPO. 
 
 
TA is needed.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
TA provided by WIPO and EU 
(ECAP III Project). 
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 
December 2015 based on tec hnical assistance and national capacity.  The Lao PDR Government avails itsel f to special and differe ntial 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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