Recent Amendments to the Trademark laws in Brunei

View the amendment made to the Brunei Trade Marks Act (Cap 98) and Brunei Trade Marks Rules of 2000.

Effective 26 January 2017, the following amendments have been made to the Brunei Trade Marks Act (Cap 98) and Brunei Trade Marks Rules of 2000:

1. The word "visually" has been deleted from the definition of trademarks, opening the door for the Brunei Registry of Trade Marks to be able to accept non-traditional marks such as sound and smell marks.

2. From 1 April 2017, trademarks will be published online on BrulPO's website in the Trade Marks Journal, replacing the current practice of publication in the Government Gazette.

3. A new Section 109 gives effect to the Madrid Protocol enabling BrulPO to accept international applications via the Madrid system in view of its recent accession to the Madrid Protocol. The Trade Marks (International Registration) Rules, 2017 will be published soon, once approved.

4. The classification of Goods and Services in the Third Schedule has been amended to now include classes 43, 44 and 45 in accordance with the 11th Edition of WIPO's international classification of goods and services (Nice Classification).

For more information on trademark registration in Brunei and other Southeast Asian countries, kindly contact Seiter IP Consultants LLP at mail@ipconsultants.asia.

Thank you.