Prime Minister's Decree on Trademark Registration (*), No. 06/PM, January 18, 1995.

DISM and other government agencies rely on the authority granted by this decree to proceed with protection and enforcement measures.

These measures consist of :

• Administrative Measures
  Claims and disputes can be resolved by mediation through the Department Of Intellectual Property, Standardisation & Metrology (DISM) or the Economic Arbitration Committee.
  
  
• Judicial Procedures

Judicial Procedures for Intellectual Property Protection can involve both the Civil Code and the Penal Code.

Civil Code :

The Ownership Law of 1990 gives broad protection to individuals who can prove ownership of a disputed item.
Chapter VII, stipulating the protection of ownership, includes 13 articles and allows the legal owner to lodge cases with the courts.

e.g.

Article 56 The Protection of Property
The property owner has the rights to take necessary steps or measures towards the violators to rehabilitate and to compensate the right owner.

Article 64 Lawsuit for Compensation
If any individual causes damage or loss to the property of others, the owner of the property has the right to sue the violator and claim for relevant compensation.

The Penal Code :

The Penal code allows for the expropriation of all illegal goods from a guilty individual and for the levying of fines of up to three times the value of each item.

The following articles can be applied to all lawsuits and cases regarding violation of Intellectual Property Rights:

Article 111 Swindling of Citizen's Properties
Any individual using whatever swindling method to illegally acquire another's properties is liable to punishment by three months to two years of imprisonment.

Article 134 Selling Illegal Products
In terms of selling illegal products, he/she is liable to punishment by three months to two years of imprisonment and by fines in accordance with the Customs Law and regulations.


Enforcement Agencies for Intellectual Property in the Lao PDR

Department of Intellectual Property, Standardisation & Metrology
Science, Technology & Environment Agency
Nahaidiao Street
P.O. Box 2279
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel. (856 21) 213470
Fax. (856 21) 213472

Department of Judiciary Administration
Ministry of Justice
Lane Xang Avenue
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel. (856 21) 412054
Fax. (856 21) 414102

Economic Arbitration Organisation
Ministry of Justice
Lane Xang Avenue
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel. (856 21) 412051

Department of Criminal Police, Economic Division
Ministry of Interior
Samsenthai Road
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel. (856 21) 212529
Public Prosecutors General Office
Simuang Place
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel. (856 21) 214518

Department of Customs
Ministry of Finance
Lane Xang Avenue
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel. (856 21) 217452
Fax. (856 21) 217451


(*) Click here to download the Decree on Trademark Registration (english and lao version).