eCommerce may be a recent phenomenon for the people of Burma, but industry has made progress, especially in retail sales, real estate, and automobiles. Internet penetration is primarily driven via smartphones. Nearly 40 million of the country’s total population of 54 million use a mobile phone, and 80 percent have access to smartphones, which has expanded the adoption of mobile payment platforms. Social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Telegram, and Viber serve as quick and cheap tools to market and sell retail products. Following the 2021 coup, slower internet speeds, service disruptions, and restricted usage of some social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Signal—requiring the use of VPNs, which were also restricted by the military regime—hindered access to mobile payment systems and online platforms. Additionally, mobile data prices doubled.
As of July 2023, online merchants are required to register with the regime’s Ministry of Commerce. Online vendors must complete the registration process to obtain a license. Failure to do so can lead to prosecution under the Important Goods and Services Law.
The Trademark Law of 2019, which went into effect on April 1, 2023, represents Burma’s inaugural trademark legislation. The Industrial Design Law and the Copyright Law from 2019 also came into full effect in October 2023. The Copyright Law significantly updated Burma’s intellectual property rights framework by repealing the outdated Copyright Act of 1914.
With the recent opportunity for IP owners to register trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, and patents in Burma, it is essential for IP owners to assess their current and future product/service offerings. Burma has been strengthening its legal framework, improving enforcement mechanisms, and promoting awareness of intellectual property rights among its citizens and businesses.