Parliament has opened the proposed laws on Trademark and Intellectual Property for public comment.
The Parliament said the opportunity to submit comments on the proposed new laws is open for the general public, businesses, artists and relevant experts until 11:00 am of the 22 July. Comments can also be sent to the Parliamentary Economic Committee at [email protected] or in writing to the Parliament Secretariat.
The government submitted a sweeping Trademark Bill to parliament, seeking to reinforce the country’s intellectual property regime while advancing the interests of domestic producers and artists on 14 July.
The draft legislation, introduced by Maduvvari lawmaker Ahmed Zahir on behalf of the administration, outlines a system for formalising trademark registration, clarifying ownership rights, and establishing firm legal mechanisms to combat infringement and counterfeiting.
Under the proposal, a trademark is defined as any sign that distinguishes the goods or services of one entity from another. Exclusive rights would be granted only upon official registration, enabling holders to block unauthorised commercial use of similar or identical marks, particularly in cases where such use could cause confusion over the origin of a product or service. The bill also outlines conditions under which these protections would not apply.
A day later, the government introduced a bill to the Parliament to establish a special Maldives Intellectual Property Office tasked with the protection, promotion and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Maldives.
The bill moved by ruling party lawmaker Hussain Hameed, seeks to establish a robust system for the protection and promotion of intellectual property in the country, encourage ingenuity and creativity in the business sector while facilitating the economic development of the country.
The types of intellectual property protected by the Act include trademarks, copyrights, patents, industrial designs and geographical indications.
The bill also aims to establish a government office called the Maldives Intellectual Property Office and define its responsibilities and powers, which includes the compilation of an intellectual property register, strengthening relations with international organisations, and facilitating the country’s entry into international intellectual property treaties.
The Parliamentary Economic Committee is looking to complete the review of both bills by 10 August.