Brunei IP Office – New Operating Hours

With effect from 04 January 2017, the Brunei IP Office (BruIPO) has instituted new operating hours.

Under this new arrangement, BruIPO is closed every Friday and Sunday, which have been declared as non-working days. Any deadlines falling on those days can be validly met on the next working day without penalty.

In addition to the weekdays of Monday through Thursday, Saturday is also now a full working day for BruIPO and applications and/or submissions can be made up to 4.30 pm on those days. However, 11.00 am is the cut-off time for payment of official fees on Saturdays as opposed to 3.00 pm for the rest of the week.

In view of these changes, it is recommended that clients provide instructions at least three working days in advance of any deadlines, particularly, for deadlines that fall due on a Saturday.

Trademarks Act 2019

Dear Valued Clients & Associates

We are pleased to announce that the long-awaited overhaul of trademark laws in Malaysia is finally coming to fruition. The all-new Trademarks Bill 2019 was tabled in the Malaysian Parliament on 11 April 2019 and was approved, with some amendments, by the Lower House (Dewan Rakyat) on 02 July 2019 and the Upper House (Dewan Negara) on 23 July. Pending royal assent, it is now most certain that the new Act will come into effect by the last quarter of this year.

We will keep you apprised when the Trademarks Act 2019 becomes enforceable and the accompanying Trademark Regulations are issued.

In the meantime, please click here for some key takeaways from the new statute.