European patent validation in Laos takes place this April 2025
07 April 2025
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced the official implementation of the European patent validation system in Laos, effective on April 1, 2025. This significant development, detailed in the EPO’s official announcement, enables European patent holders to extend their patent protection into Laos. Laos has now become the sixth country to join the European patent validation network, marking its position as the second Southeast Asian nation, following Cambodia, to adopt this system. The foundation for this agreement was established on May 13, 2024, through the signing of the European Patent Validation Agreement between the EPO and the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Lao Department of Intellectual Property. Source: DIP
The subsequent progress involved the Lao Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) issuing a domestic regulation to implement the agreement, alongside collaborative efforts with the EPO to ensure a smooth rollout of the validation system. The provided article comprehensively covers this development in two parts. The first section delivers a general overview of the validation system, highlighting its advantages for patent holders. The second section delves into the specific key features and procedural aspects as outlined in the implementing regulation issued by the Lao DIP, offering a detailed understanding of the new system’s operational framework.
Dino Santaniello I IP expert @ South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk, Laos
“Patent examination is highly technical,” said Dino Santaniello, an IP expert for Laos to the South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk, a project funded by the European Commission. “It requires experts with deep knowledge across multiple industries and technologies. Countries like Laos, where the intellectual property system is still nascent and evolving, may not yet have the full resources or expertise to handle complex patent evaluations.”
According to Santaniello, by participating in the European patent validation system, Laos can leverage the expertise of EPO examiners, who have already conducted detailed reviews of the invention. The DIP focuses on checking compliance with Lao law (whether the invention is eligible for protection under national rules).
Santaniello added: “Importantly, a validated European patent remains subject to Lao law. If the patent is later found to violate local rules – such as overlapping with another registered patent – the Lao authorities can revoke or cancel it. Overall, this system improves legal certainty, boosts foreign investment, facilitates technology transfer and supports innovation in Laos by ensuring robust patent protection.”
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
