Cambodia is one of the fastest-growing markets in Southeast Asia, offering immense potential for developing businesses. Investments in infrastructure – from highways to modern ports – and participation in key trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) make this country an attractive destination for business.Dynamic urbanization is driving demand for new products and services, creating ideal conditions for companies looking for new production hubs or markets. Trademark registration in Cambodia is a crucial step that should be addressed as early as the planning stage of cooperation with Cambodian partners.
This requirement applies to every market participant planning long-term business operations, whether it’s a foreign company exporting products or services to Cambodia or importers outsourcing production under their own brand to factories in the kingdom. At Trademark Partners, we support ambitious entrepreneurs in the trademark registration process in Cambodia and, more broadly, in key Asian markets.
Submitting a trademark application for protection directly in Cambodia is only possible through a professional representative. Foreign entities cannot act independently for two main reasons:
The trademark registration process in Cambodia typically takes 9-12 months in the best-case scenario but may take longer, even if no refusal or opposition arises.
To prepare and file a trademark protection application in Cambodia, the following documents are necessary:
Registering a trademark in Cambodia is a good practice for protecting your brand in a market where importers purchase goods under their own brand and exporters sell their products. Operating in the market without registering your brand exposes you to risks, such as someone else registering the same or a similar brand to yours. This could force you to either withdraw from the market, fight to reclaim the rights to your trademark, or face allegations of trademark infringement and the obligation to pay damages.
Cambodian law allows for trademark protection applications by entities such as companies and individuals, both domestic and foreign.
Yes, as in other countries, an unused trademark in Cambodia can lose its protection upon the request of any interested party. Such an application for cancellation of rights can be made for a trademark that has been protected for at least 5 years from its registration date.
Yes, in Cambodia, a trademark owner must present evidence of its use to maintain legal protection. This requirement must be fulfilled within the year following five years from the registration or its renewal date, regardless of whether it is the first or subsequent protection period. Otherwise, the Office may invalidate the trademark rights due to non-use of the mark.
Filing locally, directly with the Department of Intellectual Property Rights (DIPR) in Cambodia, is the fastest way to obtain a registration certificate. This is because a locally submitted application is processed directly by DIPR, whereas an application filed via WIPO must first be reviewed by WIPO and then forwarded to Cambodia, where the process starts over. Local filing can save valuable time, which can amount to several months.
Although a certificate obtained through an international procedure is formally equivalent to a local one, in practice, government offices, courts, and local e-commerce platforms often require a local document. If the trademark owner does not have it, they must submit an additional application to the DIPR for its issuance, which results in extra costs and delays.
An application to renew trademark protection in Cambodia for the next 10-year period can be submitted no earlier than 6 months before the expiration of the current period and no later than its last day.
A late application is still possible within 6 months after the expiration of the protection period, but it involves risks and requires paying additional fees.
To submit a trademark registration application in Cambodia, you usually need to prepare: company registration documents or a copy of a passport, the original legalized power of attorney, a graphic representation of the trademark and a list of designated goods or services related to the mark.
No, in Cambodia, there is no requirement to use the trademark before applying for protection. The country applies the “first to file” principle when considering trademark protection applications.
The costs depend on the number of classes and products being registered. Check our price list for more details.
In Cambodia, the following types of trademarks can be registered: word marks, word-graphic marks, graphic marks, 3D marks, marks containing color combinations, or combinations of all these elements.
Yes, a trademark in Cambodia can be filed for protection in multiple classes with a single application. However, we do not recommend this approach due to potential complications if the trademark faces refusal or opposition in any of the classes filed.
Trademark protection in Cambodia is valid for a period of 10 years from the date of filing the application.
The availability of a trademark can be checked in the database of the Cambodian Department of Intellectual Property Rights (DIPR).