Maldives Enacts Landmark Trademark Act 2025: First Comprehensive Statutory Framework Replacing Cautionary Notice System
Summary The Republic of Maldives enacted its first comprehensive Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025), establishing a modern registration regime aligned with international standards to replace the long-standing informal cautionary notice system. The Act introduces examination procedures, opposition processes, protection for well-known marks, and civil and criminal remedies, with a twelve-month implementation period before taking effect on November 11, 2026. Historic Legislative Development On November 11, 2025, the Republic of Maldives achieved a historic milestone in intellectual property law by enacting the Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025) , establishing the country's first comprehensive statutory framework for trademark protection. This landmark legislation represents a transformative shift from the Maldives' traditional reliance on informal cautionary notice publications to a modern, internationally aligned registration system featuring robust examination procedures, structur...