Patent Law in Cambodia

Introduction

The Law on Patents, Utility Models and Industrial Designs, enacted in 2003 as part of Cambodia’s accession to the World Trade Organization, provides inventors with a set of exclusive rights, in exchange for disclosure of their invention to the public. Law is complemented by two Prakas (Declaration) regarding procedural matters from 2006[1] and 2019[2], as well as an amendment to the Law in 2017.[3]

Patents are registered with the Department of Industrial Property of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI). In 2015, the MISTI concluded a Memorandum of Understanding on the Co-Operation in Industrial Property with the Intellectual Property of Singapore Office (IPOS), resulting in the first patent being granted in 2015 through cooperation with the IPOS.

Further agreements have been reached with the patent offices of Japan, Korea and the United States allowing for the acceleration of a Cambodian patent application on the basis of a patent filed with either of these offices. Cambodia is also the first country in Asia to allow for validation of European patents through an agreement with the European Patent Office. Chinese patents may also be validated in Cambodia through an agreement with the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration. Details of each of these programs are covered in this chapter.

Cambodia is also a party to the ASEAN Patent Examination Co-Operation (ASPEC) program, allowing applicants in other ASEAN patent offices to save time and money when applying for Cambodian patent protection. There are currently nine participating ASEAN IP offices (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). The program allows Cambodian application to use the search and examination results from any of these IP offices as a reference in the Cambodian patent prosecution when that IP office has found at least one claim to be novel and inventive.

Finally, Cambodia became a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, per Instruction of Accession dated August 24, 2016 and deposited with WIPO on the September 8, 2016, which came into force on December 8, 2016.

Patentable Inventions

An invention is defined in the law as “an idea of an inventor which permits in practice the solution to a specific problem in the field of technology” and may be, or relate to, a product or a process.[4] Any invention can be the subject of a patent, except for:[5]

Discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical models;
Schemes, rules or methods for doing business, performing purely mental acts or playing games;
Methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, as well as diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body; this provision does not apply to products for use in any of these methods;
Pharmaceutical products;
Plants and animals other than micro-organisms, and essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals;
Plant varieties.[6]

Computer software is patentable if it is a:[7]

Process invention, which in whole or in part, consists of steps that are performed by computer and are directed by a computer; or
Product invention consisting of elements of a computer-implemented invention, including in particular:
- Machine-readable computer program codes stored on a tangible medium such as a floppy disk, computer hard drive or computer memory; and
- A general-purpose computer whose novelty over the prior art arises primarily due to its combination with a specific computer program.

Novelty

The first requirement for an invention to be patentable is that it be a new invention, meaning it is not anticipated by prior art.[8]

Prior art consists of everything disclosed to the public, anywhere in the world, by publication in tangible form or by oral disclosure, by use or in any other way, prior to the filing or, where appropriate, the priority date, of the application claiming the invention. Disclosure to the public of the invention shall not be taken into consideration:[9]

If it occurred within twelve months preceding the filing date or, where applicable, the priority date of the application; and
If it was by reason or in consequence of acts committed by the applicant or his predecessor in title or of an abuse committed by a third party with regard to the applicant or his predecessor in title.

Inventive Step

Second, an invention must involve an “inventive step.”[10] An invention involves an inventive step if, having considered the prior art, it would not have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Industrial Applicability

Third, an invention must be industrially applicable, meaning it can be made or used in any kind of industry.[11] However, if the commercial exploitation of the invention would be contrary to public order or morality, or would be harmful to human, animal, or plant life or health, or would seriously prejudice the environment, or is prohibited by law, then it cannot be patented.[12]

Utility Model Certificates

Utility model certificates are a special form of patent, with a lower standard of registerability and shorter duration term. Whereas a patent must be new, involve an inventive step and be industrially applicable, a utility model need only be new and industrially applicable.[13] Whereas a patent expires twenty years after filing, a utility model certificate expires after seven years, with no possibility of renewal.[14] Applicants may, prior to grant or refusal, apply for their patent application to be converted into a utility model application, and vice versa.[15] The conversion may only be done once.[16]

Right to Patent & Naming of Inventor

Only the inventor or inventors have a right to a patent.[17] When two or more persons have independently arrived at the same invention, the person whose application is filed first, or if priority is claimed, the earliest priority date, has the right to the patent.[18] Unless agreed otherwise, the right to patents of inventions made pursuant to an employment contract belong to the employer.[19] The inventor’s name will be stated on the patent, unless the inventor opts to remain anonymous.[20]

Patent Application Process

Patent applications can be filed in person with the Department of Industrial Property of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation. E-filing of applications is currently not available.

Applications may claim priority based on an earlier national, regional or international patent application, according to the Paris Convention[21] and the Patent Cooperation Treaty. In such case, the Department of Industrial Property will request a certified copy of the priority application, as well as any search or examination reports or foreign office actions.

The patent application form must be made in Khmer and be accompanied by a description of the invention, one or more claims, one or more drawings when necessary to understand the invention, and an abstract, and be accompanied by payment of the official fee.[22] The descriptions must disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear and complete for it to be carried out by a person having ordinary skill in the art.[23]

If the application claims a prior filing date, a certified copy of the priority application is required[24] and must be submitted within three months from the request’s date by the Registrar.[25] Where a certified copy of the priority documents is in a language other than Khmer, it must be translated into Khmer and be submitted to the Registrar within six months from the request.[26] In addition, an English translation for non-English language documents is also required by the Registrar for the purpose of searching and examination, and must be submitted to the Registrar within six months from the filing date.[27]

The Department of Industrial Property will require the original notarized power of attorney, in case the Cambodian patent agent is appointed to undertake the filing.[28] Further, a notarized statement justifying the applicant’s right is required where the applicant is not an inventor of the claimed invention.[29] The original notarized power of attorney, the statement justifying the applicant’s right and a certified copy of the priority application must be submitted with the application or at a later date. The Registrar will issue a letter requesting these documents within two weeks of filing.

Application Acceleration with Japanese Patent Office

An applicant for a Japanese patent that has been filed in Cambodia may request for acceleration of their Cambodian patent application under the Cooperation for Facilitating Patent Grant (CPG). According to the Prakas (Declaration) on the Implementation of the CPG, the request for acceleration of patent decision based on the CPG must be submitted to the Department of Industrial Property of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation along with a certified copy of the patent gazette in the corresponding Japanese Patent Office patent application and its English translation, a translation of claims and specifications in English and Khmer, and a claims correspondence table. The applicant must submit a translation in Khmer to the Department of Industrial Property within six months of the date on which the request was filed for the CPG.[30]

Recognition of Korean Patents in Cambodia

Korean patents may be recognized in Cambodia under the Patent Recognition Program of South Korean and Cambodia, which entered into force on November 1, 2019.[31]

The program, which mirrors the acceleration program for Japanese patents described above, allows holders of a Cambodian patent application to request an accelerated decision based on examination results from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).

Under the program, the MISTI has agreed to deliver a decision within three months from the filing of the acceleration request, assuming that all the requirements are fulfilled.

At the outset, the Cambodian patent application must meet one of the following:

A patent application validly claiming priority under the Paris Convention based on the corresponding KIPO patent application;
A patent application that serves as the basis for validly claiming priority under the Paris Convention for the corresponding KIPO patent application including a PCT patent application that entered the national phase; or
A patent application that is based on the same patent application for claiming priority under the Paris Convention, as the corresponding KIPO patent application including PCT patent application that entered the national phase.

To request acceleration under the PRP, the applicant must have a granted Korean registration with an earliest filing date the same as the Cambodian patent and a granted Korean patent. Further, there must be claims in the Cambodian patent that are the same as one or more of the Korean patents.

For documentation, the request to the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation requires:

A copy of the patent gazette in the corresponding KIPO patent application, and its certification by KIPO;
Translation of claims and specification described in the patent gazette in English;
Translation of claims and specification described in the patent gazette in Khmer. The applicant shall provide the translation of the specification within one month from the date on which the request was filed;
Claims correspondence table between all the claims in the Cambodian application and those in the Korean patent that were deemed patentable. It is permitted to delete part of the claims granted by KIPO, so long as the deleted ones are still present on the table in a way that makes clear the correspondence between the two patents.

Acceleration Based on a US Patent

Under a bilateral program agreed on October 23, 2020, US patents may be used to accelerate the examination of Cambodian patent applications.

Under the regulation[32], holders of Cambodian patent applications may request an accelerated decision based on a granted US patent.

At the outset, the Cambodian patent application must meet one of the following:

A patent application validly claiming priority under the Paris Convention based on the corresponding US patent application;
A patent application that serves as the basis for validly claiming priority under the Paris Convention for the corresponding US patent application including a PCT patent application that entered the national phase; or
A patent application that is based on the same patent application for claiming priority under the Paris Convention, as the corresponding US patent application including PCT patent application that entered the national phase.

It should be stressed that the patent must still meet the subject matter criteria for Cambodian patents, which differs from the US standard. In particular, Cambodia does not currently provide patent protection for pharmaceutical products. Thus, such patents would not be granted under the program, even if a US corresponding patent has been granted.

Further, only patents with filing dates after January 22, 2003 (the date of entry into force of the Cambodian Patent Law), may take advantage of the program.

To request acceleration, the applicant must have a granted US registration with an earliest filing date the same as the Cambodian patent and a granted US patent. Further, there must be claims in the Cambodian patent that are the same as one or more of the US patent.

Regarding documentation, the request for acceleration must include:

A copy of the patent gazette in the corresponding US patent application, and its certification by the USPTO;
Translation of claims and specification described in the patent gazette in Khmer. The applicant shall provide the translation of the specification within one month from the date on which the request was filed;
Claims correspondence table between all the claims in the Cambodian application and those in the US patent that were deemed patentable.

Re-Registration of a Singaporean Patent

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation concluded a Memorandum of Understanding permitting for the filing of Cambodian patents through the Singaporean authority, and vice versa. The Memorandum of Understanding is valid until January 20, 2025 and can be renewed upon the mutual consent of both parties.[33] After the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation issued a Prakas (Declaration) on implementation the Memorandum on July 25, 2016, applicants are allowed to file for Cambodian patents through the IPOS.

In order to register, the applicant must have first been granted a patent in Singapore. The Singaporean patent must be in-force at the time of filing a request for registration in Cambodia. In addition, the patent must have a filing date on or after February 11, 2003.[34]

The request for registration of a Singaporean patent must be made to the Department of Industrial Property of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, and accompanied by a payment of the filing fee, a certified copy certificate of grant of the Singaporean patent, a certified copy of final specifications, a copy of abstract and a copy of original notarized POA if a local patent agent is appointed.[35] Although, a certified copy of the Certificate of Grant of Singapore patent is required to be submitted, the Registrar still examines this based on the Patent Law and its related declaration. Cambodian translations must be submitted to the Patent Office within six months from the date of filing a request for registration.[36] The registration fee and annual fee must be paid within three months from date of Registrar’s notification.[37]

Patent rights received under this declaration may not be enforced against any prior rights which already existed before the date of filing a request for registration of Singapore patent in Cambodia. A person who has been using or exploiting that patented invention in Cambodia may continue to use or exploit it, even though the Singapore patent was granted by the Cambodia Department of Industrial Property.[38]

Decisions of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation regarding the granting of a patent may be appealed to the competent court within three months of the decision.

Validation of European Patents

Under the Agreement between the President of the European Patent Office and the Cambodian Minister of Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, signed January 23, 2017, holders of European patent applications may apply to have their patents validated, thereby extending their rights to the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Agreement was ratified by Royal Kram on November 24, 2017[39] and the validation procedures set forth in a Prakas (declaration) dated December 8, 2017.[40]

Validation must be specifically requested, and is available for both applications directly filed with the EPO, as well as European PCT applications.

The European application must have been filed on or after March 1, 2018, the date of entry into force of the validation agreement. Further, pharmaceutical product patents are excluded from protection under Cambodian patent law, and therefore cannot be validated.

The first step in the validation process, is to pay the validation fee of EUR 180 within six months from publication of the search report in the European Patent Bulletin, or for European PCT applications, within the period for performing acts required to enter the European phase. This payment must be done by the agent representing the applicant before the EPO. There is a two-month grace period following expiration of the six-month window, subject to a 50% surcharge.

Second, assuming the validation fee was properly paid, within three months of the EPO granting the application, request for validation must be submitted to the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation.

The patent title, abstract and claims will need to be translated from English into Khmer, the national language of Cambodia. A publication fee and a certificate fee will be due upon acceptance.

Following successful validation, the patent owner will be issued an official patent certificate from the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation.

Validation of Chinese Patents in Cambodia

Under a recent Memorandum of Understanding[41] between the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Chinese invention patents may be validated by filing the necessary documents and payment of the prescribed fee, thereby extending the exclusive rights to Cambodia.[42]

The Chinese patent must have been granted and be in good order, with a filing date after January 22, 2003 (the date of signature of the Cambodian patent law). As the system is retrospective, all Chinese invention patents, so long as filed after the effective date, are eligible for validation.

Design patents and utility models are excluded from the validation system. Further, the validation is unilateral – Cambodian patents may not be validated in China.

Validation must be requested by a licensed agent in Cambodia before the Department of Industrial Property within the MISTI.

The validation request is composed of:

Request form
Certified copy of the Chinese patent
Description, claims, abstracts and drawings (if any) in Chinese and English translation
Certificate of patent registration issued by CNIPA in Chinese and English translation
Original notarized power of attorney appointing the agent
Translation into the Khmer language, which can be filed within six months of the request

The validated patent is valid in Cambodia for the remaining term of the Chinese patent, subject to the prescribed annual maintenance fees. Thus, if the Chinese patent has six years of its term remaining, the validated Cambodian patent will have a six-year term.

The MISTI only examines the request for formalities; should there be any deficiency, the requestor will have the opportunity to rectify it within two months.

Given the great number of patents in the Chinese patent registry and simple procedure, this validation route has become the most popular path to securing a patent in Cambodia.

Patent Duration and Annual Fees

A patent is valid for 20 years from its filing date, subject to payment of the following annual maintenance fees[43]:

The annuities are due from the date of application, and may be pre-paid three months before the annuity period. There is a six-month grace period for late payments, subject to a daily penalty. If the annuity has not been paid by the end of the grace period, the patent will be considered as abandoned and invalid. However, the patent owner may still request for restoration at any time for the remaining life of the patent (20 years from application date). A restoration fee, as well as the daily late fee and regular annuity amounts would be due.

Unity of Invention, Amendment & Division

A patent must relate to only one invention, or a group of inventions so linked so as to a form a general inventive concept.[44] Up until the application is ready to be granted, the application may be amended, so long as it does not go beyond the original disclosures.[45] Similarly, the application may be divided into two or more applications.[46]

Patent Rights

The core patent right is the right to prevent others from exploiting the patented invention.[47] “Exploitation” of a patented product means the making, importing, offering for sale, selling, stocking, using, or using of it. For patented processes, exploitation means using the process, or exploiting any product obtained directly by means of the product.[48]

The patent owner can institute court proceedings against any infringer, or anyone who performs acts which make infringement likely to occur.[49]

Certain limitations to patent rights exist, namely:[50]

Acts with respect to articles put on the market by the patent owner or with their consent;
Articles on vehicles temporarily or accidentally entering Cambodia;
Experimental purposes;
Users of the invention, or those making effective and serious preparations for use, prior to the priority date.

Upon request of the patent owner, or by a licensee in certain circumstances, a court may grant an injunction to prevent infringement or imminent infringement, award damages, or any other remedy provided for by law.[51] Further, anyone who knowingly infringes a patent shall be criminally punished by a fine of 5-20 million Riels (approx. USD 1,250-5,000), and/or imprisonment from one to five years.[52] Repeat infringers are subject to double fines and imprisonment.[53]

Government Exploitation & Non-Voluntary Licenses

Patent rights are not absolute, but subject to important limitations for government exploitation and non-voluntary licenses. The Government of Cambodia may decide, even without the agreement of the patent owner, that a government agency or a designated third-person may exploit the patent for the public interest in particular, national security, nutrition, health or development of vital economic sectors.[54] Further, if a court decides the patent owner’s or licensee’s use of the patent has been anti-competitive, they may permit government or third party-exploitation.[55] In either case, the patent owner has a right to a hearing and the payment of adequate remuneration.[56]

In addition to government and third-party exploitation, the law allows for the granting of non-voluntary licenses. Four years after the filing of the patent, or three years from its granting, whichever comes later, anyone may submit a request to the Minister for a non-voluntary license. This will be granted if it can be satisfactorily shown that the patented invention is not exploited, or is insufficiently exploited in Cambodia.[57] However, the patent owner may prevent the issuing of the non-voluntary license if they can show justifying circumstances.[58] As with government and third-party exploitation, the patent owner is entitled to compensation.[59]

Invalidation & Opposition

Any interested party may request the invalidation of a granted patent.[60] The request will be granted if it can be shown that the patent’s subject matter is improper, it is not novel, does not involve an inventive step, is not industrially applicable, or if its exploitation is contrary to public order, morality, or prohibited by law.[61] Further grounds for invalidation include insufficient description, improper claims or insufficient drawings.[62]

Further, third parties shall be entitled to file an opposition against any published patent or utility model certificate application within three months from the date of publication.

[1] Prakas (Declaration) on the Procedure for the Grant of Patents and Utility Model Certificates, 2006

[2] Prakas (Declaration) on the Management and Procedures for Grant of Patent and Utility Model, 2019

[3] Amendment of the Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, 2017

[4] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 3

[5] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 4

[6] Plant varieties are protected under the Law on Seed Management and Plant Breeder’s Right (Royal Kram No NS/RKM/0508/015)

[7] Prakas on the Procedure for the Grant of Patents and Utility Model Certificates, Rule 44

[8] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 6

[9] Id.

[10] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 7

[11] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 8

[12] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 9

[13] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 69

[14] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 73

[15] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 75

[16] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 76

[17] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Arts. 10 & 11

[18] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 12

[19] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 14

[20] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 15

[21] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 27

[22] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 16

[23] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 18

[24] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 28

[25] Prakas (Declaration) on the Procedure for the Grant of Patents and Utility Model Certificates, Art. 20 (5)

[26] Prakas (Declaration) on the Procedure for the Grant of Patents and Utility Model Certificates, Art. 20 (6)

[27] Prakas (Declaration) on the Procedure for the Grant of Patents and Utility Model Certificates, Art. 11

[28] Prakas (Declaration) on the Procedure for the Grant of Patents and Utility Model Certificates, Art. 33 (1)

[29] Prakas (Declaration) on the Procedure for the Grant of Patents and Utility Model Certificates, Art. 6 (3)

[30] Prakas on the Acceleration of Patent Grant under the CPG, Art. 5

[31] Prakas (Declaration) on the Acceleration of Patent Grant in Cambodia Based on Patent Recognition Program of a Cambodia-Related Patent with the Korean Intellectual Property Office

[32] Prakas (Declaration) on the Acceleration of Patent Grant in Cambodia Under the Cooperation on the Cambodia-Related Patent Application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office", issued on March 29, 2021

[33] Memorandum of Understanding on the Co-Operation in Industrial Property, Art. 10

[34] Prakas on the Registration of Singapore Patent in Cambodia, Art. 5

[35] Prakas on the Registration of Singapore Patent in Cambodia, Art. 4

[36] Id.

[37] Prakas on the Registration of Singapore Patent in Cambodia, Art. 10(3)

[38] Prakas on the Registration of Singapore Patent in Cambodia, Art. 11

[39] Royal Kram No. NS/RKM/1117/017 on the Ratification of the Agreement on Validation of European Patents

[40] Prakas (declaration) No. 282 MIH/2017 on the Regulation and Procedures for the Validation of European Patents in Cambodia

[41] MOU on Bilateral Cooperation on Intellectual Property between Cambodia and China, 2017

[42] Prakas (Declaration) on the Re-Registration of Chinese Patents in Cambodia - 2018

[43] Joint Prakas (Declaration) on Public Service Fees, dated July 8, 2015

[44] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 23

[45] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 24

[46] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 25

[47] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 41

[48] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 42

[49] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 43

[50] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 44

[51] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 126

[52] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 133

[53] Id.

[54] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 47

[55] Id.

[56] Id.

[57] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 56

[58]Id.

[59] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 57

[60] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 65

[61] Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs, Art. 66

[62] Id.