Trademark Registration in South-East Asia
Protect your brand in the fastest-growing consumer markets in Asia. We coordinate country-specific trademark filings in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Why Protect Your Trademark in South-East Asia?
South-East Asia (SEA) is home to over 680 million consumers and is one of the world's fastest-growing economic regions. Indian companies are increasingly exporting goods, setting up operations, or licensing their brands across ASEAN markets. Without a trademark registration in each country where you operate, you have no statutory protection — and someone else can register your mark before you do.
Unlike the Madrid Protocol — which covers several SEA nations — trademark registration in South-East Asia often requires country-by-country direct national filings, each through the respective national trademark office. Our network of local IP associates allows us to coordinate these filings seamlessly from India.
Country-by-Country Overview
Singapore has a highly efficient, digitised trademark system. Registration is straightforward with relatively few objections. Classes must be filed individually.
Malaysia is a Madrid Protocol member. Both direct national filing and Madrid route are available. The Nice Classification system is used.
Thailand is not a Madrid Protocol member, so direct national filing is mandatory. Local associate required. Applications are filed in Thai and English.
Direct filing required through a local Indonesian IP attorney. Indonesia uses a first-to-file system — filing early is important to prevent third-party squatting.
Both Madrid and direct national filing are available. The Philippines follows the Nice Classification and uses English as the official language for trademark matters.
Vietnam uses a substantive examination system with relatively high objection rates for common or descriptive marks. A local associate is recommended for direct filings.
How We Coordinate Your SEA Filings
Each South-East Asian country has its own trademark law, filing requirements, fee structure, and examination procedure. We act as your single point of contact in India, briefing and managing local IP associates in each country on your behalf. You deal with us — we deal with the local offices.
Documents Required for SEA Filings
The following documents are generally required across most SEA jurisdictions. Country-specific requirements may vary and we will advise accordingly.
- A clear copy of the trademark (wordmark or device mark / logo in JPG/PNG format)
- List of goods and services with their Nice class numbers
- Applicant details: full legal name, nationality, and address
- Priority application details (if claiming priority from the Indian application)
- Power of attorney / authorisation letter (format varies by country)
- Certified copy of the Indian trademark application or registration (for priority claims)
What's Included
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Country-specific Filing
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Local Office Coordination
Managed through our network of local IP associates in each country
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Application Monitoring
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Multi-jurisdiction Support
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Consultation with a TM Expert