Introduction Cambodia is rapidly digitizing its intellectual property infrastructure. Moving into 2025, the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has fully embraced its online filing system, encouraging applicants to abandon paper forms for the digital portal. While this makes filing easier, it has led to a false sense of security regarding maintenance.

The Silent Killer: The 5th Year Affidavit Despite the ease of online filing, the most dangerous trap in Cambodian IP law remains unchanged: the Affidavit of Use. Unlike most countries where you renew every 10 years, Cambodia requires you to file an Affidavit of Use/Non-Use between the 5th and 6th year of registration. With the new online system, the DIP is now more efficient at identifying and purging marks that miss this mid-term deadline.

Why “Online” Means “Faster Cancellation” In the old paper days, files could sit in dusty rooms for years. In the new digital database, a missing 5th-year affidavit is flagged automatically. This means the risk of losing your trademark due to an administrative oversight is higher in 2025 than ever before.

How ASEAN IPR Helps: We don’t just file and forget. ASEAN IPR enters your Cambodian trademarks into our secure docketing system that specifically flags the 5th-year deadline. We handle the drafting and online submission of your Affidavit of Use, ensuring that your transition to Cambodia’s digital system is seamless and safe.