Introduction February 2025 marked a watershed moment for Southeast Asia’s newest nation. The Council of Ministers of Timor-Leste officially approved the draft Industrial Property Code, a critical requirement for its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and full integration into ASEAN.

From “Notice” to “Registration” For decades, brand owners had to rely on “Cautionary Notices” published in newspapers—a “wild west” system with limited legal weight. The new Code will finally establish a formal Intellectual Property Office and a proper registry for trademarks and patents. This transitions the country from a “First-to-Use” (common law) system to a formal “First-to-File” statutory regime.

What You Must Do Now The transition period will be critical. It is expected that existing Cautionary Notices will need to be re-filed as formal applications to maintain priority. Brands that fail to make this jump could lose their rights to squatters who file first under the new system.

How ASEAN IPR Helps: The window to convert your “Notice” into a “Registration” will likely be short. ASEAN IPR is monitoring the Dili government’s announcements daily. We are preparing “Re-registration Packages” for our clients to ensure that the moment the new Registry opens its doors, your applications are at the front of the line.