The short answer
The Maldives Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025) comes into force on 11 November 2026. It creates the first formal trademark registration system in the country. Ownership goes to the first to file. Registration lasts 10 years and is renewable. Cautionary notices in newspapers will no longer be the main way to protect a brand, so brand owners should prepare formal applications now.
What is the Maldives Trademark Act 2025?
The Maldives did not have a statutory trademark registration system. Brand owners published cautionary notices in local newspapers, in English and Dhivehi, to warn others off a mark. These notices gave no registered right.
The President ratified the Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025) on 11 November 2025. It enters into force twelve months later, on 11 November 2026. Law firms covering the Act, including Lysaght, Spoor & Fisher and Cozen, agree on this date.
Before
Cautionary notices
Informal newspaper warnings with no registration and no statutory priority.
After
Formal registration
Applications are examined and registered, with a 10-year term.
Ownership
First to file
Rights go to the first applicant, not necessarily the first user.
Key rules in the new law
- Broad definition: any sign that can distinguish goods or services, including names, letters, numbers, shapes, patterns and combinations.
- Certification marks and collective marks are provided for.
- Examination covers absolute grounds and relative grounds.
- Priority claims are available, although the Maldives is reported not yet to be a member of the Paris Convention.
- Well-known marks are protected.
- Opposition may be filed within three months of publication.
- Registration lasts 10 years, renewable for further 10-year periods, with a 6-month grace period after expiry.
- A registration can be attacked for non-use after five years.
- Civil and criminal remedies apply to infringement and counterfeiting.
Sources differ on small points, such as when exactly the 10-year term starts. Check the Gazette text before relying on a detail.
What happens to cautionary notices?
Reports say owners who relied on cautionary notices should file within 12 months of the Act taking effect, so by 11 November 2027, to keep continuous protection. This is the advice given by several firms.
Lysaght points out that the Act itself does not mention a transition period and advises owners not to assume one will apply. Spoor & Fisher also says it is unclear how this will work without express transitional provisions.
| Point | Position |
|---|---|
| Statutory transition period | Not stated in the Act, according to Lysaght |
| Reported filing window | 12 months, to 11 November 2027 |
| Regulations and guidelines | Due within six months, by about 11 May 2027 |
| System ready | May not be fully working until early 2027 |
What brand owners should do now
List your marks
- Find every mark you protect in the Maldives only by cautionary notice.
- Note which marks matter most for tourism, retail and import business.
Prepare applications
- Gather mark images, goods and services lists and applicant details.
- Be ready to file as soon as the office opens its system.
Keep existing notices
- Do not drop current cautionary notices until the new system works.
- Watch for regulations, fees and the office launch notice.
File early
- Because it is first to file, an early application is safer than waiting for the end of any window.
Why this matters to Bangladesh brands
Bangladeshi exporters of garments, food and consumer goods sell to the Maldives through distributors. A distributor can file your mark first under a first-to-file rule. Put the Maldives on your list when you plan trademark filings in South Asia.
SUPREMEiP® can coordinate trademark filings across South Asia from Dhaka. Fees and procedures in the Maldives are not yet published.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Maldives Trademark Act start?
On 11 November 2026, twelve months after the President ratified Law No. 19/2025 on 11 November 2025.
Is the Maldives first-to-file?
Yes. Ownership is decided by who files or registers first, not by who used the mark first.
How long does a Maldives trademark last?
Ten years, renewable for further ten-year periods, with a six-month grace period after expiry.
Do cautionary notices still protect my brand?
They remain the current practice until the new system works, but they give no registered right. Plan to file a formal application.
Can I file on 11 November 2026?
Not necessarily. Regulations are due by about 11 May 2027 and the system may not be fully working until early 2027.
Need a trademark filed in South Asia?
Talk to the SUPREMEiP® team about Maldives, Bangladesh and India trademark strategy.
