According to Korea's Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), Timor-Leste expects to set up an intellectual property office in the first half of 2027, with Korean support. MOIP said on 9 November that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on comprehensive IP cooperation on 6 November in the presence of both heads of state, covering help with establishing the office and, beyond that, strengthening Timor-Leste's industrial competitiveness. The signing took place during the Timor-Leste President's official visit to Korea.
The Code has passed Parliament
According to the Government of Timor-Leste, the National Parliament gave final approval on 22 September, by 49 votes to none with no abstentions, to the Government's Industrial Property Code bill, which covers inventions, trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications. The Government says the regime also responds to its commitments under the WTO TRIPS Agreement and its integration into ASEAN. Until now the country has had only a 2022 Copyright and Related Rights Code. The Government's page does not give dates for promulgation or entry into force.
Korea's support
MOIP said it hosted the IP office preparation team of Timor-Leste's Ministry of Commerce and Industry in June 2025 for training on organisation and staffing, IP law, and examination and registration procedures for patents, trademarks and designs, and has run an office-establishment support project with WIPO since April 2026. A ministerial meeting was also held on the day of the signing.
MOIP expects trademark and geographical indication protection to add brand value to products such as Timorese coffee and Tais traditional textiles, and plans to link the cooperation with Korea-ASEAN and WIPO programmes.
J&C notes: businesses active in or heading to Timor-Leste may want to track when the Code takes effect and when the new office starts accepting applications; no filing date or filing channel has been announced yet.
Source: www.moip.go.kr | timor-leste.gov.tl
