Beginning from 1st March 2025, Cambodia launches the Accessing Office of WIPO’s digital access service. This integration will facilitate applicants in providing priority documents and all other IP-related documents between the participating IP offices.
Definition:
- Accessing office is defined as an office of second filing – allows the applicant to request that a priority document be retrieved through WIPO DAS rather than filing a certified copy.1
- WIPO DAS stands for WIPO Digital Access Service, which is an electronic system allowing priority documents and similar documents to be securely exchanged between participating IP offices. The system enables applicants and offices to meet the requirements of the Paris Convention for Certification in an Electronic Environment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Some of the benefits of using WIPO DAS include reducing the need to prepare, check or scan certified documents, removing the need to deal with different transmission and document formats, and removing the need to establish secure connections to multiple offices.
As the services are hosted and administered by WIPO, it also ensures documents being exchanged via secured channels and automating the exchange of documents with other participating offices. Applicants in Cambodia could now obtain new services at a low cost for filing applications in other countries.
Digital Access Service (DAS) provides a secured, trusted mechanism which allows offices both to transmit and to access unpublished documents with confidence that the transmission has been permitted by the applicants or other authorized persons.
CONCLUSION
The Launch Accessing Office of WIPO is a significant step underscoring Cambodia’s growth in IP services. The Accessing Office is intended for use with documents related to patents, utility models, industrial designs and trademarks.
As a regional leader in IP legal services, ILAW Cambodia Law Office is well-positioned to support businesses in navigating Cambodia’s evolving IP framework. With our expertise in intellectual property law and strong presence in Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, we have been assisting clients in registering, protecting and enforcing
1https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das/participating-offices/search.
their IP rights in compliance with international standards. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that businesses can fully leverage the opportunities, presented by WIPO’s Accessing Office while securing their innovations in the global market.
Author:
- Vicheka Lay, Partner; and
- Makara Um, Associate
They can be reach at ilawcambodia@ilawasia.com
