Patent and Industrial Design Registration in Bangladesh
Patent protection in Bangladesh is now governed by the Patents and Designs Act, 2023, which replaces the Patents and Designs Act, 1911. The new Act modernises the patent framework and expands protections in line with Bangladesh's obligations under the Paris Convention, to which it has been a signatory since 1991.
Patentability Requirements
An invention is patentable if it is new, involves an inventive step, and is industrially applicable. As an LDC, Bangladesh benefits from an extended TRIPS transition period for pharmaceutical patents, which has policy implications for the domestic pharmaceutical industry — one of Bangladesh's largest export sectors.
Industrial Design Registration
Industrial designs (the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of a product) are registrable at the DPDT. Registration gives the owner the exclusive right to use the design and to prevent third parties from making, selling, or importing articles bearing the protected design.
Application Process
Patent and design applications are filed at the DPDT. Examination, publication, and opposition procedures follow. Given the long examination timelines at DPDT, early filing is strongly recommended to establish priority dates.
Contact LegalBD to discuss patent or design protection.