Laos

Franchise regulation

No specific franchising regulation

Pre-contractual disclosure requirements

No

Registration

It is not mandatory to register the franchise agreement itself with the local authorities. However, a short-form agreement relating to the trademark subject to the franchise agreement(s) must be registered with the Laos Department of Intellectual Property whereby a licensor grants the licensee the right to use the trademark. To do so, it is necessary also to have the relevant trademark registered with the Lao Department of Intellectual Property.

Other issues

Although not required by law, parties to a franchise agreement can choose to notarize the agreement with the Notary Office, under the Ministry of Justice. This is not necessary for a contract to be valid and enforceable. However, it may provide additional evidence that the contract has been validly concluded under Lao laws, in the event that any disputes arise. In Laos, unlike other jurisdictions, notary officers are permitted to confirm that agreements do not contravene Lao laws, along with confirming that the signatories are the ones signing these agreements.

Agreements must be in, or translated into, the Lao language for them to be notarized. The same translation requirement applies to short-form agreements to be registered with the Lao Department of Intellectual Property.

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