Intellectual Property in Cambodia: A strategic issue for innovation and economic development
- Editorial team
- Sep 25
- 5 min read
Cambodia is facing a major challenge: strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection to support its development. On Tuesday 16 September 2025, an event deciphering this concept was held in Phnom Penh.
An encouraging but complex context
Cambodia is experiencing sustained economic growth accompanied by a definite entrepreneurial dynamism. Innovation and research are developing, particularly in the technological and industrial sectors. However, the protection of intellectual property remains fragile. Although Cambodian legislation in this area complies with international standards such as those defined by the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), it is struggling to be fully applied in practice.
According to the experts, IP is still an unfamiliar concept that is underused by the majority of local businesses and even within the academic community.
This situation is due in particular to legal, economic and social obstacles. The legal framework exists, but the effectiveness of protection mechanisms - whether patents, trademarks or copyright - is limited by a lack of awareness, institutional resources and rigorous enforcement.
Counterfeiting remains a particularly prevalent problem in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, negatively impacting the valorisation and commercialisation of domestic innovations.
The importance of intellectual property for Cambodia
At the conference on 16 September, Charles Julliard, Executive Director of the CCIFC, stressed in his opening speech that IP must be seen as an essential strategic lever in a context of globalisation and technological revolution. Innovation cannot flourish without a system that protects creations and inventions.
Professor Nicolas Maïnetti, Regional Director of the AUF Asia-Pacific, also emphasised the role of IP in promoting research and supporting rapid economic change. He pointed out that protected creation stimulates competitiveness and encourages investment, which are essential for sustainable development.
Exemplary collaboration to raise awareness and provide training
The event organised by the CCIFC was an illustration of the synergy between international institutions and highly committed local players. In addition to the CCIFC, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI France) and the Alliance Francophone de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AFPI) played an active role in this exchange. Expert speakers such as Fabrice Perrono, Nicolas Mainetti, Ang Pich, Yasmine Benkoula, Nith Nitikar, Vichet Ny and Dr Djamel El Akra shared specialist analyses and practical experience on protection tools and strategies.
The conference, which was also held at the Institut Français du Cambodge, enabled the participants - more than a hundred students, researchers and entrepreneurs - to acquire in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms for registering, defending rights and combating counterfeiting. Good practice, the mistakes to avoid and the reflexes to adopt to secure the value of intangible assets were also widely discussed.
Continuing challenges
Despite the legal framework, the effective implementation of intellectual property in Cambodia faces a number of difficulties. As studies and expert opinions show, awareness remains a key step. Many SMEs do not protect their inventions, and access to specialised justice is still limited. In addition, regulation and market surveillance are insufficient to curb counterfeiting, a major source of harm to innovators.
Institutional capacity-building, training for economic players and the development of an ecosystem conducive to research and innovation are essential. The WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) and other regional partners are supporting Cambodia in this direction, in particular through action plans and training programmes aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and creators.
A fundamental issue
The 16 September 2025 conference in Phnom Penh highlighted a fundamental issue for Cambodia's economic future. Intellectual property, often perceived as a distant concept, is in fact a powerful lever for innovation, competitiveness and growth. While there are still many challenges ahead, the commitment of institutional and private-sector players, combined with greater awareness of the issue, should lead to positive developments. If Cambodia is to take full advantage of its creative potential, the protection of intellectual property rights must become a national priority, supported by concrete action and enhanced international dialogue.
Intellectual property refers to all the exclusive rights granted over creations of the mind: literary and artistic works, inventions, trademarks, industrial designs, and so on. Its aim is to protect authors, inventors and creators by guaranteeing them exclusive exploitation rights over their creations, thereby encouraging innovation and creativity.
To find out more
In Cambodia, intellectual property is governed by several main pieces of legislation that were put in place to comply with international obligations, in particular those of the WTO and WIPO:
The ‘Law on Copyright and Related Rights’ adopted in 2003, which protects literary and artistic works and related rights, with specific provisions on the duration of rights and the terms of protection.
The 2002 ‘Law on Trademarks, Trade Names and Unfair Competition Practices’, which governs the registration and protection of trademarks in Cambodia.
Legislation on patents, utility models and industrial designs, including recent legislative amendments (e.g. 2017 law).
Cambodia also applies the principle of the right of priority in accordance with the Paris Convention, allowing protection to be sought in several countries on the basis of a first application.
Mechanisms to protect and enforce these rights, as well as dispute resolution procedures (e.g. arbitration, mediation) exist, but practical implementation is still under development in Cambodia.
These laws aim to protect the rights of intellectual property owners, while fitting into the international legal framework, in order to encourage the country's economic and cultural development in a context of globalisation.
Protection of artistic works
Artistic works in Cambodia are mainly protected by copyright, which is covered by the 2003 Copyright Law. This law grants the creator exclusive rights over his or her work without any compulsory registration, but a deposit with the Department of Intellectual Property Rights (DIPR) is possible to strengthen proof of ownership. Cambodia is also a member of the Berne Convention, which protects literary and artistic works in accordance with international standards.
Protecting an invention
To protect an invention in Cambodia, a patent application must be filed with the Industrial Property Department of the Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts. Filing is compulsory in order to obtain a patent, which confers the exclusive right to exploit the invention for a period of 20 years from the filing date. The registration process generally takes 4 to 5 years. There is also protection for utility models (7 years) and industrial designs (5 years, renewable).
Procedures and administration
Trademarks, patents, industrial designs and works can be registered via a recent electronic system, making the process more accessible. Legal protection makes it possible to take action against counterfeiting and to exercise exclusive exploitation rights. Alternative mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration also exist to settle disputes.
To sum up, protecting a work or invention in Cambodia involves registering it with the relevant authorities (DIPR and Ministry of Industry) depending on the type of intellectual property, with a legal framework aligned with international standards to guarantee the rights of the creator or inventor.
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