Intellectual Property
IP Enforcement
Anti-counterfeiting, market investigation and multi-channel enforcement — described by directories as among the region's strongest.
- Chambers Asia-Pacific · Ranked 15 years, Intellectual Property
- The Legal 500 · Tier 1, Intellectual Property
Enforcement in Bangladesh works best as a programme rather than a series of raids. Copying is cheap and distributed; a criminal raid on a single godown rarely changes a market. We build enforcement strategies that combine civil injunctions, criminal complaints, customs intervention, administrative action and buyer-side awareness, sequenced against where the client's losses actually are.
The practice conducts market surveys and investigations, obtains and executes search and seizure orders, and handles cross-border enforcement of treaty-based rights. It is the largest IP practice housed within a multi-practice firm in Bangladesh.
How we help
- Market surveys, investigations and evidence gathering
- Civil injunctions, search and seizure, and damages claims
- Criminal complaints, raids and prosecution support
- Customs recordal and border enforcement
- Online, marketplace and domain name enforcement
- Anti-counterfeiting programme design and budgeting
- Cross-border and treaty-based enforcement
Representative matters
- Large-scale enforcement campaigns for Sony against counterfeit television sellers and for Casio against counterfeit watch sellers.
- Recognition of NOKIA as a well-known mark in Bangladesh.
- Treaty-based cross-border enforcement for clients including Crocodile, Saybolt and 3M.
- Supreme Court judgment recognising parallel imports as trademark usage in the territory.
Mandates in this practice
Nokia · Counsel
Established the well-known mark doctrine in Bangladesh across all classes
Confidential brand owner · Counsel
Supreme Court judgment establishing that parallel and unofficial-channel imports constitute use of a mark in the territory
Sony · Enforcement counsel
Co-ordinated action against 160 counterfeiters
Casio · Enforcement counsel
Co-ordinated action against 60 counterfeiters
Case studies
Recent changes in the law
LDC graduation deferred to 24 November 2029
The UN General Assembly extended Bangladesh's preparatory period on an exceptional basis, moving graduation from least-developed-country status from 24 November 2026 to 24 November 2029. The TRIPS transition for pharmaceutical product patents continues in the meantime.
Commercial Courts Act 2026
Parliament enacted the Commercial Courts Act 2026, replacing the ordinance of 1 January 2026 and establishing designated commercial courts across the country. Their jurisdiction covers commercial contracts, banking, insurance, company matters and intellectual property disputes, with court-annexed mediation and fixed periods for hearings. Where a claim should now be filed is a question to settle before issuing proceedings.
Our writing on this
- LDC graduation deferred to 2029: what it means for pharmaceutical patents
The United Nations has deferred Bangladesh's graduation from least-developed-country status by three years, to November 2029. The TRIPS transition for medicines continues until then. The deferral buys time; it does not change what originators and manufacturers need to do with it.
- Madrid Protocol accession: what it would mean for rights holders in Bangladesh
An amendment to the Trademarks Act enabling Madrid accession is reported to be in progress. It would change how marks are filed in Bangladesh — and change what the work of protecting them actually consists of.
- The 2023 statutes: Bangladesh's IP law leaves 1911 behind
The Patent Act 2023, the Industrial Design Act 2023 and the Copyright Act 2023 replaced law dating to 1911 and 2000. Anyone still working from the old section numbers is working from repealed provisions.
- IP enforcement in Bangladesh: using treaty rights in a growing consumer market
Bangladesh is a first-to-file jurisdiction with a large and expanding consumer market. Brand owners who treat enforcement as a series of raids rather than a programme consistently under-recover.
Practical guide · Enforcement
From first notice to final judgment
For foreign clients we recommend a civil route backed by administrative and media action. Criminal complaints need a local registration and cannot decide ownership.
- 1Investigation and market surveyWe identify the infringer, the source of the goods and the scale of the problem.
- 2Cautionary noticePublished in national newspapers to alert the trade and the public.
- 3Legal notice / cease and desistServed on the infringer. Many disputes settle at this stage.
- 4Registry actionOpposition to the infringer's application, or rectification of its registration, at the DPDT.
- 5Civil suit with injunctionDistrict Court suit with temporary injunctions, raids and seizures; a money suit claims damages.
- 6Customs and border measuresAction against counterfeit imports under the Customs Act.
- 7Settlement or mediationCourt-annexed mediation can resolve matters faster and at lower cost.
Steps 2 to 4 typically take two to three months, after which a suit can be filed at once.
Questions we are asked
IP Enforcement in Bangladesh: common questions
- How do I stop counterfeit goods in Bangladesh?
- For foreign brand owners we recommend a civil route backed by administrative and media action: an investigation and market survey, a cautionary notice in national newspapers, a legal notice to the infringer, registry action at the DPDT, a District Court suit with temporary injunctions, raids and seizures, and customs measures against counterfeit imports under the Customs Act.
- How long does it take to start IP enforcement action in Bangladesh?
- The cautionary notice, legal notice and registry action typically take two to three months, after which a civil suit can be filed at once. Many disputes settle at the legal notice stage.
- Should a foreign brand owner file a criminal complaint against counterfeiters in Bangladesh?
- Criminal complaints need a local registration and cannot decide ownership of the right, which is why we usually recommend a civil suit with an injunction for foreign clients.
- Which court hears IP infringement cases in Bangladesh?
- Civil suits for infringement and passing off are filed in the District Courts. Criminal complaints for counterfeiting go to the Magistrates' Courts, and appeals from the IP registry go to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.
How we work with you
Free first consultation
Prompt preliminary advice on any IP action, at no charge.
No advance payment
We invoice only after the filing is lodged.
Transparent fees
Full schedule of official and professional fees on request.
One named lawyer
Clear English updates by email, with deadlines.
Dhaka is GMT+6. The Bangladesh weekend is Friday and Saturday.