Brand protection in a regional market — trademark prosecution in 2026.

Trademark prosecution before Sri Lanka's National Intellectual Property Office has changed measurably over the past two years, and brand owners with regional portfolios should adjust their filing practice accordingly.

Examination timelines have shortened, but oppositions have become more actively contested. The practical effect is that clearance searches — always advisable — are now essential: marks that would once have coasted to registration are being met with reasoned oppositions from watchful competitors.

Sri Lanka's accession to the Madrid Protocol continues to shape strategy. International registrations designating Sri Lanka are now routine, but local counsel remains necessary for oppositions, office actions, and enforcement — none of which can be conducted from abroad.

Enforcement before the Commercial High Court has likewise sharpened. Well-documented use, recorded assignments, and tidy chains of title move cases; gaps in the register invite delay.

The firm's IP practice files, prosecutes, and enforces marks for the owners of many well-known brands. A note to the practice with a list of marks and markets is sufficient to begin a portfolio review.