IPR and company registration in Nepal

Intellectual property right

IPR are legal rights that a person gets over the creations of his or her mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, names and logos. They let the creator control their use and earn from them for a limited time. Types: copyright (Copyright Act 2059); patent, industrial design and trademark (Patent, Design and Trademark Act 2022); and trade secrets.

Company registration procedure in Nepal (Companies Act 2063)

1. Name approval: apply online to the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR) to reserve a unique company name.
2. Prepare documents: Memorandum of Association (name, objectives, capital, address), Articles of Association (internal rules), promoters' citizenship/passport copies, and the consent of the directors.
3. Submit the application with the prescribed form and the registration fee, which is based on the authorised capital.
4. Scrutiny and approval by the OCR.
5. Certificate of incorporation is issued, making the company a separate legal entity with perpetual succession.
6. Further registrations: PAN/VAT at the Inland Revenue Office, registration with the local government, the industry/trade licence, and registration with the Social Security Fund and the labour office when employing staff.
7. Public companies must also get the approval of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) before issuing shares to the public, and then commence business.