Intellectual property
in Thailand.
Protect your Thai company’s assets with the intellectual property instruments – trademarks, patents and copyright.
Trademarks.
Although there are different kinds of marks (trademarks, service marks, certification marks and collective marks), we only discuss the trademark here. Do note that there is also a special protection for well-known marks, if one can proof the famous reputation of their mark.
The Trademark Act governs the rules on trademarks and states amongst others that:
A logo of the trademark in the exact color
- A registered trademark protects the owner against infringement
- In order to cancel the registration of any mark, the objection has to be filed within 5 years after the registration (or after 3 years of non-use)
- If the rights are infringed, one may petition for a court injunction instructing the infringer to cease and desist
- Distinctiveness: The products have to be qualified as different by the larger public. This means that it should have one of the following features:
- The name of a physical or juristic person or a trade name which is used in a special or particular way and without directly referring to the character and quality of the product
- A word or clause which is not a geographical name and without directly referring to the character or quality of the product
- A group of colors which is used in a special or particular way
- A picture, letter, numeral or word which has been invented
- The signature of the applicant or his authorized representative
- A photograph of the applicant or his authorized representative
- Not forbidden under the Trademark Act
- No identical or similar to other trademark registrations
Some characteristics are also excluded; a trademark cannot contain one of the following items:
- Royal or official arms or crests, royal seals, official seals, the Royal Chakri seal, emblems and insignia of royal orders and decorations, position seals, emblems of ministries, bureaus, departments, or emblems of provinces, or similar to this
- Flags of Thailand, royal standards, or official flags, or similar items
- Royal names, royal signatures, royal monograms, or royal dynasties, or similar to this
- Photographs or portraits of the King, Queen, or heirs, or similar to this
- Names, words, text, or emblems which represent the King, Queen, royal descendants, or heirs, or similar items
- Flags or national emblems of foreign countries or international organizations, or seals, names, initials or acronyms of those entities
- Official emblems, emblems of the Red Cross or Geneva Cross, or similar to this
- A mark identical or similar to the representation of a medal, diploma, or certificate
- A mark which is contrary to public order, morality, or public policy
- A mark which is identical or very similar to a well-known trademark and thus confuses or deceives the public
- A geographical indication which is protected under related laws
- Other trademarks prescribed by the Minister
In order to be able to register the trademark, an official form has to be completed in Thai and filed with the Department of Intellectual Property. A sample of the product should be attached, and the address of the applicant in Thailand should be mentioned. If the applicant is not domiciled in Thailand, the business office or premises will be considered as the domicile. A duly filed application will be published in the Trademark Gazette for 90 days. In case no one files an objection within that period of time, the trademark will be registered and the payment of the registration fee will be due.
Patents.
For what concerns national law, Thailand also has three Patent Acts (dated 1979, 1992 and 1999) which protect inventions and product designs. An invention creates a new, industrially applicable, product or process or an improvement thereof.
Some conditions have to be fulfilled before the product or process will be qualified as new:
Royal or official arms or crests, royal seals, official seals, the Royal Chakri seal, emblems and insignia of royal orders and decorations, position seals, emblems of ministries, bureaus, departments, or emblems of provinces, or similar to this
- The invention is not yet patented in Thailand, are has been patented for more than 18 months in a foreign country
The patent protects an invention for 20 years and cannot be extended.
A product design is a form or composition of lines or colors which gives a special appearance to a product. The form or composition has to be absolutely new and cannot be contrary to the public policy or good morals before it can be patented. The patent protects the product design for 10 years.
Who can apply for a patent?
- Thai nationals or juristic persons having their main office in Thailand
- Nationals of countries that have reciprocal patent agreements with Thailand
- Nationals of a country which allows Thai nationals or juristic persons with a principal office in Thailand to apply for patents
- Nationals of countries which are parties to international treaties or conventions for patent protection to which Thailand is also a party
