Country：泰国 · Intellectual Property
Thailand · Intellectual Property
Thai IP is administered by the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), covering patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, and geographical indications. Trademarks use the first-to-file system; Chinese companies should register early to prevent squatting. Patent protection is 20 years. Thailand can be designated via the Madrid System. Copyright is automatically protected upon creation. Customs can seize infringing goods.
Key points
- Trademarks: first-to-file; register early to prevent squatting.
- Patents: 20-year protection; novelty and inventiveness required.
- Designs: protected by registration; copyright automatically protected.
- Trademarks can be registered via the Madrid System designating Thailand.
- Customs can seize infringing goods.
Procedure
- Trademark and patent search (DIP database).
- Submit applications to DIP (or via the Madrid System).
- Examination and publication (trademarks include an opposition period).
- Approval and registration certificate issuance.
- Renewals on schedule.
Hard requirements
- Novelty (patents); distinctiveness (trademarks).
Costs
Application official fees; local agent fees; renewal fees.⏱ ⏱ Timeline：Trademarks about 12–18 months; patents take longer.⚠ Common risks
- Trademark squatting by local agents.
- Patent rejection for insufficient novelty.
- Infringement litigation; missed renewals.
Handbook
📘 Step-by-Step Handbook (with owner / timeline / cost / penalties)
Applies to：Chinese companies entering the Thai and ASEAN markets (manufacturing, agriculture, food, tourism, e-commerce) protecting trademarks, patents, petty patents, designs, and copyrights in Thailand. Thailand is a Madrid System (2017) and PCT member, governed by DIP.
Prerequisites
- Protection type (trademark/invention patent/petty patent/design) and classes determined (multi-class accepted).
- Foreign applicants must appoint a Thai local agent.
- Non-Thai application documents must include Thai translations.
- Priority claims must be filed within 6 months (trademarks) or 12 months (patents) of the first filing.
- Similarity search completed.
| Step | Action | Owner | Timeline | Cost | Official form / system | Notes & penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IP asset inventory and search. Search similar trademarks or patents in the DIP database and WIPO. | Thai local agent. | 1–2 weeks. | Commissioned search approx. USD 100–400. | DIP / WIPO | Thailand uses the first-to-file principle. Penalty：No search may lead to conflicts or oppositions. |
| 2 | Determine the protection strategy. Choose direct filing with DIP, or Madrid designating Thailand (trademarks)/PCT national phase (patents); designs register with DIP. | Legal or local agent. | — | Per official published rates. | Madrid / PCT / DIP. | Thailand is a Madrid and PCT member. Penalty：Wrong route or priority choices lose protection. |
| 3 | Submit the trademark application. Appoint a local agent to file with DIP (multi-class accepted), with Thai translations and the mark representation. | Thai local agent. | Formal examination about 1–2 months | Application official fees per official published rates | DIP trademark system | Local agent mandatory. Penalty：Without a local agent or translated documents, applications are returned. |
| 4 | Patent/petty patent application. File invention or petty patent applications and request substantive examination; designs register with representations. | Thai patent agent | Invention patents usually 2–4 years | Examination and annuity fees per official published rates | DIP patent system | Petty patents have a shorter term (extendable to 10 years from year 6). Penalty：Failure to request substantive examination invalidates the patent. |
| 5 | Examination, publication, and opposition. Trademarks are published after approval and third parties may oppose; patents are published after grant. | DIP/opponent | Publication period about 60 days | Opposition fees per official published rates | DIP opposition procedures | — Penalty：No publication monitoring may cause missed response deadlines. |
| 6 | Registration, grant, and enforcement. DIP issues the registration certificate upon approval; enforcement via administrative actions (DIP and police), customs (IP hotline 1368), or courts. | Legal/local lawyer | — | Enforcement fees per official published rates. | DIP / Thai courts | Thailand has an online 'notice-and-takedown' platform against e-commerce counterfeits. Penalty：Squatted marks are hard to enforce if unregistered. |
| 7 | Renewals and maintenance. Trademarks renew every 10 years; patents maintained by paying annuities on time (inventions 20 years / petty patents extendable to 10 years). | IP manager | Renew trademarks before expiry. | Renewal/annuity fees per official published rates. | DIP renewal system | Late payment has a grace period but with penalties. Penalty：Rights lapse if deadlines are missed. |
✅ Self-check list
⚠ Common pitfalls
No Thai local mandatory agent影响：Applications not accepted规避：Contract a local agent
Documents not translated to Thai影响：Returned with delays规避：Complete Thai translations before submission
Late substantive examination request影响：Application lapses规避：Request examination on time
Registered only in China, not Thailand影响：Squatting hard to enforce规避：Register before market entry
Ignoring renewals and annuities影响：Rights lapse规避：Set up reminder mechanisms
Insufficient trademark distinctiveness影响：Application rejected规避：Design distinctive marks
📅 Ongoing post-incorporation obligations
- Renew trademarks every 10 years
- Pay patent annuities annually to maintain validity
- Retain trademark use evidence
- Continuously monitor the market, publication periods, and e-commerce infringement
- Record rights changes with DIP.
🔗 Official portals
📎 Source：Thailand Department of Intellectual Property (DIP); WIPO; Madrid System
Want to turn this into an actionable compliance workflow?
CompliGo · Outbound Compliance Automation
You now have the essentials. Hand it to CompliGo: auto-generate compliance documents, real-time validation, and one-click regulatory alerts. Free trial for new users.
CompliGo is an independent SaaS operated by the outbound team. This knowledge base only drives acquisition and never handles funds or collects/pays on your behalf.