Skip to main content

Protect Your Brand, Ideas & Creations in Thailand

Expert trademark registration, copyright protection, patent filing, and IP enforcement services. Safeguard your intellectual assets with licensed Thai attorneys who understand both local and international IP law.

Our IP Services

Comprehensive Intellectual Property Protection

Trademark Registration

Protect your brand name, logo, and identity in Thailand. We handle the full registration process with the Department of Intellectual Property.

Copyright Protection

Safeguard your creative works, software code, and original content. Essential protection for tech companies and content creators.

Patent Filing

Secure exclusive rights to your inventions and product designs. Patents protect innovations for up to 20 years in Thailand.

IP Enforcement

Take action against brand theft and infringement. Our team handles cease-and-desist letters, court injunctions, and customs recordals.

Trademark Services

Trademark Registration in Thailand

A registered trademark gives your business exclusive rights to use your brand name, logo, or slogan in Thailand. The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), under the Ministry of Commerce, oversees all trademark matters.

To qualify for registration, your mark must be distinctive and cannot contain restricted elements such as royal emblems, national flags, or marks that are confusingly similar to existing registrations.

What Can Be Trademarked?

  • Brand names and business names
  • Logos and visual identities
  • Slogans and taglines
  • Product packaging and trade dress
  • Sound marks and certification marks

Why Register Your Trademark?

Without registration, enforcing your brand rights in Thailand is extremely difficult. A registered trademark allows you to take legal action against infringers, seek court injunctions, and claim damages. Registration also prevents others from registering a confusingly similar mark.

Key Facts

Registration Process

Trademark Registration Timeline

The typical trademark registration process in Thailand takes 12–18 months from filing to certificate issuance.

01

Week 1–2

Trademark Search

Comprehensive search of the DIP database to check for conflicting marks and assess registrability.

02

Week 2–3

Application Filing

Prepare and submit the application with the Department of Intellectual Property including required documents.

03

Month 2–4

Formal Examination

DIP examiner reviews the application for compliance with formal requirements and distinctiveness.

04

Month 4–8

Substantive Review

Detailed examination of the mark against existing registrations. Deficiency notices may be issued.

05

Month 8–10

Gazette Publication

Approved marks are published in the Trademark Gazette for a 60-day opposition period.

06

Month 12–18

Certificate Issued

If no opposition is filed, the registration certificate is issued. Protection lasts 10 years, renewable.

International Protection

Thailand vs International Trademark Registration

Thailand joined the Madrid Protocol in 2017, enabling businesses to extend trademark protection to 130+ countries through a single application. Here is how the two routes compare.

Direct Filing (Thailand Only)
CoverageThailand only
Timeline12–18 months
Filing LanguageThai
Protection10 years, renewable
CostLower per-class fees
Best ForBusinesses operating only in Thailand
Madrid Protocol (International)
Coverage130+ countries via one application
Timeline12–18 months per jurisdiction
Filing LanguageEnglish, French, or Spanish
Protection10 years, renewable in all designated countries
CostCost-effective for multi-country protection
Best ForBusinesses expanding internationally

To file via the Madrid Protocol, you must first have a registered or pending trademark in Thailand (your “basic mark”). Lex Bangkok can help you with both the local filing and the international extension through WIPO.

Copyright Services

Copyright Protection in Thailand

Copyright in Thailand automatically protects original works from the moment of creation. However, formal registration with the Department of Intellectual Property provides critical evidence of ownership that strengthens your position in any legal dispute. Protection lasts for the creator’s lifetime plus 50 years.

Software & Apps

Source code, mobile applications, SaaS platforms, and database structures are all protectable under Thai copyright law. Essential for tech startups operating in Thailand.

Written Content

Books, articles, marketing copy, website content, and business documents. Copyright registration helps content creators defend their original work.

Music & Audio

Musical compositions, sound recordings, podcasts, and audiovisual content receive automatic protection with registration strengthening enforcement.

Design & Visual Art

Graphic designs, photographs, illustrations, and architectural works. Registration provides proof of ownership for commercial licensing.

Film & Video

Cinematographic works, video content, animations, and streaming media. Important for production companies operating in Southeast Asia.

Digital Content

Video games, e-learning materials, digital publications, and interactive media. Protect your digital assets in Thailand's growing digital economy.

💡

For Software Companies & Content Creators

If you are building software products or creating digital content in Thailand, copyright registration is your first line of defense. We help tech companies register their source code, UI/UX designs, and digital assets. Our team also drafts IP assignment agreements to ensure your company — not individual developers — owns the intellectual property created by your team.

Protect Your Digital Assets

Patent Services

Patent Registration in Thailand

Patents provide exclusive rights to inventions, granting the holder legal protection against unauthorized use, manufacture, or sale. In Thailand, the Department of Intellectual Property oversees patent registration under the Patent Act B.E. 2522. Whether you are protecting a new invention or a product design, patent registration is a critical step for businesses innovating in Thailand.

Invention Patents

Protection: 20 years

Protect new inventions that offer a technical solution to a problem. Covers processes, machines, compositions, and manufactured items. Protection lasts 20 years from the filing date.

Design Patents

Protection: 10 years

Protect the ornamental or aesthetic design of a product, including shape, pattern, or color combinations that give a product a distinctive appearance. Protection lasts 10 years.

Petty Patents

Protection: 6–10 years

A simpler, faster form of protection for minor inventions or innovations that may not meet the full patentability requirements. Useful for incremental improvements. Protection lasts 6 years, extendable to 10.

Who Can File?

Requirements

IP Enforcement

What to Do When Someone Steals Your Brand

Intellectual property infringement is a serious issue in Thailand, from counterfeit goods to unauthorized use of brand names online. If your IP rights are being violated, there are clear legal steps you can take to protect your business.

Investigation & Evidence

We conduct thorough investigations to document infringement, gather evidence, and identify responsible parties. This forms the foundation of any enforcement action.

Cease & Desist Letters

A formal demand letter is often the first step. Many infringers will stop once they receive a legally worded warning from a licensed attorney, avoiding costly litigation.

Court Injunctions

When informal resolution fails, we file for court injunctions to immediately stop the infringing activity. Thai courts can issue both temporary and permanent injunctions.

Customs Recordal

Register your trademark with Thai Customs to intercept counterfeit goods at the border. This is one of the most effective tools for brand owners fighting counterfeits.

Online Takedowns

We handle takedown requests for e-commerce platforms, social media, and websites selling counterfeit goods or infringing your IP rights in the digital space.

Criminal Prosecution

In cases of willful trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy, Thai law provides for criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About IP in Thailand

The standard trademark registration process takes approximately 12 to 18 months from filing to certificate issuance. This includes formal examination, substantive review, and a 60-day gazette publication period. Expedited options may be available for certain cases.

Yes. Foreign companies and individuals can register trademarks in Thailand either through direct filing with the Department of Intellectual Property or via the Madrid Protocol international system. A local representative or attorney is required for the application process.

The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty that allows trademark owners to seek protection in over 130 countries through a single application filed with WIPO. Thailand joined the Madrid Protocol in 2017. You need a basic mark (registered or pending) in Thailand to use this system.

Copyright protection in Thailand is automatic from the moment of creation. However, voluntary registration with the DIP provides important evidence of ownership that can be critical in legal disputes. We strongly recommend registration for software, creative works, and commercial content.

Copyright protection in Thailand lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus 50 years after their death. For works created by legal entities, protection typically lasts 50 years from the date of creation or first publication.

You have several options: send a cease-and-desist letter, file for a court injunction, register your mark with Thai Customs for border seizures, submit online takedown requests, or pursue criminal prosecution for willful counterfeiting. Our team handles all aspects of IP enforcement.

Costs depend on the number of classes, complexity of the mark, and whether any objections arise during examination. Contact us for a detailed quote based on your specific needs. We provide transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Foreign nationals can apply for patents in Thailand if they are from countries with reciprocal patent agreements with Thailand, or if they have a principal office in Thailand. Patents protect inventions for 20 years and product designs for 10 years.

Protect Your Intellectual Property Today

Whether you need to register a trademark, protect your software, or take action against infringement — our licensed Thai attorneys are ready to help. Get a free consultation today.