By Nathan D. Wood, Business Development Manager Satyapon & Partners Limited
Over the last three years there have been sweeping changes to Intellectual Property Law in Thailand but what does that mean for business?
Never in the history of Thailand have the conditions been more favorable for genuine rights holders. The current government has fully embraced intellectual property as a key economic driver, and has formulated its policies to improve the IP landscape from end to end in the Kingdom to woo foreign investment by promoting Thailand as a safe market for IP. These efforts are championed by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers themselves, who chair the intellectual property committees, so the initiatives and impetus are coming from the top of the country’s executive branch. We hope this momentum continues as the Kingdom returns to democracy.
For a list of the relevant changes see the expanded article on our website at www.satyapon.com/news.php
Most larger companies have already registered their rights as a simple preventative measure to keep other legal businesses from exploiting their IP but many leave it at that considering the market too problematic to pursue enforcement of all but the most blatant infringement. We need more companies to reconsider their position on this to truly stamp our infringement in Thailand or at least relegate it to the back alleys not blatantly condoned in full public view. The time to enforce is now, the government is fully behind it and never has it been as easy to enforce.
SMEs on the other hand often leave it until they have a problem which is absolutely the wrong way to do things. The registration of rights in the Kingdom is very cost effective and greatly reduces legal costs should legal issues arise. Coming to us after the cow has been stolen from the farm and asking us to chase it down and recover it will cost vastly more than if you built a fence in the first place.
Trademark and Patent infringement are criminal offences in the Kingdom. Trademark enforcement is very easy, patent is a little trickier as local enforcement may have difficulty understanding the differences or similarities in highly complex patent matters, however Trademark law can sometimes be relied upon to bridge the gap. Trademark is integral to your overall enforcement strategy.
If you have any questions related to any intellectual property matter in Thailand or the surrounding countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam or think it’s time to rethink your IP strategy in the Kingdom please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
