Thailand is a dynamic market in the heart of Southeast Asia, offering immense opportunities for companies planning to expand in the region. A stable economy, a growing middle class, and active participation in regional trade agreements such as RCEP make the country a natural choice for businesses thinking about expansion. The rapid growth of the e-commerce sector and investments in modern infrastructure further enhance Thailand’s appeal as a hub for both production and sales.
Registering a trademark in Thailand is a step that should rank high on the priority list for any business operating in the country. Whether you are exporting your products or outsourcing their production to local factories, it is essential to address formalities at the planning stage. At Trademark Partners, we support entrepreneurs in protecting their trademarks in Thailand, helping them build trust in this dynamic market.
How to Register Your Trademark in Thailand? Step-by-Step Process
The entire trademark registration process in Thailand can take anywhere from several months to a few years, depending on complications such as oppositions or objections.
Given this, it’s advisable to apply for trademark protection well in advance, especially if you are planning to operate on the Thai market. Trademark Partners provides comprehensive support throughout the registration process to minimize the risk of delays.
Registering a trademark in Thailand grants exclusive rights to use the mark for commercial purposes and protects it from unauthorized use. Additionally, it enables effective enforcement of rights in case of infringement. Since Thailand is a significant economic hub, operating there without trademark registration would not be a prudent choice—legal protection is undoubtedly a good practice.
Any natural or legal person can apply for trademark protection in Thailand, whether they are a Thai citizen or a foreigner.
Yes, it can, but only if the trademark has remained unused for at least 3 consecutive years. The party requesting cancellation must justify their legal interest in doing so, such as demonstrating that the unused trademark blocks the registration of their own mark or negatively affects their business activities. Without such justification, the request may be denied.
No, Thailand follows the “first-to-file” principle, meaning that trademark protection is granted based on the filing date rather than prior use. This makes evidence of prior use unnecessary during the application process.
Filing directly with the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) in Thailand is the fastest way to obtain trademark registration. This is because local applications are processed immediately by the DIP, whereas applications filed through WIPO must first go through international procedures, which can extend the process by several months. A significant advantage of filing locally is that the process concludes with the issuance of a Thai trademark certificate. Such a document is often more useful for dealings with local authorities, courts, or online platforms, as international certificates may not always be accepted as definitive proof of registration.
In Thailand, trademark protection can be renewed for another 10 years by filing a renewal application no earlier than 90 days before the current protection period expires and no later than its expiration date.
To file a trademark registration application in Thailand, you typically need to prepare the following: company registration documents (such as a business registration certificate) or a copy of the applicant’s passport, a power of attorney, a graphical representation of the trademark (if the mark is graphical or combined), and a list of designated goods or services associated with the trademark.
The cost depends on the number of classes and products being registered. Check out our pricing details to learn more about the specific fees.
In Thailand, trademarks eligible for registration include word marks, figurative ones, shapes, as well as non-traditional marks like sounds, provided they are distinctive, non-descriptive, and do not mislead or conflict with existing trademarks.
Yes, in Thailand, a trademark can be filed for multiple classes in a single application. However, if an objection or rejection arises in one class, the proceedings for that specific class will be halted or dismissed, while the application for the remaining classes will continue independently. In practice, this means issues with one class do not affect the consideration of the others.
A trademark registration in Thailand is valid for a period of 10 years, starting from the filing date.
In Thailand, you can check if your brand or a similar one is already registered by using the public trademark database maintained by the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP).