Thailand blog

Thailand’s New Patent Draft Act: Green Innovation Gets the Fast Lane back to blog Category: Patent Law Reform Sources: Updates on the New Thai Patent Draft Act and Patent Fast Track Programs (APAA Online) Introduction For years, Thailand’s patent system has been in need of modernization to keep pace with the global innovation economy. That moment arrived in late 2024 with the public hearing for the groundbreaking new Thai Patent Draft Act. This legislative overhaul is not just a tune-up; it increases the law from 88 to 171 sections, fundamentally redesigning the IP landscape. The Green Fast-Track Expansion While the entire act is significant, the immediate game-changer for businesses is the expansion of the “Target Patent Fast-Track” program. Solidified in late 2024, the program now prioritizes “Green Innovations”—technologies related to clean energy, plastic alternatives, electric vehicles, and waste management. This means eco-friendly inventions can now jump the queue, drastically accelerating the time to grant. Modernizing Procedures & Transparency Beyond speed, the Draft Act introduces critical updates for compliance. It proposes a new requirement for applicants to declare the source of any genetic resources or traditional knowledge used in an invention, aligning Thailand with international transparency standards. It also streamlines the opposition process, moving it to a second publication stage after substantive examination, which is expected to reduce delays. The Business Impact For companies in the renewable energy or biotech sectors, this is a massive opportunity. A faster patent grant means quicker access to licensing revenue and investors. However, it also means your filing strategy must be perfectly aligned with the new “green criteria” to qualify. How ASEAN IPR Helps: Is your technology “green” enough for the express lane? ASEAN IPR’s patent specialists evaluate your invention against the DIP’s new criteria. We guide you through the specific requirements for the Green Fast-Track program, ensuring your application is not only filed correctly but is positioned to be accepted for accelerated examination. Other Blogs The Free Ride is Over: Cambodia Enforces Strict Patent Renewal Penalties in 2025 • December 15, 2025 • cambodia blog The Free Ride is Over: Cambodia Enforces Strict Patent Renewal Penalties in 2025 back to blog Category: Patent Renewals Sources: Update to … The Design Revolution: How Thailand’s New Grace Period Protects Your Creativity • December 15, 2025 • Thailand blog The Design Revolution: How Thailand’s New Grace Period Protects Your Creativity back to blog Category:Industrial Design Strategy Sources: Thailand’s Draft Industrial Design … Strict Liability: Understanding IP Enforcement in Brunei • December 16, 2025 • Brunei Darussalam blog Strict Liability: Understanding IP Enforcement in Brunei back to blog Category:Enforcement & Customs Sources: Brunei IP Guide 2025 (Asia IP) Introduction Brunei … Cambodia’s Digital Leap: Mandatory Online Filings & The “5th Year” Trap • December 15, 2025 • cambodia blog Cambodia’s Digital Leap: Mandatory Online Filings & The “5th Year” Trap back to blog Category: Patent Renewals Sources: IP Protection in Cambodia …

The Design Revolution: How Thailand’s New Grace Period Protects Your Creativity back to blog Category: Industrial Design Strategy Sources: Thailand’s Draft Industrial Design Act (2025) (Khurana & Khurana) Introduction Under Thailand’s current Patent Act, the rule is harsh: if you disclose your design to the public before filing an application, you destroy its novelty. This “absolute novelty” requirement has long been a trap for designers who display their work at exhibitions or test markets prematurely. The new Draft Patent Act, however, is poised to fix this with a long-awaited solution: a six-month grace period. The Grace Period Explained The proposed amendment, which was the subject of intense public discussion in early 2025, allows designers to disclose their work for up to six months prior to filing without losing the right to obtain a patent. This aligns Thailand with international standards (like the Paris Convention) and provides crucial breathing room for creators. Defining “Distinctive Character” The Draft Act also seeks to clarify the definition of a design by emphasizing that it must have a “distinctive characteristic.” This suggests that in the future, simply being new might not be enough; designs may face stricter scrutiny to ensure they are truly unique and not just minor variations of existing products. The exact criteria will be elaborated in future manuals from the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP). Preparing for the Change While the law is still being finalized, businesses must start adjusting their product launch strategies now. Understanding how to document your disclosure dates will be critical to taking advantage of the grace period once it is active. How ASEAN IPR Helps: Don’t let a premature launch kill your IP rights. ASEAN IPR is closely monitoring the legislative progress of the Draft Act. We advise clients on how to structure their product roadmaps to leverage the upcoming grace period and prepare evidence of disclosure, ensuring your designs remain protected even after a market test. Other Blogs The Free Ride is Over: Cambodia Enforces Strict Patent Renewal Penalties in 2025 • December 15, 2025 • cambodia blog The Free Ride is Over: Cambodia Enforces Strict Patent Renewal Penalties in 2025 back to blog Category: Patent Renewals Sources: Update to … The P41 Billion Milestone: Philippines Smashes Records in Counterfeit Goods Seizure • December 15, 2025 • Philippines blog The P41 Billion Milestone: Philippines Smashes Records in Counterfeit Goods Seizure back to blog Category:Anti-Counterfeiting Record Sources: NCIPR seizes record P40.99 billion … Taking Down the Digital Fakes: IPOPHL’s New Strategy for Online IP Enforcement • December 15, 2025 • Philippines blog Taking Down the Digital Fakes: IPOPHL’s New Strategy for Online IP Enforcement back to blog Category:Online & E-commerce Enforcement Sources: Counterfeit haul … Cambodia’s Digital Leap: Mandatory Online Filings & The “5th Year” Trap • December 15, 2025 • cambodia blog Cambodia’s Digital Leap: Mandatory Online Filings & The “5th Year” Trap back to blog Category: Patent Renewals Sources: IP Protection in Cambodia …