11 August, 2017
After several years of preparation for the accession to the international brand protection system, Thailand has finally joined the membership of the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks with the World Intellectual Property Organization as of 7 August 2017.
The Madrid Protocol will become effective in Thailand on 7 November 2017. During this three-month window, the Department of Intellectual Property will present a draft Ministerial Regulation regarding international registration through the Madrid System to the Minister of Commerce for his signature. In the meantime, there will be a Royal Decree specifying the effective date of the part of the Trademark Act (No. 3) concerning the Madrid System. At this time, it is expected that the Trademark Act and the Ministerial Regulation will both become effective on 7 November 2017 as well.
Under the Madrid Protocol, brand owners in Thailand will be able to seek registration for their marks in 114 territories of the other 98 member countries through a single application filed with the Department of Intellectual Property and payment of a single set of official fees. A list of current member countries (refer to link) to the Madrid Protocol and a fee calculator published by the WIPO (refer to link) are both available online. We will closely monitor the progress of this matter and keep you apprised of developments as they occur.
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