Overview Thai businesses expanding overseas face a recurring and commercially damaging risk: third parties including former distributors and competitors filing trademark applications in foreign jurisdictions that are identical or confusingly similar to established Thai marks. By the time a brand owner discovers the problem, the opposition window has often already closed. In response, Thailand’s Department […]
Advent of Trademark Law in the Maldives
A new Trademark Bill establishing the Maldives Trademark Law (Law No 19/2025) and the Maldives Intellectual Property Office (MIPO) was ratified in November 2025 by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, creating a statutory basis for trade mark protection in the country, inter alia, with a view to further economic development of the nation. MIPO was established […]
Thailand Introduces “Trademark Fast Track 4 Months Plus+” Program for E-Commerce Entrepreneurs
The Thai Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has introduced a new trademark examination program called “Trademark Fast Track 4 Months Plus+”, effective from 1 January 2026. This program is designed to support e-commerce entrepreneurs who require faster trademark examination and registration process in order to use their marks promptly for online business operations. Under the […]
Revision of Trademark Goods and Services Classifications in Thailand under the Nice Classification 13th Edition
The Nice Classification of Goods and Services (NCL), established in 1957, is the international system for classifying goods and services for trademark registration, ensuring consistency across jurisdictions, particularly for Madrid Protocol filings. Although Thailand is not a party to the Nice Agreement, the Thai Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has applied the NCL as a reference framework since […]
Nepal – An Update on Pending Trademark Applications
Background Sometime on or about 19 August 2025, Nepalese Trademarks Registry issued a notice requiring actions as follows: For trade marks registered before 19 August 2025 and within 7-Year renewal period, all trade mark proprietors must submit evidence of use within 60 days from the date of publication. For Pending Applications Applications which remain pending […]
IndiaMart vs. Puma: Navigating Intellectual Property Rights and Intermediary Responsibility in the Digital Era
The Delhi High Court’s ruling in Puma v. IndiaMart Intermesh, 2025 SCC Online Del 4165, provides a significant analysis of the connection between Indian trademark law and intermediary liability in the context of online marketplaces. The case arose from allegations that IndiaMart, a business-to-business listing platform, facilitated the sale of counterfeit Puma products. It was […]
Thailand – Updates to Trademark E-Filing System
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has rolled out changes to its Trademark E-Filing System, as of 29 September 2025. These updates address common filing issues, enhance system integration, and strengthen user authentication. Trademark Image Uploads To prevent errors in official forms, the system will no longer accept trademark images uploaded with transparent backgrounds and […]
Case summary of Symphony Holdings Limited v Skins IP Limited [2025] SGIPOS 3
I. Background Symphony Holdings Limited v. Skins IP Limited [2025] SGIPOS 3 concerned an opposition by Symphony Holdings Limited (the “Opponent”) against an application by Skins IP Limited (the “Applicant”) to register the following word trade mark, “SKINS”, (the “Subject Mark”) in Singapore. The Opponent, a Hong Kong-based sports-branding company, opposed the application based on […]
India- Preserving Celebrity Rights Through Intellectual Property Rights
WHAT ARE CELEBRITY RIGHTS? The term ‘celebrity’ is often seen as a mark of honor and success. While athletes, artists, and businesspeople earn it through talent or charisma, royals inherit it by birth or marriage. Others may gain fame unexpectedly through public or media attention. When celebrities protect their personality rights, two key aspects arise:-- […]
CHANGES IN ONLINE PAYMENT TYPES AND WORKFLOW AT THE REGISTRY
In line with the enactment of Government Regulation No. 45 of 2024 concerning the types and rates of Government Regulations on Non-Tax State Revenue, which took effect from 17 December 2024, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (“DGIP”) has updated the types and rates of intellectual property services. While the rates for trademark-related matters remain […]