Over the past few weeks, Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has placed Geographical Indications (GI) squarely in the national spotlight, signalling a shift from pure legal protection towards active commercialisation of GI as an economic asset. On 13 August 2026, DIP publicly reaffirmed that “Cham Kai Lampang" of Lampang province's chicken-motif ceramic bowl is […]
Publications
DIP Highlights Milestone Case: DJ Nui’s Sound Mark Signals New Era for Non-Traditional Trademarks in Thailand
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of Thailand has formally highlighted the pending sound trademark application filed in May 2026 by prominent Thai media personality Thanawat Prasitsomporn (professionally known as 'DJ Nui'). The said application, which seeks to protect his iconic, high-pitched signature laugh, is currently undergoing substantive examination. The examination of DJ Nui’s sound […]
First on paper, second in time: The hidden frustrations of the priority “blind spot”
Trademark rights are territorial, and one of the rare times these separate territories shake hands is through the historic Paris Convention, which gives rise (to convention countries) to a powerful global safety net known as a priority claim. This mechanism gives trademark proprietors a strict six-month window within which to file a trademark application in […]
SINGAPORE- IPOS Enhances PPH Programme with Simplified Fee Payment and Faster Examination Timelines
In a continuing effort to encourage patent applicants to utilise the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programme to expedite the patent examination process in Singapore, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) previously launched an initiative in 2025 under which applicants would receive a refund of up to 30% of the prevailing examination fees upon filing a […]
Reframing similarity infringement in Malaysia
The Malaysia High Court’s recent decision in The Polo/Lauren Company, L.P. v RCB Marketing Sdn Bhd [2025] MLJU 4617 marks an important development in Malaysian trademark jurisprudence, particularly in its treatment of similarity infringement under Section 54(2)(b) of the Trademarks Act 2019, wherein the court demonstrates a clear preference for a structured, step-by-step approach – a marked […]
Thailand: DIP Confirms a Notary’s Commission-Expiry Date Does Not Invalidate a Power of Attorney
On 17 June 2026, the Trademark Office of Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) issued a written circular clarifying how examiners are to treat powers of attorney (POAs) and appointments of agent that bear a notary public certification. The circular confirms that the expiry of a notary’s own commission or licence — the familiar “My […]
SINGAPORE: A Hairy Situation
Genpulse Pte Ltd (applicant), a Singapore company that sells AI-driven dermatological and trichological (hair-related) solutions, applied to register a composite mark in Class 44, bearing application number 40202401479U on January 22, 2024. See the mark below: Cosmetic Warriors Limited (opponent), part of the LUSH Group, a global skincare and cosmetics business, and the proprietor of […]
Thailand’s Trademark Monitor Programme: Proactive Brand Protection for Thai Businesses Overseas
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 […]