Intellectual property (IP) rights in Thailand are protected under various laws and regulations, including the Copyright Act, the Patent Act, the Trademark Act, the Trade Secret Act, and the Design Act.
The Copyright Act protects original literary, artistic, and scientific works, including software, musical compositions, films, and books. Copyright protection begins immediately upon the creation of the work and lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years.
The Patent Act provides protection for inventions, including products, processes, and improvements to existing products or processes. A patent provides exclusive rights to the inventor for a period of 20 years from the date of filing.
Marks used to identify products or services, such as logos, names, and slogans, are protected under the Trademark Act. Protection must be registered in order to be granted, and protection is valid for 10 years before it must be renewed.
Confidential company information, such as formulas, procedures, and technological know-how, is protected under the Trade Secret Act. For the theft of trade secrets, the Act stipulates both civil and criminal consequences.
The Design Act offers protection for a product's outward appearance, including its form, arrangement, pattern, or decoration. Protection is valid for 10 years starting on the registration date and may be extended twice more.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Paris Convention, and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) are just a few of the international accords and conventions that Thailand is a part of that deal with intellectual property rights.
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