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In the next edition of our series on physical marketplaces across the world that reportedly engage in the trade of counterfeit goods, we head to Thailand.

A Korean government crackdown on alleged copycat brands has seen two businesses have offices shut down, and product seizures in shops operating overseas. WTR consulted Korean practitioners to ascertain how foreign brands need to adapt to stay safe of the campaign.

Under the new Thai regime for medicinal cannabis, it appears that applications for goods related to cannabis for medical purposes are proving acceptable, while those made up of words or images relating to cannabis are not.

Minor and sometimes undisclosed changes in the practice of Thailand's Trademark Office have recently been revealed. These changes should be closely monitored as they can have a substantial effect on applicants and the trademark registration process generally.

Although sound mark protection is a relatively new concept in Thailand, it is another option for trademark protection in which IP owners from around the world should take interest.

Customs plays a pivotal role in intercepting incoming shipments of counterfeit and pirated goods en route to the Thai market. A special feature of the Customs Act BE 2560 (2017) gives customs officials the authority to intervene ex officio to detain and seize suspicious counterfeit and pirated goods. 

The Madrid Protocol entered into force on 7 November 2017. Within its first 17 months of enactment, there have been more than 9,000 Madrid applications that designate Thailand. To cope with the increasing number of applicants, the Department of Intellectual Property has established the Madrid Application Receiving Office. However, rights holders should be aware of the peculiarities of local practice to avoid rejection and ensure enforceability.

The Thai Ministry of Public Health’s National Tobacco Control Committee has approved a draft regulation requiring plain packaging to replace all current packaging for tobacco products. The change will make Thailand the first country in Asia to adopt plain packaging legislation.

Earlier this year Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property launched a new e-filing system for trademark, patent, design and copyright applications. This update reviews the benefits of using the new e-filing system.

In our latest round-up, we look at Ecuador joining TMClass, ICANN postponing its data privacy webinar, IP Australia undergoing a “technology upgrade”, and much more.

In a landmark decision, the Thai Supreme Court has held that the defendant was passing off its batteries as those of Panasonic, even though it sold its products under a different trademark.

The Thai Supreme Court has held that a figurative mark consisting of the letters ‘B’, ‘F’ and ‘t’ was sufficiently distinctive to be registrable under the Trademark Act. 

​​​​​​​Law firm practitioners in jurisdictions that have adopted the Madrid Protocol in recent years have shared their experience in an exclusive survey. While some praised the system, other were scathing about its impact.

The Thai Supreme Court has held that Airbus SAS’s mark A380 is distinctive under the Trademark Act, finding that the letter ‘A’ stands for ‘Airbus’.

The EUIPO has released a new report, compiling research since 2013, to present a comprehensive and updated picture of the scope and impact of IP rights infringement in the European Union.