Thailand Introduces Fast-Track Procedures for Patent and Petty Patent

By Saowanee Leewijitsin

In order to help solve the public health problems that we currently face, as well as drive Thailand to be a developed country through advancements in innovation and technology as per the national strategy plan, the Department of Intellectual Property, Thailand (DIP) has launched the “Target Patent Fast-Track Program” with the aim to expedite the patent or petty patent registration process of all research and innovations on medical products, processes, materials, equipment or tools which will be beneficial to the Thai public.

This program was announced in a notification signed by the Director of the DIP on 3 May 2022 (http://www.ipthailand.go.th/images/3534/2565/Patent/Fast-track/Fast-Track-02.pdf) and made available to the public on 1 June 2022.

To benefit from this program, applications must comply with the conditions addressed in the DIP notification:

An invention patent filed with the DIP where the applicant has already requested for substantive examination, or a petty patent that has been submitted to the DIP at least 3 months prior
In the field of medical science and public health, such as medical products, processes, materials, equipment or tools that would be beneficial to the public and commercialisable. The applicant must also have plans to produce, distribute, or license such invention patent or petty patent
Application is first filed in Thailand (i.e., “No Priority Claim)
Filed through the e-filing system
Application does not have more than 10 claims

Under this scheme, an invention patent could be examined within as few as 12 months from the date of commencement of participation in this program and a petty patent would be examined within only 6 months.

It should be noted that any applicant who would like to join this program is required to submit a request with supportive evidence such as a commercialization plan which is limited to not more than 4 A4 pages, and the said request must be submitted to the DIP between the 1^st – 10^th of each month. The DIP will select only 5 applications per month to benefit from this program and each applicant is allowed to apply to participate in this program only once a month.

For more details on this program, or on any aspect of securing IP rights in ASEAN countries, please contact us at kass@kass.asia.

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KASS International is an established Intellectual Property Firm which offers a one-stop solution for IP matters in Malaysia, South East Asia, and worldwide.