BANGKOK – The Thai Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) at the Ministry of Commerce announced on September 29, 2009 the opening of Patent Cooperation Treaty Receiving Office (PCT Receiving Office) to support the international filing system for patent under the PCT system, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
This move comes after the DIP has become a new member of the PCT, which has also 141 member and associate countries.
The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand has deposited on September 24, 2009 the instrument of accession to the Treaty PCT with WIPO in Geneva.
The Treaty will enter into force with respect to the Kingdom of Thailand on December 24, 2009 and Thailand will become the 142nd contracting party of the PCT.
The PCT Receiving Office will be accepting an international application for patent in order to communicate the news to all Thai inventors and other interested people, who want to know the registration process under PCT's terms and conditions.
The DIP will start accepting requests for international trademark and patent registrations on December 24 this year, three months after Thailand submitted the Instrument of Accession to the PCT.
The PCT system offers Thai inventors, researchers or exporters, who seek patent protection in multiple countries a more user-friendly, cost-effective and efficient option. In using the PCT, applicants are allowed at least 18 months more time than if they filed directly with individual national patent offices, to decide whether and in which countries they wish to pursue patent protection.
For more information: www.ipthailand.org.