The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has intensified its efforts to protect Thai brands from being opportunistically registered by foreign entities through its Trademark Monitor initiative.
It came to the rescue recently when the Moo Deng trademark of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand and the Hongthai Brand trademark of the famous inhaler maker Thai Herbal Hongthai Co were nearly claimed by applicants in China and Vietnam.
Oramon Sapthaweetham, director-general of the DIP, said on Saturday that Thai business operators continue to face serious intellectual property (IP) violations abroad, especially from trademark misuse, which posed a significant obstacle to Thai exports.
‘Such infringements can prevent brand owners from using their trademarks overseas and damage the image of the genuine products,’ she said.
Most of the infringements involve consumer goods, fashion items and electronic products. They typically take two forms: foreign parties counterfeiting Thai trademarks for competing sales abroad, or local partners or distributors preemptively registering well-known Thai marks in their own countries. (Story continues below)
These practices have blocked Thai entrepreneurs from selling products under their own brands in those countries, she said.
In the seven months from March to September, the department successfully intervened to prevent several cases of unauthorised trademark registration. These included the Moo Deng mark detected in China, the Hongthai Brand found in both China and Vietnam, and the IRPC mark belonging to the SET-listed petrochemical company IRPC Plc, also found in China, said Ms Oramon.
The department has adopted a proactive approach to protecting Thai businesses through its Trademark Monitor system, which tracks and reviews trademark applications during the public announcement period – usually 60 to 90 days, depending on each country’s laws – to allow for timely objections before registration.
The department has begun monitoring announcements by public IP agencies in Asean countries and China, Thailand’s key trading partners. Since the initiative began in March this year, more than 100 Thai businesses have participated.
Once the DIP detects a mark identical or similar to that of a Thai business being registered abroad, it promptly alerts the trademark owner to consider filing an objection within the legal timeframe. The department’s legal experts also provide guidance and advice on objection procedures in each country.
Ms Oramon said the Trademark Monitor programme not only reduced the risk of overseas trademark violations but also strengthened confidence among Thai entrepreneurs seeking to expand into international markets.
The department plans to continue the initiative in the 2026 fiscal year and invite more Thai trademark owners planning to export to Asean or China to join the programme.