South-East Asia IPR Basics Series: Design Rights Protection in Thailand

Following on from our last IPR Basics post, today we’d like to talk about protection for design rights in Thailand.

Design rights, otherwise referred to as ‘design patents’ protect the distinctive shape, pattern, or colour (or combination of these elements) of a given product. Protection does not usually last as long as for true ‘invention’ or ‘utility model’ patents, however the protection given can still represent a significant commercial advantage to rights holders.

In this article, we look at the core protection available for rights holders, as well as registration procedures and enforcement options in South-East Asia’s second largest economy.

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As always, if you like this article and have more questions regarding design rights or any other IPRs in Thailand, or South-East Asia generally, feel free to take a look at the materials on our website, or get in touch with an expert today!

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South-East Asia IPR Basics Series: Geographical Indications in Thailand

shutterstock_96318524Today we’ll be looking into the protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Thailand.

GIs are names or signs which identify goods as having a specific geographical origin, with the implication that they possess the qualities, reputation, or characteristics for which such products from that region are well known.

Thailand has pioneered GI protection in South-East Asia, and boasts one of the most developed GI protection frameworks in the region. This article explores this framework, as well as touching on how SMEs can ensure their region’s GI is registered in Thailand and protect their rights when necessary.

As always, if you have any further questions, feel free to peruse the wealth of information available on our website, or get in touch with one of our experts for free, tailored advice.

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In Vino Veritas: The Next Vintage – The Future of Wine Anti-Counterfeiting

shutterstock_85240996Wine counterfeiting in China is at a critical stage for the European wine industry. In recent years we have had a taste of what Chinese consumption means to the European producers, with over a quarter of a billion litres of European wine consumed annually by what represents only a fraction of the potential market in China. As the market moves from commodity and gift wines to drinking ‘table’ wine, so do the counterfeiters, flooding supermarkets and restaurants with wines bearing (often validly registered) appellation marks which have no connection to the liquid inside the bottle.

Chinese palates are at a crucial developmental stage, and exposure to poor quality counterfeits of European wine not only damages profits, but also poisons the reputation of European producers in the Chinese marketplace. Competition with domestic producers is already fierce, and Europe’s wine industry can no longer afford to stand by and let this threat go unchallenged.

In today’s article we look back at some of the key points raised over the course of this series, as well as reiterating some of the key points raised by the experts who were instrumental in the creation of this series. For more of the In Vino Veritas series, click here.

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In Vino Veritas: Terroir IPR Part 2: Regulatory bodies and collective action against counterfeiting

wine label-04In our previous article we discussed wine’s history as a product heavily reliant on geography, soil quality, and climate, or terroir for its unique characteristics, the resultant importance of regional classifications, and the legal protection available for producers based in distinctive wine regions. In this article we’ll be looking at how certain regulatory bodies and wine associations can, and in some cases already do, help producers to protect the reputations of their brands. Finally we’ll look at how the wine industry can come together to tackle the counterfeiting industry which continues to damage the sales and reputation of this much loved beverage.

As always, if you have any questions, get in touch with our experts here.

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South-East Asia IPR Basics Series: Copyright Law in Thailand

dreamstime_m_24720610Next up in our South-East Asia IPR Basics series is Thailand, the second largest economy in South-East Asia after Indonesia, and one of the core ‘anchor’ economies.

This article provides a quick background to Thai-EU relations for SMEs and covers all the core aspects of copyright law in the country. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks as well when we’ll be discussing Trade Marks, GIs, Patents, Design Rights, and Customs Controls in the region.

If we’ve peaked your interest, and you think business in Thailand might be for you, make sure to check out our in depth IPR Factsheet for Thailand, or get in touch with one of our experts!

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