APAA e-Newsletter (Issue No. 35, June 2023)
Unveiling the E-Patent Agent System in Thailand and its Recent Transformations
Radeemada Mungkarndee and Tienkul Kangwanwong, Lexel IP Co., Ltd. (Thailand)
Referring to our previous article in this Newsletter on the “Rebranding Thai Patent Agent” in February 2023, we would like to provide a further update. In April 2023, the rebranding program was successfully implemented, along with the simultaneous release of the E-Patent Agent System.
The E-Patent Agent System aims to serve as an official database for Thai registered patent agents, who play a vital role in assisting applicants throughout the patent application process and providing expertise in patent law. The E-Patent Agent System allows current patent agents to enter their personal information, including their name, photo, address, educational background, expertise, and specialized technical field. However, certain crucial information such as educational background, may necessitate supporting documents for verification. Once the documents are submitted, the Thai patent office will verify the information before publishing it on the system.
With this system in place, anyone interested in obtaining patent protection in Thailand can easily find the right professional representatives that suit their specific needs. Users can easily conduct a search by specifying at least one search field, such as name, province, expertise, and/or technical field. The system will then generate a comprehensive list of patent agents, including their information and contact details.
It is important to note that the E-Patent Agent System, including the database, is currently available only in the Thai language. We have reached out to the Thai Patent Office, and according to the officer we spoke to, there are no current plans to implement the database in English.
In conclusion, the implementation of the E-Patent Agent System marks a significant step forward in enhancing the Thai patent agent system to meet international standards. This development will ultimately support innovation and intellectual property protection in Thailand.