Thailand will push for cooperation on patent examination exchange in Asean in the hopes of accelerating patent registration in the region.

Pajchima Tanasanti, director-general of Intellectual Property Department, said Asean members already agreed on implementing the Asean Patent Search and Examination Cooperation to reduce duplication on verification of new inventions and speed up registrations.

The members will create a regional portal to facilitate investors and inventors with intellectual property protection.

In the first half of this year, there were 30,623 applications for IP registration, up 4.02% year-on-year.

Because Thailand is on the Priority Watch List under the US Trade Act, the country has been pressured to pass a law to prevent film recording in cinemas while improving the copyright act and protecting IP rights on the internet.

The department has received complaints about violations of Thai-registered Geographical Identification products such as Doi Tung Coffee and Thung Kula Ronghai fragrant rice and is taking steps to curb violations.

It will cooperate with police officers to prove the identity of music company representatives on copyright violations so they can respond to complaints against karaoke owners, restaurants and entertainment places.

Source: Bangkok Post