NONTHABURI, March 29 (TNA) – Online patent registration with 155 countries will start on April 1, according to the Commerce Ministry.
Deputy Commerce Minister Sinit Lertkrai said the Department of Intellectual Property would launch the e-PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) service to allow Thai people to conveniently have their patents registered with other countries.
Vuttikrai Leewiraphan, director-general of the department, said patent applications could be filed around the clock at https://pct.wipo.int/ePCT and countries connected to the service included the important trading partners of Thailand such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, India, France, Australia and ASEAN member states.
He said fees were low, at 4,100-4,900 baht for ordinary people, down from 5,300 baht charged with the conventional service, and 41,000-49,000 baht for companies, down from 53,000 baht.
Details are available at the website of the department, www.ipthailand.go.th. Interested parties can seek advice on the use of the e-PCT system via the hotline of the department at number 1368. (TNA)
