ALERT

Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property (“DIP”) has launched its ‘Fast Track 4 Month Plus +’ trademark examination services to accelerate examination processes for e-commerce businesses, effective from 1 January 2026 onwards.  This service is intended to facilitate faster trademark registration for e-commerce businesses operators with an urgent need to use trademarks in their business operations. Under this fast-track service, a qualified application will receive first examination result within 4 months from its filing date.

Requirements for applying under the Fast Track Plus+ program are as follows:-

• The application must be filed via the DIP e-filing system.
• The application must be a single-class application with no more than 10 items of goods or services.
• The specifications of goods or services must comply with the DIP’s official guideline, available at https://tmsearch.ipthailand.go.th/.
• All supporting documents must be submitted at the time of filing; late submission of supporting documents is not permitted.
• No amendment, assignment, inheritance or request to prove acquired distinctiveness may be made in respect of the trademark application.
• The applicant must submit a document explaining the justification for expedited use, such as a plan to sell products on an online platform.
• The applicant is required to conduct trademark similarity checks using designated databases. Where an identical or similar prior mark is identified, evidence of the search results must be submitted in support of the application.

After the application is filed, the Registrar will assess the claimed urgency and notify the applicant within 15 days from filing date as to whether the application satisfies the criteria for the Fast-Track service. Applications that do not meet the criteria will proceed under the normal examination process.

This Fast-Track service is not applicable to trademark applications filed through the Madrid Protocol. Furthermore, under the Fast Track Plus+ examination, the Registrar may revoke the publication order or cancel the registration if a subsequently filed application claiming priority from an earlier filing date constitutes an obstacle to the application. The applicant shall be deemed to have acknowledged and consented to such revocation or cancellation.

The Fast Track 4 Month Plus+ program forms part of the DIP’s policy initiative to streamline trademark examination procedures while responding to the needs of Thailand’s expanding e-commerce and digital economy. The program seeks to enhance examination efficiency, promote timely trademark protection, and support business readiness while maintaining a transparent and equitable trademark registration framework.

If you have any questions or require any assistance for trademark prosecution in Thailand, please contact our Partner of ZICO IP Thailand, Ms. Paramee Kerativitayanan, at paramee.k@zicoip.com.

*This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.