Dept to increase number of its IP professionals
The Intellectual Property Department is to increase the number of its officers working in both the private and government sector.
The move is part of a plan to encourage Thai inventors to be more aware of intellectual property protection. The plan also aims to upgrade the skills and knowledge of the officers so they become more "IP professional" in both the patent and trademark registration process and law. Kanissorn Navanugraha, the director-general of the department, said these experts would work as representatives on behalf of rights owners and inventors in registering any intellectual property. Owners would be more willing to protect their rights by allowing these professionals to work on their behalf. In addition, it will mean shorter times for registration approval, Kanissorn said. "They [the IP professionals] will work not only as rights owners' representatives but also as consultants in case of rights violations," he said, adding that a lack of intellectual property knowledge had caused rights owners to ignore protection of their rights. Kanissorn said the IP professionals would help ascertain whether certain products, designs and logos were duplicated anywhere before applying for rights registration. The department receives 10,000 rights applications per year but only 2,000 of these are approved, while 38,000 trademark applications are made of which 27,000 logos are approved. Only 110 officials have worked on all registration processes, including checking information from around the world, which is why rights applications in Thailand take at least one year before being approved. The department is working closely with the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the European Patent Office, who have sent experts to train potential IP professionals such as academics and lawyers, as well as officials to have a better understanding on international standards and regulations. "These professionals will soon require licences to ensure standard services," said Kanissorn, adding that the department is drafting the plan for implementation next year. These professionals will directly support small and medium-sized enterprises to create more value-added products, he said.
Achara Pongvutitham, Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
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