Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has successfully intervened to stop foreign entities from registering well-known Thai trademarks such as “Moo Deng” and “Hongthai Brand” in overseas markets. The move comes amid growing concerns over the unauthorised registration of Thai-owned brands by foreign applicants, which can prevent legitimate Thai businesses from using their own marks abroad.

 

Ms. Oramon Sapthaveetham, Director-General of the DIP, said on 11 October that Thai exporters continue to face significant intellectual property challenges overseas, especially regarding trademark infringements. Such violations often hinder the ability of Thai companies to sell products internationally and can damage brand reputation. The department identified two main forms of infringement: direct counterfeiting of Thai trademarks and pre-emptive registrations by distributors or business partners abroad.

 

To address this, the DIP launched the Trademark Monitor Project in March 2025. The initiative actively monitors trademark filings in key partner countries, including ASEAN nations and China, where applications are publicly announced for 60 to 90 days before registration. If similar or identical trademarks to Thai brands are found, the DIP alerts the rightful owners and provides legal assistance to file opposition claims within the allowed timeframe.

 

Over the past seven months (March–September 2025), the DIP has successfully prevented several unauthorised registrations of Thai trademarks abroad. These include the “Moo Deng” mark belonging to the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, detected in China; the “Hongthai Brand” trademark of Hongthai Thai Herb Co., Ltd., found in China and Vietnam and the “IRPC” trademark of IRPC Public Company Limited, also found in China. Officials said the intervention prevented potential losses exceeding 300 million baht in the Chinese market alone.

 

The department plans to expand the Trademark Monitor Project in the 2026 fiscal year, continuing to help Thai exporters safeguard their intellectual property abroad. Participation is free and applications for the next phase will open in November 2025, with 100 qualifying businesses to be selected for monitoring support. Interested brand owners targeting ASEAN or Chinese markets can register through the DIP’s official website.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• The Commerce Ministry stopped foreign attempts to register “Moo Deng” and “Hongthai Brand” trademarks.

• The DIP’s Trademark Monitor Project has protected over 100 Thai companies since March 2025.

• A new round of applications for free participation opens in November 2025.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-10-12

 

 

 

 

How would that work in copy-central china? 

So the Chinese are now stealing Thai trademarks. China, the gift that keeps on giving.

^{^}Yeah, bet it's the Chinese or Cambodians doing it... but they won't single them out because they don't have a spine.

Can anyone remember 15? years ago some I think it was a company that wanted to obtain the rights/registration to Thailand's Khow Hom Marley, Jasmin rice as they own, as at the time, they were no rights to Jasmin rice, thinking Thai farmers grow the rice and the company would charge them.

The Thai government soon stepped in and stopped it.

At the same time in India, a USA company thought they could get the rights to the Neem tree, this tree has many properties, as natural medicine, been known for generations, stopping the local people from using its properties without paying them. again the Indian government stepped in and stopped them.

Some companies think they can just march in and basically steal the intellectual property rights, and in this case now countries, to anything, again in this case it has been stopped, what next.