I've devised a board game involving traveling around Thailand and I'd like to patent the game and copyright the name.

Could anyone fill me in on which departments to visit?

Thanking you in advance,

bannork.

It will be quite difficult to get the patent without an IP lawyer unless you have experience in righting patent claims. Copyright is not quite as difficult as I have some for my university work but the uni handled it and a lot of documentation was involved.

Here is a link to the Department of Intellectual Property

This one to Thailand IP Law

and this one to Siam Legal

It sounds like you would benefit most efficiently from a Trademark

It sounds like you would benefit most efficiently from a Trademark

Does a trademark give you copyright protection?

Trademark protection would be for the name of the game itself. You could Copyright the written Instruction booklet (or DVD I guess) that would accompany the game. Patent -- knowing zero about the actual game itself -- would IMHO not be likely unless he has invented some physical apparatus that goes along with the game.

Useful to read this > How to patent a game idea

Also > IPWatchdog

Thank you everyone for your advice, copywriting the rules of the game sounds like great advice, the name of the game itself is not important, it's just I don't want anyone copying how to play it. Its appeal is limited really to expats , tourists and people who have visited or want to visit Thailand, so patency seems too lofty a goal.

I'll head down to the IP department armed with a copy of the rules and the physical game.