Accelerated examination procedure for patent applications in Thailand - Fast-track examination of green invention patents

On December 2, 2024, the Thai Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) released the "Target Patent Fast-Track" program, which will take effect on December 15, 2024. The program provides green technology innovations with the opportunity to review their invention patents and "small patents" more quickly. The program gives priority to inventions in the field of green technology, speeds up the process of formal and substantive examinations, and does not charge any additional official fees. Both Thai and foreign applicants can request fast examinations.

Under the Fast Track Program, eligible patent applications can obtain the first office action notice within 6 months of the formal examination stage, and can obtain the first office action notice within 12 months of entering the substantive examination stage after publication.

Starting January 1, 2025, DIP will begin accepting formal requests for fast-track examinations. Each applicant can only submit one application per month. No more than 10 applications will be selected for the fast track each month, and the list of applications selected for fast-track examination will be announced on the 5th of the following month.

A patent application for which an accelerated examination request is filed must meet the following conditions:

• The patent application or petty patent application must have been filed with the DIP for more than three months, and in the case of an invention patent application, a request for substantive examination must have been filed.
• Each invention patent application shall not contain more than 10 claims.
• The application must first be filed electronically in Thailand or through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) receiving office in Thailand.
• The applicant must submit a fast-track request form stating the reasons and necessity for the request for fast-track examination. The supporting documents for the explanation should not exceed four pages of A4 paper.
• Requests for expedited examination must be submitted through the DIP's electronic system between the 1st and 10th of each month.

The new fast-track program highlights Thailand’s commitment to fostering sustainable innovation while increasing its global competitiveness.