Thailand joins Madrid Protocol

NONTHABURI, Aug 9 (TNA) -- Thailand has joined the Madrid Protocol and the Madrid System Goods and Services Database and locally registered trademarks are thus protected worldwide. Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, permanent secretary for commerce, Thosapone Dansuputra, director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, and Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, ambassador and permanent representative to the World Trade Organization, filed an agreement to join the Madrid Protocol with Francis Gurry, director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Consequently, Thailand will become the 99th member state of the Madrid Protocol on Nov 7. The membership will facilitate Thai operators who want their trademarks to enjoy global acknowledgement as their trademark registration with the Intellectual Property Department will also obtain protection in 98 other countries. This will help promote Thai trade, investment, products and services. The director-general of the Intellectual Property Department also signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of the Thai Version of the Madrid System Goods and Services Database (MGS) with the WIPO director-general. Under the MoU, the WIPO will offer Thai-language services to the Thai operators who want to register their trademarks through the Madrid system. (TNA)