Copyright is a creator's right in a work resulting from their own intellect, knowledge, and effort, under Thailand's Copyright Act B.E. 2537. Unlike patents and trademarks, copyright arises automatically the moment a work is created - no registration is required for the right to exist. What the Department of Intellectual Property offers is "copyright notification," which creates evidentiary proof, not a registration process like a patent or trademark, and involves no substantive examination before a certificate is issued.
What Is Copyright? Everything You Need to Know
- Arises automatically the moment a work is created - no registration needed for the right to exist
- Protected for the creator's lifetime plus 50 years after death; the term can vary by type of work
- DIP notification is not registration, but it helps establish a dated record of the work useful as evidence in a dispute
- Computer software is one of the work types protected under copyright law, alongside literary, artistic, and musical works
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Copyright Articles
Copyright
How Long Does Copyright Last in Thailand? Terms by Work Type
Life of the author plus how many years? How do photographs, works of applied art, and juristic-person-owned works differ?
Copyright
Copyright Notification in Thailand: Process, Documents, and Fee
What is copyright notification, how is it different from registration, what documents are needed, and is there a fee?
Copyright
Copyright Infringement: What to Do First
How to document infringement, your options for a police report or civil suit, and why copyright is a compoundable offense.
Copyright
What Is Copyright, and Do I Need to Register It?
What copyright is, when it arises, whether registration is required, and why notification with DIP is still useful.
IP Overview
What Can Protect Your Product?
An overview of all 3 types of IP protection, to help you plan before filing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is software protected by copyright?
Yes. Computer programs are one of the work types protected under Thai copyright law - protection arises automatically once the code is written, with no registration required, the same as other creative works.
Does AI-generated work have copyright?
This is an area Thai law has not fully settled for every case, since copyright requires the work to originate from a "creator's" own creative effort, which principally refers to a person. Consult a professional to assess your specific situation rather than assuming an answer.
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