Copyright notification with the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) is optional, not mandatory, and is not legal registration - copyright arises automatically the moment a work is created, so notification does not create any additional rights. It's simply a way to record the work's information as a dated reference. The main documents are Form LK.01, a copy of the work, and an ID card or corporate certificate. There is no government fee (THB 0). Based on our practical experience, the process takes approximately 45-60 days (not an official DIP-published figure). You can file at DIP's office, a provincial commerce office, by registered mail, or through the online E-filing system.
What Is Copyright Notification
The Department of Intellectual Property offers a copyright notification service to collect basic information about a copyrighted work. This is one component that helps protect the copyright owner's rights, and it also serves as an information source for anyone who wants to license the work - they can search the records to find contact information for the copyright owner.
Notification ≠ Registration - It Doesn't Create Any Additional Rights
The most common point of confusion is thinking copyright notification works like patent or trademark registration. It doesn't. As the Department of Intellectual Property states directly: "Copyright notification is not legal registration, and does not certify that the notifier is the copyright owner. Copyright notification therefore does not create any legal rights, and does not add to the copyright owner's pre-existing rights in any way." That's because copyright already arises automatically the moment a work is created, without any registration requirement. Notification is simply a dated record of the work kept as a reference, which makes it easier to prove ownership and the creation date if a dispute arises later.
Who May Notify
- Individual creators - the direct owner of the work
- Juristic persons, such as a company that owns copyright in a commissioned or assigned work
- Employers or hirers, where they own the copyright under an agreement or the law governing works created by an employee or contractor
- Assignees who received the copyright transferred from the original owner
- Government agencies, where the agency owns copyright in a work created under its direction or in its name
Documents Required
Main documents by applicant type:
- Form LK.01, 1 set (required in every case)
- A copy of the copyrighted work, 1 set (required in every case)
- Individuals - a copy of the national ID card
- Juristic persons - a copy of the corporate certificate, issued within the past 6 months, plus a copy of the signatory's ID card
- Government agencies - a copy of the director's appointment order, the director's ID card, and the agency's establishment document
- Power of attorney (if filing through a representative), with a 10 or 30 baht tax stamp as applicable
Procedure
Several filing channels are available:
- Online via the E-filing system at ipthailand.go.th - log in, select copyright notification, complete Form LK.01, upload supporting documents, verify identity, and submit
- In person at the DIP service center (3rd floor) or any provincial commerce office
- By registered mail, addressed to the Director of the Copyright Division, Department of Intellectual Property
How Long Does It Take
The Department of Intellectual Property has not published an official processing time for this service. Based on Patent To You's practical experience handling this service, the process typically takes approximately 45-60 days - this is a practical estimate from experience, not a statutory deadline or a figure confirmed by the Department of Intellectual Property. The actual time depends on how complete the submitted documents are and the current volume of applications the department is handling. Because copyright notification is an information-recording system rather than a substantive examination like a patent application, it generally takes significantly less time than patent or trademark registration.
Government Fee
Copyright notification with the Department of Intellectual Property carries no government fee (THB 0), as stated directly by the department. If you use an agent to help review and prepare complete documentation, that's a separate professional service fee, not a government fee - confirm and separate the two clearly before deciding.
Practical Limitations
- Does not grant any additional exclusive right - the legal right already exists from the moment the work was created
- No in-depth check on whether the notifier is the true owner, unlike a patent application, which is examined for novelty and inventive step
- Does not stop infringement by itself - if you find your work being infringed, that requires a separate process
Common Mistakes
- Assuming notification is registration that creates the right - in fact the right already exists from the moment the work was created
- Assuming the department verifies and certifies ownership - it only records the information as declared
- Using the wrong document set for the applicant type, such as filing on behalf of a company but submitting individual-type documents, causing delays for correction
- Skipping notification entirely, assuming it's pointless or costly - there is no government fee, and having a clear dated record genuinely helps if a dispute arises
When Professional Help Is Useful
For a small number of works with clear creator status, many people notify on their own through the E-filing system without much difficulty. An agent becomes more useful when:
- A business has many works or notifies regularly, such as a design studio, a publisher, or a software developer
- Ownership is complex, such as a work created through multi-party collaboration, or an employer-employee arrangement that needs to be checked before filing
- You want to plan IP protection holistically, not just notify copyright in isolation, but coordinate it with the business's trademarks or other patents
Frequently Asked Questions
If I notify my copyright with the DIP, does that certify me as the copyright owner?
No. According to the Department of Intellectual Property, copyright notification is not legal registration and does not certify that the notifier is the copyright owner. The officer simply records the information as declared, without any in-depth check on whether the notifier is the actual creator. If an ownership dispute arises later, it still has to be proven with other evidence.
If I never notify my copyright, is my work still protected?
Yes, fully protected. Copyright arises automatically the moment a work is created - no registration or notification is required first to have the right. Notification is only an optional extra step that helps create a dated record of the work for evidentiary purposes; it is not a condition for the right to exist.
