{"id":26,"date":"2026-04-25T09:01:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T09:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/?p=26"},"modified":"2026-04-25T09:01:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T09:01:51","slug":"what-is-patent-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/?p=26","title":{"rendered":"What is Patent Law?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A <strong>patent<\/strong> is a special right granted by the state to an inventor, giving them <strong>exclusive rights<\/strong> to use and benefit from their invention for a limited period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 Simply put:<br>\u201cIf you invent something new \u2192 the state helps prevent others from copying it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2696\ufe0f Relevant Law in Thailand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The main law is:<br><strong>Patent Act B.E. 2522 (1979) (as amended)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main authority:<br><strong>Department of Intellectual Property (DIP)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\udde0 What Can Be Patented?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Invention Patent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Protects something that is <strong>truly new<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>New machines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Technological systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Algorithms (in some cases)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI systems \/ Software (if they involve technical characteristics)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Petty Patent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Protects something <strong>new but not highly innovative<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Minor improvements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Simple product structures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Design Patent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Protects the <strong>appearance<\/strong> of a product<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Product design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shape<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patterns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udccc Key Requirements (The Core of Patentability)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A patent must meet all 3 conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2705 <strong>Novelty<\/strong><br>Must not have been disclosed anywhere in the world before<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705 <strong>Inventive Step<\/strong><br>Must not be obvious to a person skilled in the field<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705 <strong>Industrial Applicability<\/strong><br>Must be usable in real-world industry<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u274c What Cannot Be Patented<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Natural laws \/ mathematical formulas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pure ideas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business methods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cPure\u201d computer programs (without technical application)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Things contrary to public order or morality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u23f3 Protection Period<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Invention Patent \u2192 <strong>20 years<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Petty Patent \u2192 <strong>10 years<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Design Patent \u2192 <strong>10 years<\/strong><br><em>(counted from the filing date)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2699\ufe0f Patent Registration Process (Practical Overview)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Patent search (check novelty)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prepare application (details + claims are critical)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>File the application<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examination by officials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grant of patent<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 This process can take several years (especially for invention patents)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcb0 Rights of a Patent Owner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once granted, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prevent others from making \/ using \/ selling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>License the patent (earn royalties)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sell or transfer the rights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sue for damages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u26a0\ufe0f Risks You Must Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u274c Disclose before filing \u2192 <strong>immediate loss of rights<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u274c Poorly drafted claims \u2192 weak or unusable protection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u274c Failure to pay maintenance fees \u2192 loss of rights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udca1 Strategic Perspective (Very Important)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you work in Tech \/ AI \/ Legal AI:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd39 File a patent when:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You have truly differentiated <strong>core technology<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Competitors can easily copy it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want to build a long-term <strong>business moat<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd39 Do NOT file when:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u2019s just basic logic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speed matters more (e.g., startups)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trade secret protection is more suitable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\ude80 Business Example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you build:<br><strong>\u201cAI for analyzing Supreme Court judgments\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Model \u2192 may not be patentable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preprocessing + ranking method \u2192 <strong>potentially patentable<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dataset \u2192 protected by copyright<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brand \u2192 protected by trademark<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 This is a <strong>\u201ccombo strategy\u201d<\/strong> used by professionals<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\udde0 Shortest Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Patent = protection for \u201cnew inventions\u201d<\/strong><br>You must file to obtain rights<br>Used to build a long-term <strong>competitive advantage<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A patent is a special right granted by the state to an inventor, giving them exclusive rights to use and benefit from their invention for a limited period of time. \ud83d\udc49 Simply put:\u201cIf you invent something new \u2192 the state helps prevent others from copying it.\u201d \u2696\ufe0f Relevant Law in Thailand The main law is:Patent &#8230; <a title=\"What is Patent Law?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/?p=26\" aria-label=\"Read more about What is Patent Law?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27,"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions\/27"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukomlawyer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}