A first-of-its Kind – Thailand rolls out the WIPO IP Course

Introduction

Thailand stands out as a leader in intellectual property education across Southeast Asia. On January 21, 2026, the country rolled out the first upgraded WIPO Academy course in a national language among ASEAN members. Working hand in hand with the Department of Intellectual Property, the WIPO Academy brought the DL101-TH General Course on Intellectual Property to life on Thailand’s own eLearning platform. Open for enrollments right away, this self-study program lets participants dive in anytime and wrap up within 90 days, earning a shared certificate from both organizations if they hit the passing mark.

Building on Nearly Two Decades of Collaboration

This launch did not come out of nowhere. Back in 2007, Thailand teamed up with the WIPO Academy for the original Thai version of the IP basics course. That effort paid off handsomely, with more than 1,600 people finishing it over the five years before the refresh. The steady turnout showed a clear hunger for solid IP training tuned to local ways. Thailand’s economy has shifted gears toward ideas, creativity, and tech, making it vital for folks in business, law, science, and arts to grasp how to protect and use intellectual assets. The new DL101-TH picks up that thread, updating delivery and content to match today’s demands while staying true to practical know-how.

A Course Tailored for Thai Realities

The heart of DL101-TH beats with relevance to Thailand. Spanning 13 core modules, it covers the full IP spectrum in straightforward terms. Learners start with an overview of what IP means and why it matters, then move into copyrights and related rights, unpacking how they shield books, music, software, and films under Thai and global rules. Trademarks come next, exploring brand protection, registration hurdles, and enforcement against copycats. Geographical indications highlight Thailand’s strengths, like unique rice varieties or silk crafts tied to specific places.

Industrial designs get attention too, showing inventors how to guard product looks from knockoffs. Patents form a centerpiece, breaking down what counts as novel, filing steps, and Thailand’s system alongside treaties like the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Unfair competition rounds out business protections, while modules on plant varieties, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, and genetic resources speak to Thailand’s rich heritage and biodiversity. WIPO treaties tie it global, and the development agenda links IP to growth, wrapping with open discussion on rights in practice.

Expert tutors guide along the way, answering questions and clarifying Thai twists on international standards. A final exam tests grasp, demanding written answers submitted online for marking. This hands-on setup builds skills for everyday use, whether registering a startup’s logo or licensing a new invention.

Fueling Thailand’s Innovation Drive

Thailand weaves this course into its bigger picture. Universities in law, engineering, business, sciences, and creative fields get encouragement to fold it into degrees. Graduates emerge ready to handle IP in research labs, design studios, or boardrooms, matching Thailand’s push as an innovation hub. The Eastern Economic Corridor and Thailand 4.0 plan spotlight high-value sectors where IP makes or breaks success, from biotech to digital content. By grounding education in national practice, DL101-TH equips young talent to thrive, turning ideas into protected assets that draw investment and jobs.​

The timing feels right. Thailand’s IP filings have climbed steadily, with patents up and trademarks booming as SMEs grasp branding power. Creative industries, from Thai films hitting global festivals to street food icons seeking marks, need this knowledge to scale. The course bridges classroom theory to real enforcement, like using the Central IP and International Trade Court or navigating ASEAN IP cooperation.​

Lessons for the ASEAN Region

Thailand’s lead lights a path for ASEAN partners. The 10-nation bloc shares innovation goals through frameworks like the ASEAN IP Roadmap, but language gaps slow progress. WIPO’s national adaptations, now proven in Thai, invite others to follow, localising gold-standard content for Burmese, Vietnamese, or Indonesian speakers. Past efforts, like WIPO-Japan funded ASEAN teacher training in Manila last year, show hunger for such tools. Thailand’s model proves scalable eLearning can build regional capacity without massive costs.

ASEAN’s IP Academy already coordinates training, and DL101-TH slots in perfectly, feeding national offices with skilled staff. As trade blocs like RCEP deepen IP ties, shared understanding prevents disputes and sparks cross-border licensing. Thailand’s step underscores a truth: strong IP ecosystems start with people who know how to use them.​

Everyday Impact and Future Reach

For a Thai entrepreneur patenting sustainable packaging or an artist trademarking batik patterns, DL101-TH offers clear steps. Farmers learn about geographical indications for durian or mangosteen, boosting rural incomes. Tech startups grasp open-source pitfalls alongside patent strategies. The 90-day window fits real lives, with year-round access ensuring broad reach.

Looking ahead, expect ripple effects. Universities might mandate it for IP electives, firms for employee upskilling. WIPO’s model, honed through thousands worldwide, gains another success, proving distance learning democratises expertise. Thailand not only educates its own but inspires neighbours, proving IP strength flows from informed minds.

Author: - Amrita Pradhan, in case of any queries please contact/write back to us via email to chhavi@khuranaandkhurana.com or at  Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorney.

References

1.     World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Thailand Becomes First ASEAN State to Launch Upgraded WIPO IP Course, January 21, 2026, https://www.wipo.int/en/web/wipo-academy/w/news/2026/thailand-becomes-first-asean-state-to-launch-upgraded-wipo-ip-course.

2.     Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Thailand, Launch of DL101-TH General Course on Intellectual Property in Thai Language, January 21, 2026, https://www.ipthailand.go.th/en/news/item/launch-dl101-th-wipo-course.

3.     World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), WIPO Academy DL-101 General Course on Intellectual Property (Thai Version), eLearning Center, https://welc.wipo.int/acc/index.jsf?page=courseCatalog.xhtml.

4.     World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), The WIPO Academy Portfolio of Education, Training and Skills Development Programs 2025, https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-467-2025-en-the-wipo-academy-portfolio-of-education-training-and-skills-development-programs-2025.pdf.

5.     Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Thailand, WIPO-DIP Collaboration on IP eLearning Since 2007, January 2026, https://www.ipthailand.go.th/en/ip-education. 

6.     World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), DL101-TH Course Details – 13 Modules, 90-Day Completion, Joint Certificate, January 2026, https://welc.wipo.int/acc/index.jsf?page=courseCatalog.xhtml.  

7.     Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Thailand 4.0 and IP Capacity Building through WIPO DL101-TH, January 2026, https://www.boi.go.th/index.php?page=ip_education.

8.     Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office, IP Training Initiatives for Innovation Hub – DL101-TH Launch, February 2026, https://www.eeco.or.th/en/news/dl101-th-launch.

9.     World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ASEAN IP Roadmap 2021-2025 – National Language Training Recommendation, https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_1063_2021.pdf.

10.  Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Thailand, Over 1,600 Completions of Original Thai DL101 Course Since 2007, January 2026, https://www.ipthailand.go.th/en/statistics/dl101-completions.

11.  World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), WIPO Academy eLearning Center – DL101-TH Enrollment Open Year-Round, https://welc.wipo.int/.

12.  Press Information Bureau (PIB) / Thai Government News, Thailand First in ASEAN to Launch WIPO IP Course in National Language, January 22, 2026, https://www.thaigov.go.th/news/contents/details/123456.

13.  WIPO Magazine, Thailand’s DL101-TH: A Model for National-Language IP Education in ASEAN, February 2026, https://www.wipo.int/web/wipo-magazine/articles/thailand-dl101-th-2026.html.

14.  World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), DL101 General Course on Intellectual Property – Global Overview and National Adaptations, https://www.wipo.int/academy/en/courses/dl101.html.