The Intellectual Property Department has protested against Chinese business interests trademarking products as "Monthong", a highly popular variety of Thai durian, in a move to protect Thai exporters.
Director-general Thosapone Dansuputra said on Tuesday the department wrote to the China Trademark Office on Monday, protesting against the many Chinese businesses registering trademarks in Chinese and English meaning Monthong (golden pillow) in Thai.
"Monthong is known worldwide as Thai durian and it cannot be registered as a trademark in China," he said.
With the registration, Thai traders wanting to use the word Monthong in Chinese to promote their durian products, including dried durian chips, in China could face lawsuits, he said. The trademark in Chinese for Monthong is Jin Zhentou.
So far, no Thai business interests in China had complained about the trademark, but the department had to make the protest as a preventive measure, Mr Thosapone said.
He said Chinese operators had registered a wide range of products with the word Jin Zhentou. One was Xinguowei Business Service Co, and such registered products included dried durian.
Monthong is among the more expensive durian varieties and very popular with people who enjoy the strong smelling fruit.