By Saowanee Leewijitsin
We are always told that new inventions or designs need to be kept confidential prior to applying for patent protection. This is because, to be granted a valid patent, “novelty” is the most necessary requirement for all kinds of patents (i.e., invention patent, product design patent and petty patent). Disclosure in any form to the public could fatally ruin your valuable patent application or even invalidate the granted patent. However, the latest Thai Supreme Court decision has stopped us from taking the leap into the idea that all literary works, published before the patent filing date, will certainly destroy the novelty of that invention patent.