On January 10, 2008, the National Legislative Assembly unanimously decided that Thailand should become a party to the Paris Convention for the Pro­tection of Industrial Property and the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Thailand will finally become a party to the Paris Convention, the 173rd state to do so. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deposited its instrument of acces­sion on May 2, 2008, and the Convention will become binding upon Thailand on August 2, 2008. This article looks at the primary benefits of accession.