As Thailand is one of the Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in order to fulfill its obligation under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) and to create a user-friendly forum for settlement of disputes in international trade, the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court (here after referred to as "CIPITC") is established.

This specialized court is a new dimension for the promotion of foreign investment and trade. Since intellectual property and international trade cases possess differrent characteristics from ordinary civil or criminal cases, the new procedure has been devised in order to achieve convenient, speedy and fair proceeding in these cases.

The propersal for appointment of a committee for setting up of pattern of the CIPITC was submitted to the Cabinet on March 22, 1993. By approval of the Cabinet on May 4, 1993, the Committee under the chairmanship of Professor Sophon Ratanakorn, a former President of the Supreme Court, was composed of Permanent Secretary for Justice as vice chairman, and 22 other members from public and private sectors.

The proposal for appointment of a committee for setting up of pattern of the CIPITC was submitted to the Cabinet on March 22, 1993. By approval of the Cabinet on May 4, 1993, the Committee under the chairmanship of Professor Sophon Ratanakorn, a former President of the Supreme Court, was composed of the Permanent Secretary for Justice as vice chairman, and 22 other members from public and private sectors.

The Committee finished the draft Bill for the Establishment of and Procedure for the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court within one year after its appointment. The Bill was approved by the Cabinet on May 12, 1994. Subsequently, it was approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 15 and August 16, 1996 respectively.

The Act was proclaimed in the Government Gazette on October 25, 1996. Besides the Act, the Committee was also the architect for the first draft of the Rules for Intellectual Property and International Trade Cases concerning proceeding and taking of evidence in court.

In preparation for the inauguration of the CIPITC, H.E. Mr.Suwit Khunkitti, the former Minister of Justice, appointed the first executive board composing of Hon. Justice Supadit Hutasingh as Chief Justice, Justice Boonrod Tanprasert as Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Kanok Indrambarya as Deputy Chief Justice, and Judge Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn as Secretary of the Court.

The main responsibilities of this board included revising the draft of the Rules for Intellectual Property and International Trade Cases, selecting appropriate professional and associate judges for the staff of the Court and refurbishing the office building. Justice Supradit Hutasingh was later appointed the Permanent Secretary for Justice. Hon. Justice Akarawit Sumawong then became the Chief Justice of CIPITC. At present, the Chief Justice of CIPITC is Hon. Justice Phattarasak Vannasaeng.