Are Thai stamps public domain?

It depends on the date. In the archive's reading, Thai stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026, because Thailand Post's copyright in postage stamps lasts 50 years. The line moves forward a year each January.

Who owns the copyright in Thai stamps?

Thailand Post, for 50 years, according to Wikimedia Commons. It does not say who holds the rights in stamps issued before the company was registered on August 14, 2003, when the post was run by a government department and, from 1977, by the Communications Authority of Thailand.

Are Siam stamps public domain?

Yes, for those issued in 1975 or earlier, in the archive's reading. The archive applies Thailand's 50-year rule to stamps of Siam, so Siam's first stamps, the Solot series of August 4, 1883, are public domain in 2026.

When will Thai stamps from 1976 become public domain?

On January 1, 2027, in the archive's reading. Thailand's 1994 Copyright Act protects stamps for 50 years and carries a term that ends partway through a year to the last day of that year, so a stamp issued in 1976 stays protected through December 31, 2026.

Thailand

Are Thailand stamps public domain?

It depends on the date: Thai stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026, in the archive's reading of Wikimedia Commons. Commons says Thailand Post holds the copyright in postage stamps for 50 years. The cutoff moves forward one year each January, and the archive applies it to stamps of Siam too.

Why 1975?

Commons cites Section 23 of the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (1994), which protects a work made in the course of employment or under instruction for 50 years from its making, or from first publication if it is published in that time.¹ Section 25 carries a term that ends partway through a year to the last day of that year.¹ In the archive's reading, a stamp issued in 1975 was protected through December 31, 2025 and became free on January 1, 2026. Commons' note states its cutoff as an exact day 50 years before the day the page is read, and does not mention the year-end rule.¹

Postal history and copyright

Siam opened its postal service on August 4, 1883 and issued its first stamps, the Solot series printed by Waterlow and Sons in London, the same day.² The service was run by a government Post Department, which became the Post and Telegraph Department in 1898.³ It passed to a state enterprise, the Communications Authority of Thailand, in 1977, and the company Thailand Post was registered on August 14, 2003.³ Commons names Thailand Post as the copyright holder and does not say who holds the rights in stamps issued by the earlier bodies, so that question is open.¹

References 3

↑ Copyright rules for Thailand. Wikimedia Commons, July 22, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Postage stamps and postal history of Thailand. Wikipedia, October 25, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ การไปรษณีย์ในประเทศไทย. Wikipedia, September 1, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.

Copyright law in Thailand

Thailand’s own stamps follow the rule below. The historical issuers named here are read under the country’s general copyright law. A design answers Likely yes or Likely no only when every term that could apply agrees, and Unclear when they disagree.

Named designer: 50 years after the designer’s death
Anonymous: 50 years from issue
Work of the state: 50 years from issue
Before 1978: 30 years after the designer’s death.
Before 1994: 50 years after the designer’s death; 50 years from issue for an anonymous stamp; 50 years from issue for a work of the state.
Note: Thailand Post holds stamp copyright for 50 years as employer. The 1901 act gave only 7 years after death or 42 after publication; the 1978 act appears to be retroactive, but this is not settled.

Historical issuers read under this law: Bangkok (British Post Office), Malaya (Thai Occupation).

Read from Wikimedia Commons, copyright rules for Thailand, revision 1250519168, checked October 8, 2026

The rule by period

PeriodRule

Any datePublic domain 50 years after the end of the year of issue.In the archive's reading, a stamp becomes public domain on January 1 of the 51st year after its year of issue.

The same rule covers Siam, Siam (Thailand).

Thailand stamps and the public domain: questions

Are Thai stamps public domain?: It depends on the date. In the archive's reading, Thai stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026, because Thailand Post's copyright in postage stamps lasts 50 years. The line moves forward a year each January.
Who owns the copyright in Thai stamps?: Thailand Post, for 50 years, according to Wikimedia Commons. It does not say who holds the rights in stamps issued before the company was registered on August 14, 2003, when the post was run by a government department and, from 1977, by the Communications Authority of Thailand.
Are Siam stamps public domain?: Yes, for those issued in 1975 or earlier, in the archive's reading. The archive applies Thailand's 50-year rule to stamps of Siam, so Siam's first stamps, the Solot series of August 4, 1883, are public domain in 2026.
When will Thai stamps from 1976 become public domain?: On January 1, 2027, in the archive's reading. Thailand's 1994 Copyright Act protects stamps for 50 years and carries a term that ends partway through a year to the last day of that year, so a stamp issued in 1976 stays protected through December 31, 2026.