Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) (PDPA) became fully effective and enforceable on June 1, 2022. To ensure that the PDPA will be smoothly and efficiently enforced, the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) is issuing various subordinate regulations. On June 20, 2022, the first set of these regulations was issued and published in the Government Gazette, and according to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), another set of subordinate regulations is expected to be issued by the end of June 2022. The first set consists of the following four subordinate regulations:   1) Notification of the PDPC Re: Exemption to the Record of Processing Activities Requirement for Data Controllers that Are Small Businesses B.E. 2565 (2022) (“ROPA Exemption Notification”) Under the PDPA, data controllers are obligated to prepare and maintain a record of processing activities (ROPA) containing information specified in Section 39 of the PDPA, including the personal data collected, the purposes of the processing of the personal data, the retention period, etc. However, under this ROPA Exemption Notification, a data controller will be exempted from the obligation to prepare and maintain a record of such required information (except information related to the rejection of a request from a data subject to exercise (i) right of access; (ii) right to data portability; (iii) right to object; and (iv) right to rectification), if its business falls within the scope of any of the following: Small or medium-sized business according to the law on small and medium-sized enterprise promotion, defined as follows: Community enterprise or social enterprise, as referred to under the law on community enterprise promotion. Social enterprise, as referred to under the under the law on social enterprise promotion. Cooperative, cooperative union, or agriculturist’s group under the law on cooperatives. Foundation, association, religious body, or non-profit organization. Household business or other business of the same nature. Internet

Thailand’s Ministry of Interior has extended the deadline for payment of the 2022 land and building tax by three months, from April 30, 2022, to July 31, 2022, in order to relieve the burden for taxpayers. The announcement was published in the Government Gazette on June 24, 2022. If payment is to be made in installments, the announcement also extends the deadline for each installment as follows: For more details on these measures, or any aspect of Thailand’s land and building tax, please contact Chaiwat Keratisuthisathorn at [email protected], or Sorawit Partomtanasarn at [email protected].

Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has recently changed the criteria for accepting cases under their jurisdiction, which greatly benefits intellectual property (IP) owners who wish to bring legal action before the DSI. Issued on June 9, 2022, and taking effect the following day, the Notification of the Board of Special Cases (No. 8) B.E. 2565 (2022) lowered the minimum threshold for the market value of IP-infringing goods from THB 10 million (approx. USD 242,400) to THB 5 million (approx. USD 121,200). DSI Jurisdiction The Special Case Investigation Act B.E. 2547 (2004) (as amended) and subsequent regulations lay out the DSI’s jurisdiction over “special cases,” giving DSI officers the authority to handle certain trademark, copyright, and patent infringement cases (among others). In order for the DSI to get involved, the alleged offender must be involved in, or suspected of involvement in, the manufacturing or purchasing of the items in question, or in relevant distribution facilities, warehouses, or importing businesses. Another condition for the DSI having jurisdiction is that the total market value of the articles or products possessed for use in the offense, acquired from the offense, or the possession of which is an offense, must exceed the minimum threshold specified in regulations. This minimum market value has now been lowered from THB 10 million to THB 5 million. The damages that can be reasonably expected from the commission of an offense have also been lowered from THB 10 million to THB 5 million. Impact of the New Criteria on IP Owners The DSI has substantial experience handling complex IP-infringement cases, and they have been especially active in fighting online infringement over the past several years. The lowering of the minimum benchmark to file a case from THB 10 million to THB 5 million means that more IP owners will be able to benefit from

2022年4月4日、ミャンマーの国家行政評議会（State Administration Council）は、外貨両替の承認、両替義務の免除、海外への外貨送金の許可等を遂行する外国為替管理委員会 (Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee) を設立しました。   外国為替管理委員会の設立は、2022年5月13日に国家行政評議会の命令28/2022が官報に掲載され、委員会に6人の人物が任命されたことで正式に決定しました。   外国為替管理委員会は、ミャンマーにて受け取る外貨を現地通貨に両替することを義務付ける政策の実施を担う中心的な機関です。   2022年4月にこの政策が制定されて以来、ミャンマー中央銀行は外貨の取り扱いを許可された銀行に対してさらなる説明と指示を出し、外国投資家の懸念に応えて特定の外国投資プロジェクトを両替義務の対象から除外し、中国、タイと接する国境における貿易については、両替義務が遂行されるべき期限を延長しました。   外国為替管理委員会は、国内外の投資、製造、輸出入、サービス業の外貨の流れを監督しています。   外国為替管理委員会は、特に以下の事項における外貨使用を検討し、承認する責務があります。 海外からの投資や製造に必要な機械、車両、設備、原材料の輸入。 国内市場で入手できない燃料、医薬品、食用油、肥料、殺虫剤、建設資材の輸入。 ミャンマー国民の医療、教育、宗教活動のための海外渡航。 一般商品の輸入、外国からの借入金返済・利払い、サービス料、投資利益の本国送還 各種嗜好品（ブランド品、宝飾品、スポーツカー、時計等）の輸入。   尚、外国為替管理委員会は、国家行政評議会から命じられたその他の外国為替管理に関する業務も行います。

Indonesia has issued a continuation of its debt relief program—which covers settlement of unpaid patent annuities—from 2021. The debt relief program, which Indonesia has named its “Crash Program,”  has been adjusted to make it more practical for debtors and responsive to their needs. The updated “Crash Program” is laid out in the Ministry of Finance’s Regulation No. 11/PMK.06/2022 regarding Settlement of State Receivables through the Crash Program Mechanism, which was issued on February 21, 2022, replacing a similar notification from the previous year. Patent annuities are “state receivables” and thus are an object of the Crash Program. According to the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), as of March 2022, outstanding unpaid patent annuities due amounted to IDR 211 billion (approx. USD 14.5 million). The DGIP is thus promoting the Ministry of Finance’s Crash Program as a way for patent holders to pay their unpaid patent annuities. Under the Crash Program, debtors owing unpaid patent annuities can request the following types of debt relief: Waiver of all of debt interest, penalties, and other charges; 60% off debt principal; and From the remaining principal amount, additional deductions of: 40% if settled by June 2022; 30% if settled from July to September 2022; 20% if settled from July to December 20, 2022. The key aspects of the Crash Program under the new regulation are outlined below. Foreign Debtors The original Crash Program regulation from 2021 lacked specific information on requirements for foreign debtors to participate in the program. The new regulation, however, allows foreign debtors to obtain a letter of reference from their foreign consulate in Indonesia or authorized institution in the country of origin to fulfill requirements for supporting documentation in order to participate in the Crash Program. The letter of reference must confirm the debtor’s inability to pay the debt in full unless debt relief is provided. Moratorium As there was little

On June 13, 2022, Laos’ Prime Minister’s Office issued Notification No. 829/PMO modifying the country’s minimum monthly wage. The notification calls for two increases over the next 11 months. The first increase will occur on August 1, 2022, when the minimum monthly wage will become LAK 1,200,000 (approx. USD 81). The second increase, to LAK 1,300,000 (approx. USD 88) will take effect on May 1, 2023. This raising is the first minimum wage increase in Laos since May 2018, and it comes at a time when the Lao kip is facing sharp depreciation against the US dollar, in conjunction with heightened inflation. Despite this increase, the cost of labor in Laos remains among the lowest in the region. In Cambodia the minimum daily wage is KHR 40,000 (approx. USD 10), with a minimum monthly wage of USD 194 for regular workers in the garment, textile, and footwear industries. The minimum wage in Myanmar is MMK 600 per hour, or MMK 4,800 (approx. USD 2) for an eight-hour work day. In Thailand, the minimum daily wage ranges from THB 313 to 336 (approx. USD 9–10), depending on the province. In Vietnam, which has recently updated its wage guidance, the minimum wage also varies by location, with daily minimums of VND 15,600–22,500 (approx. USD 0.7–1) and monthly minimums of VND 3,250,000–4,680,000 (approx. USD 141–203). For more details about the new minimum wage, or any other labor and employment matters in Laos, please contact Dino Santaniello at [email protected] or +856 21 262 355.

インドネシアは、（未払いの特許年金の支払いに関する）債務救済プログラムを2021年から継続する。インドネシアが 「Crash Program」 と名づけたこの債務救済プログラムは、債務者により実用的で、債務者のニーズに対応できるように調整されている。「Crash Program」 は、2022年2月21日に発行された財務省の 「Crash Program 手続を通じた国の債権の決済に関する規則No.11/PMK.06/2022」 に規定され、前年の同じ内容の通知に置き換えられる。 特許年金は 「国の債権」 であるため、Crash Programの対象となる。知的財産総局 （DGIP） によると、2022年3月現在、未払いの特許年金は2,110億インドネシアルピア（約1,450万米ドル）に達している。DGIPは特許保有者が未払いの特許年金を支払う方法として財務省のCrash Programを推進している。 Crash Programでは、未払いの特許年金を保有する債務者は、以下のタイプの債務救済を申請することができる。 債務の利子、違約金その他の費用の全額免除； 負債元本の60%割引；および 残りの元本金額から、次の項目の追加控除： 2022年6月までに決済された場合、40%； 2022年7月までに決済された場合、30%； 2022年12月20日までに決済された場合、20%。 新しい規則の下でのCrash Programの主要な点を以下に概説する。   【外国債務者】 2021年の当初のCrash Program規則では、外国債務者がCrash Programに参加するための要件に関する具体的な情報が欠落していた。新しい規則では、外国債務者がCrash Programに参加するために、インドネシアの外国領事館または出身国の認定機関からletter of referenceを取得することができる。 letter of referenceでは、債務救済が提供されない限り、債務者が債務を全額返済できないことを確認しなければならない。   【支払猶予期間】 2021年のCrash Programの実施中、債務返済猶予・手続に対する関心がほとんどなかったため、新しい規則は、Crash Programにおける支払いを延期するための猶予や法的措置を含まないものとなっている。新しい規則の下では、債務救済はCrash Programで利用できる手続のみである。   【提出期限】 新規則は、2021年規則に比べ、年末に向けた債務救済の申請期限をさらに押し上げるものである。2022年のCrash Programの場合、債務救済の申請期限は2022年12月15日 （2021年のCrash Programの2021年12月1日から）である。 債務救済の請求が承認された後は、2022年11月21日から2022年12月15日までに提出された請求を除き、1カ月以内に決済されなければならず、その場合の支払期限は2022年12月20日である。   備考：本和文は英文記事を翻訳したものです。原文については、以下のリンクをご参照ください。Indonesia Renews Debt Relief Program for Settlement of Unpaid Patent Annuities

On June 16, 2022, the latest amendment of Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law was finally ratified with the consent of 95.58% of the members of the National Assembly. The amendment has received much attention from not only IP rights holders but also law enforcement authorities, as changes have been made in respect of both IP ownership and enforcement. Notably, under the amended IP Law, Vietnam will recognize sound marks, which shows the country’s efforts to comply with international treaties and agreements to which it is a party, such as the EVFTA and CPTPP. Although there will be challenges in protecting sound marks, this adoption hopefully will provide IP rights owners with one more useful type of protection for their intellectual assets in the developing era of technology. Regarding copyright, the criteria for co-authorship have been clarified with more details regarding the number of authors (from two authors and above), the contribution of the authors, the intent of the authors, etc. These criteria are similar to other legal systems such as those of the U.K. or U.S. As the definition of co-author plays an important role in determining the ownership of the work, this change promises a better scenario with fewer disputes concerning the ownership of collaborative works. Unsurprisingly, the National Assembly agreed to keep administrative sanctions as one of the measures to deal with IP infringement. This is in contrast to one of the previous drafts of the amended law in which administrative sanctions were no longer listed as a way to protect IP rights. This removal had received strong negative feedback from many scholars and legal practitioners, who argued from the practical aspect that the civil litigation process often takes longer and has higher costs than administrative sanctions and, thus, would discourage owners from protecting their rights. Further, IP infringement does not