The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) came into effect in Vietnam on January 14, 2019, with some of its provisions on intellectual property taking effect immediately. (Under the Vietnamese legal system, when the provisions of international treaties such as the CPTPP differ from national law, the international provisions will apply.)

On February 5, 2019, Notification of the Board of Special Cases (No. 7) B.E. 2562 (2019) was put into effect, establishing new conditions for intellectual property (IP) owners who wish to bring legal action before the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). The notification is intended to clearly separate the jurisdictions of the police and the DSI.

Last year, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) announced a six-month deadline for all patent holders to settle their unpaid annuities, with those who failed to meet the deadline facing potential refusal of any future applications that they might make. In a recent announcement, the DGIP extended that deadline by an additional six months—from February 16, 2019, to August 17, 2019.

Since 2017, the Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) have been engaged in an active drive to monitor and pursue many charges related to stock manipulation against high-level executives of security-issuing companies. These authorities, particularly the SEC, have the duties to regulate, monitor, and sanction any traders who act in contravention of the Securities and Exchange Act B.E. 2535 (1992) (the Act), which prohibits, among other things, insider trading and stock manipulation.

On January 30, 2019, Myanmar’s long-awaited Industrial Design Law—the first legislation specifically addressing the protection of industrial designs in the jurisdiction’s history—was passed into law.The law lays out a comprehensive framework for the protection of rights over the external visual design of objects (i.e. the aesthetic design, rather than the practical). It will be implemented through administrative bodies (particularly the Intellectual Property Office) and enabling legislation that will be established and implemented in due course.Overview

On January 24, 2019, the Bank of Thailand issued a regulation relaxing the qualifications and operational requirements for international money transfer service providers, with the aim of increasing flexibility for the benefit of consumers, and encouraging participation by new service providers. The new regulation took effect on January 31, 2019.The key amendments are as follows:Foreign Shareholding Restriction

Thailand’s labour laws have long been known for the strength of protections afforded to employees. Continuing this trend, a slew of new amendments to the Labour Protection Act (LPA), passed on December 13, 2018, will further enhance worker protection, improve working conditions, and impose sanctions on employers who fail to uphold them.The updates to Thailand’s labour law will come into effect 30 days after its publication in the Government Gazette, which is expected to be in early 2019. The key changes are summarized below:

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) issued Circular Letter 1/2019 on January 29, 2019, stating that domestic private banks will now be able to accept up to 35% equity investments from foreign banks and financial institutions. The Circular Letter comes into effect immediately.Domestic private banks that wish to accept foreign investments under the circular are required to submit a set of documents to the CBM, including a copy of the mutual agreement describing the equity investment ratio, the terms and conditions of the investment, and others.