On August 7, 2017, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted its instrument of accession to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), making Thailand the 99th nation to become a contracting state under this international treaty and confirming its commitment to the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint.

Background

Indonesia’s Government Regulation No. 20 of 2017 on Control of Import and Export of Goods Resulting from Intellectual Property Infringement became effective on August 2, 2017, and was issued to support implementation of customs measures under Law No. 17 of 2006. The new regulation enables customs recordation and measures to control imported and exported goods that are suspected to infringe on intellectual property (IP) rights.Customs Recordation

Amendments to Thailand’s Direct Sales and Direct Marketing Act (No.3), B.E. 2560 (2017) were published in the Government Gazette  on May 17, 2017, and will become effective on September 15, 2017 (120 days after the date of publication). While the new provisions will enhance consumer protection, they will also impose more stringent regulations and obligations on business operators. This article discusses the amendments and their potential effects on business operators and consumers.

The pace of Thailand’s infrastructure development has continued to grow in the past few years, bringing numerous opportunities for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms based overseas that are looking for ways to participate in a project in Thailand. However, potential investors will need to have a solid understanding of the country’s legal and regulatory framework prior to investing significant time, energy, and capital.

The technology used to view media is constantly being improved. Over the past few decades, the resolution of screens has vastly increased alongside the computing power necessary to play high-definition video through them. Similarly, video players have progressed through the formats of Betamax, VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, and Blu-ray (alongside some more ill-fated counterparts), and Internet speeds have risen to the point where content providers are now able to offer high-definition video streaming services to mass-market consumers.

On May 17, 2017, Thailand published its new Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017) in the Royal Gazette, the official journal in which new laws are announced. The Act, effective 180 days from publication, repeals the outdated and controversial Customs Act B.E. 2469 (1926) and its prior amendments.

Thailand’s new Trade Competition Act B.E. 2560 (2017) (TCA) was published in the Government Gazette  on July 7 and will come into force 90 days later on October 5. The new TCA will likely lead to many significant changes, including expanding the powers of the Office of Trade Competition Commission (OTCC) and making the OTCC independent from the government. Other important provisions in the new TCA are set out below.Defining market-dominant business operator