Thailand’s Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (1994) came into force on March 21, 1995. Over the course of the nearly 20 years since its passing, the Act had previously remained unchanged, devoid of any amendments, despite numerous attempts by legislators to strengthen copyright protection and modernize the law to keep up with technological changes.

Martial law has been in force in Thailand since last May 20, when it was invoked by the military, which staged a full-scale coup two days later to bring an end to months of street demonstrations and political turmoil. While it certainly has had an effect on political protests, martial law also has ramifications for another form of social protest—labor disputes.

Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2015, published by Law Business Research, delivers a comprehensive overview of arbitration law in 60 jurisdictions around the world. The guide’s Thailand chapter, written by Kornkieat Chunhakasikarn and John King of the Tilleke & Gibbins dispute resolution group, provides a detailed examination of arbitration law in Thailand. In particular, the chapter covers the following main subjects:

In the fast-evolving and highly competitive technology industry, software developers and owners should exercise strong vigilance to ensure that their creations are properly guarded within the ambit of intellectual property rights. Protecting software, however, involves complex, interrelated issues that encompass a mix of copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secrets law.In this article, we will examine what people in the software industry should know to adequately protect their creations and operate their business with fewer hitches.

In commercial lawsuits in general, and IP lawsuits in particular, the ability of rights holders to access one or more forms of injunctive relief is of utmost importance. The availability and effectiveness of preliminary injunctions can show to some extent the maturity and effectiveness of the enforcement system. For such reasons, a correct understanding of the applicability of preliminary injunctions in Vietnam is of practical use.

The cabinet of Thailand recently approved a series of bills that aim to reflect the importance of information technology in the economy. They relate to computers, cybersecurity, personal data, information technology, and telecommunications. Among them is the Bill to Amend the Computer Crimes Act, which proposes several changes to the existing law.

Over the last 20 years, since the U.S. and Vietnam reestablished diplomatic relations in 1994, IPR enforcement has made great strides. The improvements can be attributed to legislative reforms introduced when Vietnam joined the WTO in 2006, and increased efforts to enforce the laws on the books as the Vietnamese economy seeks to attract higher quality types of investment that depend on strong IPR protection. Vietnam is now in the midst of negotiations with the EC in regard to a potential FTA and with the United States in regard to TPP.

The free flow of investment is a key component of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Higher levels of investment between ASEAN member states will increase the likelihood of disputes arising between private investors and governments. In response, the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), a multilateral treaty that provides the legal foundation for the AEC’s liberalized investment regime, establishes an investor-state dispute resolution mechanism (ISDR mechanism).