The Thai insurance industry is primarily regulated under the Civil and Commercial Code, the Casualty Insurance Act B.E. 2535 (as amended), the Life Insurance Act B.E. 2535 (as amended), the Insurance Commission Act B.E. 2550, and the Motor Accident Victims Protection Act B.E. 2535 (as amended). Numerous regulations are issued under each of these laws, and the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC), under the Ministry of Finance, is the primary regulator.Establishment, Shareholding, and Directorship

Company directors can be held liable for software copyright violations in their businesses, even if they are unaware that software piracy is taking place at their companies, according to Thai copyright law.The Thai Copyright Act of 1994 states that if a juristic person (a company) commits copyright infringement, all directors or managers are jointly liable for the offense. This means that if a company is sued as a first defendant, its authorized directors may also be attached as additional defendants in the case.

Getting the Deal Through has published a multi-jurisdictional guide to real estate in 30 jurisdictions worldwide. The Thailand chapter was written by Cynthia Pornavalai and Ahmet Yesilkaya from the Tilleke & Gibbins corporate and commercial team. The chapter provides a business perspective to owning and investing in real estate in Thailand, and clarifies the law for foreign investors in terms of their liability, choice of law, and what to consider when making investments in Thailand. More specifically, the chapter covers the following:

On September 10, 2009, the Thai government established the National Creative Economy Policy Committee to set guidelines and translate policy into action by various government agencies. This led to the Creative Thailand program, which was intended to encourage the growth and competitiveness of businesses through creativity and research and development. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) play a crucial role in moving this policy forward.

Written by Tilleke & Gibbins consultant David Duncan, the Thailand chapter of Employment Issues on a Transfer of Business in Asia introduces employers to the complex issues that arise when one business is acquired by another. The publication addresses such topics as:

Corporate criminal liability and business crimes have become an important area of the law as a result of the economic climate; the recession has taken its toll on profits and, ultimately, business ethics. Regulations have been adopted to deal with this rise, and with the complexities of criminal enforcement against business entities and individuals. In order to keep up with changes and provide a clear guide to country-specific regulations, the International Comparative Guide series has published their third edition on business crime.

Long-term lease agreements in Thailand are generally limited to a maximum term of 30 years and may then be renewed for another 30-year term under Section 540 of the Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand.

This article first appeared on WTR Daily, part of World Trademark Review, in September 2012. For further information, please go to www.worldtrademarkreview.com.