Given the present flooding issues in Thailand, many people have concerns about employment issues. Put simply, “If my factory is flooded, must I keep paying my employees?” As with most legal questions, the answer is not so simple.

A new notification from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is expected to have a significant impact on companies that do business with the Thai government. On August 11, 2011, the NACC issued the Notification re: Rules and Procedures Concerning the Preparation and Disclosure of Revenue and Expenses Accounts of Projects which Individuals or Juristic Entities are Contractual Parties with Government Agencies (Notification).

Updated for 2011, this annual guide published by Law Business Research provides insight on Thailand’s product liability regime in a question-and-answer format. Thailand has seen an increased number of claims under the recently passed Product Liability Act, which was designed to create a more favorable climate for product liability litigation. This trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.

Recent trends showcase a clear intent by two of the world’s global powers to tackle corruption abroad. The United States, through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has dramatically increased its investigation and enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). In addition, in 2010 the United Kingdom acted aggressively to address an historical weakness in its anti-bribery laws by enacting the UK Bribery Act.

Patent owners who wish to seek protection in multiple countries are often faced with many questions, as each jurisdiction may have a unique set of requirements. To answer some of these questions and simplify the process, Managing Intellectual Property has published a series of Q&A guides that introduce the relevant procedures in several key jurisdictions.

Thailand is currently in the middle of a major transition in its regulation of the electronic communications industry, as it moves from its tradition of state-owned enterprises in the sector to a competitive landscape involving many different providers. To put this transition into context, the Thailand chapter of The International Comparative Legal Guide to Telecommunications Laws and Regulations 2012 provides a comprehensive overview of the Kingdom’s telecommunications laws and regulations, presented in a Q&A format.

Anyone with even a basic knowledge of intellectual property law knows that a trademark must enable consumers to distinguish the product of one enterprise from the products of other enterprises. To be registrable, the trademark must be distinctive and non-descriptive. A mark can be distinctive in two ways: (1) inherent distinctiveness; and (2) distinctiveness through use. In addition, the trademark must be something other than, and separate from, the goods themselves. This rule applies to the registration and protection of conventional trademarks, as well as configuration marks.

An increasing number of foreigners are finding investment in Thailand attractive, creating a positive impact on the Thai economy. Undoubtedly, one of the effects of increased foreign direct investment is a greater number of foreigners coming to Thailand for a variety of business-related purposes: conducting business, taking a position of employment, accompanying family members assigned to work in Thailand, and even attending business meetings and seminars.