In a recent notification by the Public Health Minister, Piyasakol Sakolsattayathorn, it was announced that the Ministry of Public Health’s National Tobacco Control Committee has approved a draft regulation requiring plain packaging to replace all current packaging for tobacco products. The stated reason for the change is concern that the current guidelines are no longer effective at addressing and combatting the health risks posed by tobacco products.

As the issue of counterfeiting continues to evolve, savvy brand owners are taking innovative approaches to intellectual property protection to meet their shifting needs. One such approach aims to resolve a key issue faced by brand owners: the variable effectiveness of government officials in taking action against counterfeits. Companies face understandable frustration when they perceive that different government agencies or officials may be less effective in enforcing the law, and they too often feel as though this issue is outside of their control.

The recent live shredding of a Banksy painting by its frame at a Sotheby’s auction served as a strong reminder of the interplay between art and copyright. Shortly after the Banksy print entitled “Girl with Balloon” was sold, the frame in which it was housed proceeded to shred half the work in front of the auction attendees. This event raised numerous questions. Would the buyer still want the piece? Was Banksy entitled to destroy his work after it had been sold? Is the purchaser of a work of art allowed to do whatever they want with it, including mutilate or destroy the work?