On February 4, 2021, partner Linh Thi Mai Nguyen, the head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vietnam trademark group, joined a panel of experts at a “Flash Briefing” webinar organized by the International Trademark Association (INTA) to discuss the proposed amendments to Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law. Linh, a member of INTA’s Trademark Office Practices Committee, spoke primarily about the changes to Vietnam’s trademark office practice under the amended IP Law, which is currently in draft form and is expected to be issued later this year. This was the first Flash Briefing ever staged by INTA. The format is designed to provide quick online updates on timely issues for brand owners around the world.

Doing business in the emerging markets of Southeast Asia can often be frustrated by seemingly loose protections afforded to intellectual property (IP) rights, and the proliferation of counterfeit goods. In response to this, the governments of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar have taken great steps in recent years to protect these valuable commercial assets, strengthen IP laws, and build robust legal regimes for the registration, protection, and enforcement of IP rights. Although these legal frameworks are still developing, the current measures available are sufficient for many savvy companies to register and protect their IP rights and prevent the spread of harmful counterfeit products. To help companies navigate these measures, Tilleke & Gibbins’ IP team, in collaboration with the Australian Chambers of Commerce in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, will be hosting a webinar entitled, “Intellectual Property in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar” on Tuesday, February 02, starting at 10:00 a.m. (ICT) / 9:30 a.m. (MMT). This webinar will form part of a broader Legal Webinar Series on key legal topics for businesses that will take place throughout 2021. Chandavya Ing andDavid Mol, Advisors in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Cambodia office; Dino Santaniello, Head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Laos Office; and Yuwadee Thean–ngarm, Director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Myanmar office, will present an overview of the IP laws of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, identify the measures available to companies seeking to protect their trademarks and other IP assets, and discuss some real-world case studies of successful IP enforcement in the region. The session will also include a Q&A session, where attendees will be able to put their questions to Tilleke & Gibbins’ IP teams in Phnom Penh, Vientiane, and Yangon. To register for this free-to-attend event, please complete this registration form. Should you have any queries, please email [email protected].

As the implementation of Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act looms, Tilleke & Gibbins joins forces with Bird & Bird Data Privacy Solutions to look at the data protection officer requirement, and what lessons can be learned from the European experience with the GDPR.

On Thursday, February 11, 2020, Tilleke & Gibbins will host a webinar entitled “Myanmar Investment 2021: Opportunities and Challenges.” Presented by Yuwadee Thean-ngarm and Nada Songsasen of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Yangon office, and moderated by Athistha (Nop) Chitranukroh, a partner and director of the firm’s corporate and commercial department, the session will provide attendees with an overview of general investment law and opportunities in Myanmar and take a look at how local COVID-19 regulations and policies implemented by the Myanmar government may affect businesses in the country. The webinar will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Thailand Time) or 9.30 a.m – 11:00 a.m. (Myanmar Time), and will be delivered in Thai. To register your interest in this free-to-attend event, please complete this registration form.  Should you have any queries, please send an email to [email protected].