On September 1, 2010, new antipirating legislation aimed at curbing the pirating of DVDs and CDs entered into effect. The new regulations are set forth in Decree No 75/2010/ND-CP Providing Regulations on Administrative Penalties in the Area of Culture (Decree 75), which was promulgated by the Government on July 12, 2010. This article provides an introduction to the regulations.

Thailand has long been viewed as an attractive option for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector. The country has already positioned itself as a regional leader in automotive assembly and parts production, while the electronics and textile industries are also well-established strengths. One of the reasons for Thailand’s competitiveness in these areas is the country’s relatively low rate of unionization, which currently stands at less than 10%.

In this age of amazing technological advancements, broadband information overload, anxiety, turmoil, extremes, diversions, and hope, a Chief Values Officer (CVO) of an organization is the guardian of that organization’s values and virtues, its culture, its spirit, its integrity, its ethical principles and moral foundations, and promotes adherence thereto. A CVO keeps the engine of an organization’s life running smoothly with minimal disruption to the environment and a maximum of character building and social responsibility.

For many years, Thai people have understood that consuming dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs can help them live healthier lives. Based on this, many healthcare companies view Thailand as a strong market with significant growth potential, thus leading to an increase in the number of dietary supplements being registered with the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand (FDA).

Using a question-and-answer format, this article provides a comprehensive overview of product liability law in Thailand. Overall, product liability litigation, as is common in many Western jurisdictions, is in its infancy in Thailand with most claims brought through traditional tort or contract theories. However, passage of the Thai Product Liability Act will create a more favorable climate to litigation of claims, the result of which will likely be a push for legal development of product liability claims.

The Trade Competition Act (TCA) applies to all enterprises and business activities in Thailand, with certain enumerated exceptions, such as state enterprises, cooperatives, agricultural and cooperative groups, and government agencies. If you are a business operator in Thailand, especially a market-dominant operator, the TCA governs how you do business. The TCA regulates abuse of dominance, anticompetitive agreements, unfair trade practices, and interference with consumer purchases from foreign suppliers.

Vietnam, with a population of nearly 90 million people, is the 12th most populous country in the world, and the country’s pharmaceutical industry therefore has huge potential. Most major pharmaceutical companies have had a formal presence (in the form of representative offices) in the country since the mid-1990s, and they generally have well-established distribution networks in Vietnam.

Among the criteria for trademark registration in Thailand, the issue of “distinctiveness” can often present a hurdle for applicants. If the Registrar finds that an applied-for mark lacks distinctiveness on absolute grounds, the applicant will be asked to submit evidence of use of the mark to prove that it has acquired distinctiveness through use. If the evidence fails to convince the Registrar that it has acquired distinctiveness, the application will be rejected and the applicant may then file an appeal with the Board of Trademarks and at the Courts, respectively.