The closing earlier this year of two major U.S. securitization transactions involving sizable trademark royalty components may finally provide the impetus for the lagging IP securitization market to take off. The USD 1.7 billion Dunkin’ Donuts securitization, which closed in May, was topped a few days later by a USD 1.8 billion deal involving KCD IP.

Any time that there is a reconsideration of the Thai tax system, an inheritance tax is inevitably considered. The introduction of this tax, however, has continually been rejected by wealthy people who are able to yield considerable influence at the level of policy control. Although Thailand has personal income tax, income and property acquired through inheritance are exempt from this tax. If the legatee subsequently sells the inherited properties, there is also an exemption provided in some cases.

Most employers make their best efforts to ensure that discipline of employees is legal and made for legitimate reasons. Despite their best efforts, however, employers frequently find themselves at risk of facing lawsuits related to the discipline or termination of employees. Unfortunately, the outcome in the Labor Court is not always favorable or satisfying. In fact, the result of court proceedings may include revocation of employer disciplinary orders or the issuance of orders requiring the rehire of terminated employees due to unfair termination.

Thailand has a rapidly growing economy and Internet penetration is on the rise, although the country still needs legislation to confront the emerging challenges of the Internet and e-commerce. The present state of Thai copyright, cyber-squatting, and related criminal law makes it clear that much needs to be done to ready the country for this next stage of modernization.

On January 9, 2007, the incumbent Cabinet appointed by the Council for National Security approved a bill to amend the Foreign Business Act 1999. The most significant issue was an amendment of the definition of “alien” to also include companies in which foreigners have the majority vote regardless of their ownership in the companies. This article discusses the details of the pending bill.

A number of Thailand’s condominiums were built many years ago and, depending for the most part on the quality of maintenance since their construction, are at present in varying states of repair or disrepair. While some condominiums have been very well maintained, others have suffered damages to their structure or deteriorated drastically from long use and neglect. The Condominium Act B.E.

Only seven months after the enactment of the new 2005 Commercial Law of Vietnam at the beginning of 2006, the Vietnamese Government has issued new regulations on foreign representative offices and branch offices in Vietnam under Government Decree No. 72/2006/ND-CP dated July 25, 2006. Compared with the regulation under the previous decree, this new decree seems to be a step backward in terms of the requirements for opening a foreign representative or branch office in Vietnam. This article describes the setbacks.

On November 29, 2005, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed, among others, two new laws: (1) the Law on Investment No. 59/2005/QH11; and (2) the Law on Enterprises No. 60/2005/QH11. Both laws will take effect on July 1, 2006. Some of the important changes in the new laws are analyzed in this article.