The patent system has become an unlikely hot topic in Thailand in light of reports that some overseas pharmaceutical companies have applied for Thai patents for cannabis. The revelations have added more fuel to the ongoing debate about the utility of cannabis, a Thai local plant. The reports have led many to criticize the patent system, questioning whether patent rights may obstruct Thai researchers’ studies on cannabis. It is important not to oversimplify this issue. Such dialogue is extremely important and must be encouraged, but as a patent attorney I find the broader context of the patent system very enlightening in understanding the arguments on both sides. The most important context of course is the reasoning behind the patent system in the first place. An internationally accepted rationale for patent law is that a patent grants security to an inventor who, through his or her intellect and labor, has conceived an invention that benefits the society. Granting that inventor patent rights prevents others from exploiting the fruit of that inventor’s labor without consent. Simply put, patents prevent anyone from stealing an inventor’s idea. In exchange, the inventor has a duty to make the details (or the “secret trick”) of his or her invention available to the public through the process of patent application. Importantly, a patent is in force for no more than 20 years, after which the knowledge in that patent will become public information for anyone’s free use. With that in mind, we can begin to look at the specific context of cannabis-based patents.   The patent system has become an unlikely hot topic in Thailand in light of reports that some overseas pharmaceutical companies have applied for Thai patents for cannabis. The revelations have added more fuel to the ongoing debate about the utility of cannabis, a Thai local plant.

The third edition of the World Aircraft Repossession Index  was recently published by leading US law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, calculating and ranking the legal environment and framework for aircraft asset recoverability in 102 jurisdictions around the world.

When an employee causes damage to a company, Thai employers often resort to deducting wages, holiday pay, or overtime payments as a penalty or restitution. Before doing so, the employer should know when it is permissible to do so under Thai law, and the risks they are taking by making improper deductions.

Lex Mundi, the world’s largest law firm network, recently released its Global Arbitration Guide —a detailed interactive guide to arbitral institutions in 45 jurisdictions worldwide, provided by Lex Mundi member firms in each country. Jurisdictions are separated into individual reports that cover everything from structure and organization to procedures and regulations, registration fees to processes around arbitral awards, and everything in between; allowing readers to compare and contrast arbitral institutions across jurisdictions efficiently and effectively.

The Vietnam chapter of Media, Advertising, and Entertainment Law Throughout the World 2018, written by attorneys from Tilleke & Gibbins, provides insight into the relevant laws and regulations across these industries in Vietnam:

Tilleke & Gibbins has provided its annual contribution of the Thailand and Vietnam chapters for Multilaw’s Media, Advertising, and Entertainment Law Throughout the World 2018  guide, a publication that offers insight on media, advertising, entertainment, and art law across more than 30 countries worldwide.The Thailand chapter of the guide, written by Suebsiri Taweepon and Alec Wheatley, covers:

Vietnam experienced a continued growth trend in foreign direct investment in 2017 with foreign investment inflows reaching an incredible US$35.6 billion—registering yet another record level. When compared to the record level produced in the 2016 fiscal year, the increase comes out to an astonishing 44.4%. The Economist  hypothesizes that Vietnam is holding the key to continual, exponential growth, similar to South Korea, China, and Taiwan before it.