Myanmar’s Trademark Bill is currently being considered by the Lower House of the Myanmar Parliament. Pending the enactment of the bill into law, trademark owners who plan to file applications under the new framework can begin their preparatory work by collating the necessary filing information and documents.While the exact mechanics of trademark applications, official forms, and execution modalities of application documents are not yet known, Chapter 7 of the Trademark Bill does stipulate the information and documents required for filing trademark applications.

In January 2018, the government called for the fourth public hearing of the draft Personal Data Protection Act. There were no substantial changes in this draft as compared to the prior version published in March 2015, although minor changes were made. This article reviews some of the key provisions in the latest draft bill, noting where changes have been made from the previous draft.§5: Definition of “Personal Data” – unchanged

A new Penal Code (the “New Penal Code”) came into effect in Vietnam on January 1, 2018. Important for foreign and domestic investors alike, the New Penal Code introduces a number of provisions on corporate criminal liability and anti-corruption, increasing the risks for businesses in the country.

Anyone who has had a hand in starting or running a social enterprise will know that determining which corporate structure is the most appropriate can be one of the trickiest parts of launching their business. Making the right structuring decision at the right time can be the difference between success and failure, and the decision is often complicated by a lack of clearly defined legal structures specifically aimed at social enterprises.

In partnership with the British Council, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, and United Nations ESCAP, Tilleke & Gibbins is proud to announce the launch of the ASEAN Social Enterprise Structuring Guide, a practical new guide for social entrepreneurs to the legal structures available to them for establishing a social enterprise in Southeast Asia.

On February 16, 2018, the Ministry of Finance adopted Ministerial Regulation (No. 2) B.E. 2561 (2018) pursuant to its authority under section 7 of the Business Security Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The Ministerial Regulation prescribes the following four new categories of entities that are now eligible to act as security receivers under the Business Security Act:

Insurance companies in Thailand are required by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) to publicly disclose their financial and business operating results on their websites and other channels, with the information presented in clear, precise, reliable, and updated formats. The disclosed information should illustrate trends in each company’s business operations and enable readers to compare companies within the insurance industry.

In November 2015, the National Assembly of Vietnam issued a new Penal Code that was scheduled to come into effect on July 1, 2016, replacing the Penal Code of 1999. However, due to some inconsistencies and shortcomings in the law as drafted, its full implementation was put on hold until necessary amendments could be made. A revised version of the new Penal Code was subsequently issued in June 2017, and finally took effect this year on January 1.