Many foreigners hold the high and respected position of director of their respective companies because they know how to manage a company, run a business, make profits, etc. But acting in that capacity, do they know how to comply with Thai law? In other words, do they know and understand what the legal implications of the job are? This article will discuss certain basic legal requirements and responsibilities as well as practice guidelines which new directors should be familiar with.

Recently the Thai government has expressed its intent to enforce a total ban on alcohol advertising in the Kingdom. The ban, which was originally introduced by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was scheduled to take force on December 3, 2006. However, the bill provoked considerable debate regarding its scope and the FDA’s legitimacy to institute such restrictions. This debate, including the Council of State’s December 2006 ruling that the FDA lacked authority to implement the ban, resulted in a decision to withdraw the draft law.

There has been much discussion recently concerning the compulsory licensing by Thailand of certain patented drugs under Article 31 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement. Thailand has granted a license to generic manufacturers to produce a cheaper version of certain drugs over the objection of the drugs’ patent owners. Now at least one of these patent owners may choose not to import its other patented drugs into Thailand. While many focus on the issue of Compulsory Licensing under TRIPS, a broader question is being discussed in the background. Does IP ownership constitute a monopoly?

With Thailand enjoying steady economic growth these past few years, many companies have reached or surpassed their targeted profits. When businesses make more profit, employees also earn more money, and things seem to be happy and smooth—until one day the employees submit a demand and the employer refuses to grant it. This article addresses how to deal labor disputes when they arise.

The fight against terrorism has become top priority for most nations. An important part of the anti-terrorism arsenal is the availability and implementation of comprehensive anti-money laundering laws. Thailand, which itself is facing terrorist attacks in the south, is keenly aware of the link between terrorism and money laundering.

This article discusses the Thai Ministry of Public Health’s announcement of compulsory licenses on selected pharmaceutical products that remain protected by patent, as well as the lack of consultation with the patent owners.

The Royal Thai Customs Department has a proactive policy to protect Thai consumers from illegal goods that damage both the Thai economy and the public’s confidence in consuming imported goods. Brand owners such as Nokia, Levi Strauss, Daimler Chrysler, HP, Casio, and Ferrari have dedicated tremendous resources and jointly proposed to provide Customs officers with product identification training to assist them in their profiling and preliminary inspection of suspect shipments.

Thailand’s recent decision to issue compulsory licences for certain drugs has been widely reported both at home and abroad. Yet, despite the extensive media coverage, few people completely understand the concept and role of compulsory licenses, particularly in relation to patents and other forms of intellectual property rights. This article introduces the key issues in the compulsory licensing debate.