Exemptions
to Electronic Transactions Act
HM the King issued a Royal Decree
on 3 March 2006 exempting family transactions and legacy transactions
from the Electronic Transactions Act, a 2001 Act giving electronic
transactions and electronic signatures legal status equivalent
to transactions and signatures made on paper.
New
Bill is Drafted to Strengthen Protection of Women Aganist
Sexual Harrasment
The
Office of Womens Affairs and Family Development is drafting
the “Gender Equality Promotion Bill” to address gaps in the
protection offered to women against sexual harassment under
existing law. The new bill, the final draft of which will
be completed in September, will offer an alternative grievance
procedure to victims of sexual harassment and will establish
a special committee to monitor the law's enforcement.
Board
of Investment Endorses New Incentive Package in 3 Sectors
The Board of Investment introduced
new incentive packages in the electronics, petrochemical and
agro-processing sectors on 23 May 2006 to promote investment
and the growth of export industries. Promotional privileges
will be granted to projects in the electronic sector with
a value of at least 30 billion baht, projects that use state-of-the-art
technology or projects that switch to local production. The
duty will be waived on machinery imports to promote the expansion
of the automotive rubber manufacturing industry.
Academics
Propose Amendment to Lese Majeste Article of the Penal Code
Article
112 of the penal code stipulates that lese majeste, the defamation,
insult or threatening of the Royal Family, is a punishable
offense. A group of academics at a Thai Journalists Association
conference in Chaing Mai at the end of April proposed that
the lese majeste clause should be amended. The current clause
allows state officials to file lese majeste charges on behalf
of the government and is thought to sometimes be used as an
attempt to silence politicians. The academics propose that
only the cabinet should be authorized to file lese majeste
charges on behalf of the government.
Court
to Drastically Change Handling of Environmental Cases
The
Supreme Court is considering drastic changes in the way it
handles environmental cases. The proposed changes being considered
at the end of May will shorten deliberation time in environmental
cases and increase the likelihood that an offender will be
prosecuted. The court fee may be waived to enable poor plaintiffs
to file legal action against industrial offenders. The burden
of proof may be lifted from the plaintiff and placed on the
defendant.
Tokyo
Asked to Revoke "Rusie Dutton" Yoga Trademarks
The
Intellectual Property Department asked the Japanase Patent
Office to revoke the patent of yoga business operator, Masaki
Furuya, on the “Rusie Dutton” traditional Thai yoga posture.
Kanissorn Navanugraha, an official at the Intellectual Property
Department, claims that the patent is in violation of both
international and Japanese property laws which prohibit registration
of widely recognized goods and services without innovation.
US
and Cambodia Sign Bilateral Trade Agreement
A
bilateral trade agreement (TIFA) has been reached between
the United States and Cambodia . The agreement will increase
trade and investment between the two countries and covers
issues including intellectual property rights, trade facilitation,
and customs arrangements. The agreement is part of the Bush
administration's Enterprise for Asean Initiative, an initiative
seeking to strengthen US trade and economic ties with Asean
member countries. |