Suu Kyi Meets Junta Liaison

8 October 2009

Pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi has reportedly met with the military junta’s Labour Minister Aung Kyi for the second time in five days after her appeal against her house arrest was declined by a Burmese court. This is, according to reports, unusual and may potentially be a sign of change in the parties’ views toward one another. 

The Labour Minister serves as a liaison between the junta and Suu Kyi.

Courts convicted Suu Kyi of violating her house arrest by allowing an American man to stay for a short duration in her lakeside home after swimming there unexpectedly. The courts extended her house arrest by another 18 months for this offense.

Suu Kyi’s lawyer said that the meeting between the Labour Minister and Suu Kyi may have focused on ways to bring about a lifting of sanctions against Burma by democratic Western countries. Suu Kyi reportedly wrote to the Burmese military leader Than Shwe last week on this same issue.

The US has eased its policy towards Burma and allowed for high-level talks between the two countries. Nevertheless, the US has stated that sanctions against the country will not be lifted until Burma introduces democracy. The US has repeatedly urged Burmese leaders to release Suu Kyi.  

The pro-democracy leader has expressed support for the re-engagement of the US with Burma. She has also softened her position after years of supporting harsh measures against the junta, reports a newspaper source.  

ECD to Investigate Companies for IT Infringement

8 October 2009

Before this month’s end, the Central Investigation Bureau’s Economic and Cyber Crime Division (ECD) will have commenced investigations into approximately 1,000 companies for plausible software copyright infringement according to a newspaper source.

The ECD proposed earlier this year that the Information and Communications Technology Ministry do a review of Thailand’s Internet laws so that new laws will be drafted to monitor illegal Internet activities, including online transactions. The laws will serve to protect Thailand intellectual property via the Internet.

The Deputy Commander of ECD said that the division will investigate and arrest officials in companies who are using illegal software. Last year there were 85 illegal software cases in the Thai courts with a value of 300 million baht.

The ECD plans to reduce copyright infringement by 2 percent per year. Currently Thailand’s rate was 76 percent last year compared to around 61 percent of countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Patent Cooperation Treaty Office Soon

7 October 2009

In December the Intellectual Property Department will establish a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) office for the filing of patent applications in multiple countries by Thai inventors to protect Thailand intellectual property overseas.

The office will provide assistance for international filing of patents under the PCT system of the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Thailand is the last member to join the PCT’s current 141 member countries.

The move signifies a major advancement in Thailand intellectual property law Thai patent law  specifically and the ability of Thai-based inventors to protect their works.

Asean – India FTA to Be Implemented Next Year

7 October 2009

Yesterday the Foreign Trade Department stated that the Asean-India Free Trade Agreement will take effect early next year according to a newspaper source.

The implementation of the FTA will remove import tariffs on more than 4,700 items.

Thailand exports to benefit from the agreement include electronic goods and appliances, cosmetics, jewelry, chemical products, furniture and auto parts.