Thailand Law firm Bsa Law said: Coming Off Priority Watchlist Could Have Small Business Impact

An October crackdown on companies for software copyright infringement is indicative of future intolerance for piracy lawbreakers, according to leading Thai corporate legal service BSA Law. Businesses will need to inform themselves of what is legal and what isn’t, and conduct a thorough computing investigation to avoid penalties, the Thailand law firm advises. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) November 22, 2009 - BSA Law, a leading Thai legal service, believes that the current crackdown with regard to software piracy is an indicator of the future, rather than an isolated incident. They are warning businesses that they could face penalties for acts which are common and seem innocent.

In October, the Central Investigation Bureau’s Economic and Cyber Crime Division (ECD) investigated around 1000 businesses for software copyright infringement. Officials in the companies were charged and arrested, and this will continue to occur.

Several factors are prominent in BSA Law's view that this is not an isolated incident in Thai law enforcement.

• The ECD is planning to reduce copyright infringement by 2% each year - currently Thailand's infringement rate is 76%, compared with 61% across the board in SE Asia
• New internet monitoring laws are proposed to monitor illegal software downloads
• The Department of Intellectual Property is hoping to be taken off the international Priority Watch List, and downgraded to the Watch List.

With the precedent of 3.5 million baht in damages awarded to a software developer, in a case against an Ayutthaya-based manufacturing company, the implications for businesses caught stealing software could be severe.

Apisakdi Kongkangwanchoke is a lawyer with the Thailand legal service, and believes that many businesses could be breaking the law without realizing. "Many directors do not realize that although peer to peer downloads are readily available, they represent copyright infringement".

"The availability of genuinely free software, like OpenOffice, Linux and many individual programs only serves to confuse the issue", Mr Kongkangwanchoke continued. "Getting Thai legal advice is the safest route for most businesses".

About BSA Law:
For nearly 30 years, Bamrung Suvicha Apisakdi Law Associates (BSA Law) has focused on providing reliable legal advice and services to the Thai and foreign business community in Thailand. BSA Law seeks to provide international standards of legal services while retaining the customs of the Thai business culture.

For more information please contact:
Jim Byrne
Business Advisor, BSA Law.
Email: jim ( @ ) bsalaw dot co dot th
http://www.bsalaw.co.th

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