Showing 1 - 6 of 6
Intellectual property and counterfeiting in Thailand
Spectrum, Published on 15/06/2014
» Whether you know it or not, a day spent in Bangkok will almost certainly involve exposure to intellectual property rights violations and counterfeit goods. In addition to the ubiquitous knock-off designer handbags, there are pirated music CDs, counterfeit clothes, accessories and electronics, pirated operating systems for computers, pirated movies streaming 24/7 and even fraudulent vehicles, international driving licences, diplomas, pharmaceutical products, food and passports. That last issue gained prominence with the discovery of two passengers travelling on fake passports on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Over the course of the next few articles, we will outline the various laws that are in place to protect intellectual property rights and reduce counterfeiting here in Thailand.
Keeping goods at the inn
Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 01/06/2014
» As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Thailand hosted more than 26 million visitors last year, according to the Department of Tourism. Each of those travellers required a place to sleep, be it a 5-star hotel or a bungalow on the beach. Hotel owners undertake certain legal responsibilities when providing their guests with a room in which to leave their belongings. On occasion a guest’s property is either damaged or lost (stolen) when left in their room, in which case it becomes a question of liability. Who is responsible for those lost or damaged goods and to what extent?
Are you street legal, or a two-wheeled terror?
Spectrum, Published on 18/05/2014
» Lycra-clad weekend road racers, grandparents on ancient, rusty bone-shakers, kids on full-suspension mountain bikes and hipsters riding fixies are among the array of cyclists now found on Bangkok’s streets; biking is trendy, it’s green and it’s healthy. But are you and your treasured bicycle “street legal”?
Righting the waterway wrongs
Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 16/02/2014
» Last week, we began wading into the issue of water pollution in Bangkok by taking a look at the laws and government agencies that regulate the waterways. After defining the different factors that are tested for when determining the level of water pollution in a given area, we compared the statistics found by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to the standards set forth by the US EPA. This week, we will try to trace that pollution back to its source and discover why the waterways are as filthy as they are, as well as look at a couple of high-profile cases of citizens fighting back against the polluters that illegally dump toxins where fishermen fish and swimmers swim.
Breathing easier in bangkok _ Part III
Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 02/02/2014
» Over the past couple of weeks we have been examining the legislative and public policy changes from the early 1990s to today that have together resulted in the improvement in Bangkok's air quality. However, more still needs to be done to bring Bangkok's air quality up to par with the rest of Thailand and to reach the standards being set by cities like Tokyo and Singapore.
Breathing easier in bangkok _ Part II
Spectrum, Angus Mitchell, Published on 26/01/2014
» Last week we began our series on the reasons for the dramatic improvement in Bangkok's air quality in the past 20 years. The capital serves as a model for other mega cities throughout the region because it has taken a multi-pronged approach to tackling air pollution; an approach rooted in the adoption of the increasingly stringent emissions standards set forth by the European Union for its own citizens.