The Copyright Act Changes to Match the Technological Advancement in Thailand

On February 24, 2022, the Copyright Act B.E. 2565 was published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect on August 23, 2022. The adoption of this new regulation in the copyright laws of the Kingdom of Thailand will ensure and facilitate the protection of copyrighted works in the midst of this technologically advancing age.

The new copyright law will align Thailand’s legislation with the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty, of which the nation will become a part, and will also prevent copyright infringement in the growing digital industry of Thailand. The new changes that will come with this legislation include:

• The extension of the period of protection of the photographic works to the author’s lifetime plus 50 years after his or her death.
• The provision of allowing members of the Copyright Committee to be a part of the committee until the placement of new members to take their places.
• The detailed classification of the Internet Service Providers, and the specific requirements for their exemption from liability for copyright infringement.
• The detailed information on the notice-and-takedown procedure after copyright infringement has been identified and the protection of the parties involved during the procedure.
• The classification of the newly introduced technological protection measures, which will be more detailed than the previous legislation.

In summary, the Copyright Act will strengthen the protection of copyright works under Thai law and as a result, enable all involved parties in sharing and protecting copyright works in the Kingdom.

For any inquiries related to the enforcement of the Copyright Act in Thailand or any related matters, please contact ILCT IP Department via email at ipgroup@ilct.co.th.