A tougher economic climate worldwide has encouraged many countries to look beyond their usual policies and procedures, to innovate and explore different trade avenues. There have been several notable agreements with ASEAN recently that will affect Thai law on importing and exporting regulations. We look at some of the new Thai business laws on free trade, as well as some older FTAs.

Real estate and land ownership is a hot topic in Thailand, with the unique regional economy making land purchase especially attractive for foreigners. There has been a raft of new Thai laws put in place over recent years, the details of which are not always easily available to foreign investors. We look at when foreign investors should engage Thailand legal services in the purchase process.

Tougher laws on piracy and counterfeit goods are long overdue, according to some. However many in Thailand's business law profession see problems with the scope of the new law, saying that enforcement will be costly and that penalties may target those without the power to change the counterfeiting situation. Thailand lawyers give their view on the upcoming regulations.

Thailand's laws seem to have a perception of favoring business over society - however, Thai law consulting firms are seeing more and more amendments that challenge that belief. We look at some of the changes to Thai law in 2008 that seek to protect and benefit the average Thai citizen over the corporation.

While every resident has their own ideas about how Thailand's laws could be improved, there have been some substantial improvements to the country's laws, especially in the finance sector, in recent times.

As most organizations charged with upholding Thailand's laws are painfully aware, authority cannot be in all places at all times. Even law-abiding citizens are likely pleased about that, yet the limitations make law reform difficult. Whistleblowers, despite the derision that they face from many, play a key role in reforming Thai business laws and Thai labour laws. We look at the need for them.

The Thai government's new internet laws have met with either acclaim or criticism around the world, but there is no doubt that they are groundbreaking. Thailand law has succeeded in gaining a tighter control over the internet than most others. However, there are new privacy threats on the internet for Thai citizens, being enabled by technology. Will the government be as quick to react to these?

The Thai government's announcement of generous tax breaks on insurance policies has garnered much attention, with hundreds of thousands of baht per family in deductions available every year. We examine the inclusions and exclusions of this Thai law, clearing up some aspects which have confused many.

Consumer protection has long been seen as one of the areas where Thailand's laws fail miserably. Thailand's law firms and courts are constantly kept busy with consumer complaints about faulty or substandard products. Unfortunately for many, the claims process is too long and expensive to justify itself. However, a new era of consumer protection with laws ratified last year is about to begin.

Thailand's shopping malls are notorious for being counterfeit goods havens. Recent cases brought against eBay in both the US and France have revealed differing international opinions when it comes to responsibility for selling counterfeit goods. We look at the US and French views, and examine some possibilities for Thailand business law on counterfeits in the future.

Thailand is famous for its tight controls over foreigners owning property. However, Thai laws that are equally tight are needed over ownership certificates, whether the property is owned by a Thai national or foreigner. A recent Hua Hin case costing more than 4 million baht is the reason that Thailand legal services are advising all buyers to do due diligence on their ownership certificates.

The internet has been a law unto itself since it began, with tracking, cross-border and technical issues often preventing law enforcement. A new Thailand law aims to bring law and order to the internet within the country, and under this Thai business law internet logs will have to be kept for a minimum of 90 days. Find out how your business will be affected.