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Copyright Act Section 21 — Shorter terms: audiovisual works, films, sound recordings, broadcasts and applied art
Copyright Act (พระราชบัญญัติลิขสิทธิ์) — Section 21.
Plain-English Summary
Under Section 21, copyright in audiovisual works, cinematographic films, sound recordings and broadcast works lasts fifty years from creation, or fifty years from first publication if published within that period. Under Section 22, copyright in applied art lasts twenty-five years from creation, or twenty-five years from first publication if published within that period. Under Section 23, works created under the state's hire, instruction or control (Section 14) last fifty years from creation, or from first publication if published within that period.
Official Text
Official Thai text at the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State. Translation summary only.
Consult official sourceParent Statute
Copyright Act
พระราชบัญญัติลิขสิทธิ์ · B.E. 2537 (1994)
The Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (1994) protects creative works of a creator in the literary, dramatic, artistic, musical, audiovisual, cinematographic film, sound recording and broadcast categories, or any other work in the literary, scientific or artistic domain (Section 6). Computer programs are part of 'literary work' (Section 4). A creator owns the copyright in the work they create, subject to conditions on nationality or residence, or on the place of first publication (Section 8). The Act contains no registration provision. In court, the plaintiff is presumed to own the work sued on unless the defendant disputes that anyone owns the copyright or disputes the plaintiff's right (Section 62). The Minister of Commerce administers the Act (Section 5).
The summary above is a plain-English educational paraphrase of Section 21 of the Copyright Act. It is not an authoritative translation. For the binding Thai text, consult the Royal Gazette or the Office of the Council of State. Educational use only — not a substitute for advice from a Thai-qualified lawyer.
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