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Copyright Act Section 69 — Penalties for primary infringement
Copyright Act (พระราชบัญญัติลิขสิทธิ์) — Section 69.
Plain-English Summary
Primary infringement under Section 27, 28, 29 or 30, or infringement of performers' rights under Section 52, is punishable by a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 200,000. If committed for commercial purposes (เพื่อการค้า) the penalty is imprisonment of six months to four years, or a fine of THB 100,000 to THB 800,000, or both. Section 69/1 gives the same six-months-to-four-years or THB 100,000 to THB 800,000 penalty for recording a film in a cinema under Section 28/1. The Act sets no volume or value threshold; the higher tier turns on commercial purpose.
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 69 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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