Budding legal eagles

Chutinan Chutima and Phatamol Phisitbuntoon, both law students from Chulalongkorn University, have won the Young Thai IP Law Ambassador Award 2007.

The award aims to promote the study of law in Thai universities and raise awareness of the importance of intellectual property protection among Thailand's next generation of law practitioners and the general public.

Chutanan and Phatamol's team "Apeiron" defeated the "IP Visions" team of Pawat Satayanurug and Akareeya Ngamwongpaiboon, who are from the same university, in the final round of the tournament. The competition takes the form of an oral argument in English in a mock trial before judges regarding a case of violation of the photography IP law.

The Apeiron team acted as a plaintiff making a legal complaint against IP Visions, a defendant.

"Intellectual property is a very important topic at present. Since it [the IP law] gives protection to an abstract or untouchable object, we have to understand this profoundly as a practitioner of law," said Phatamol.

The members of the winning team will go on a two-week, all-expenses-paid trip to the UK in March next year to participate in various activities at judicial and academic bodies, top private law firms, and creative establishments.

While in the UK, both ambassadors will join an attachment programme at a reputable law firm. In addition, they will receive a trophy from the Thai Supreme Court.

The runners-up get an internship opportunity at a law firm in Singapore.

The British Council, in co-operation with the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, BIOTEC and TrueVisions supported the final round of the competition.

Four internationally recognised law firms - Baker & McKenzie, Norton Rose, Siam Premier International and Tilleke & Gibbins - gave special coaching for the two finalists before they competed in the final round.

The Young Thai IP Law Ambassador Award is an annual competition for law students nation-wide. For an updated information, visit www.britishcouncil.or.th.

The Natio