Section 18 — Right to use of a name
Statutory text (Thai original)
สิทธิของบุคคลในการที่จะใช้นามอันชอบที่จะใช้ได้นั้น ถ้ามีบุคคลอื่นโต้แย้งก็ดี หรือบุคคลผู้เป็นเจ้าของนามนั้นต้องเสื่อมเสียประโยชน์เพราะการที่มีผู้อื่นมาใช้นามเดียวกันโดยมิได้รับอำนาจให้ใช้ได้ก็ดี บุคคลผู้เป็นเจ้าของนามจะเรียกให้บุคคลนั้นระงับความเสียหายก็ได้ ถ้าและเป็นที่พึงวิตกว่าจะต้องเสียหายอยู่สืบไป จะร้องขอต่อศาลให้สั่งห้ามก็ได้ส่วนที่ ๒ความสามารถ
Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State
English translation
If the right to use of a name by a person entitled to it is disputed by another, or if the interest of the person entitled is injured by the fact that another uses the same name without authority, then the person entitled may demand from the other abatement of the injury. If a continuance of the injury is to be apprehended, he may apply for an injunction. PART II feedback (/form/1-samuiforsale-contact-form.html?tmpl=component) / CAPACITY
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 18 is part of Book 1 (General Principles) of the Thai Civil and Commercial Code. This entry is awaiting firm-authored commentary; the statutory text above is verbatim from the Office of the Council of State (OCS Krisdika) Thai source, with the English translation from the FAO/UN FAOLEX repository. Always rely on the Thai original for legal proceedings.
Why this matters in practice
For lawyers: the section requires both a disputed right or use of the same name without authority AND actual or apprehended injury to the name-holder's interests; proof of injury is essential. For laypeople: if a company uses your family name without permission and it damages your reputation or interests, you may ask a court to order them to stop.
Legislative history
Part of the original Civil & Commercial Code codification; no major subsequent amendment. The provision applies to natural persons' surnames and given names; dedicated intellectual property legislation now governs most trade name and trade mark disputes.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
-
Supreme Court Judgment No. 8137/2551 (2008)
Using another's surname as a company name does not automatically give rise to a claim under section 18; the plaintiff must prove actual injury or a reasonable apprehension of continuing injury.
The plaintiff claimed that a company using his family name as its corporate name infringed his right under section 18. The Court held that using the same surname as a company name does not by itself trigger section 18; the plaintiff must show that the use caused actual injury to his interests, damaged his reputation, or created a reasonable apprehension of ongoing harm. On the facts, no such injury was proved.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.