Legal

Can You Get a Refinancing slån Med Lav Rente and How?

Heard that the interest rates might have fallen and ready to refinance your loan for that reason? Or, has your specific financial situation changed in one way or another, leading you to believing that you could benefit from choosing different terms on your personal loan and from, thus, refinancing.

Also, you could have accumulated quite a lot of debt that you want to repay right now, and the interest rates are quite high on those debts, which is why you want to get a refinancing loan and thus better borrowing terms.

Whatever your case may be, you’ll wonder quite a few things here, before making any decisions. First off, you’ll want to understand what refinancing is in the first place, and then you’ll become curious at finding out whether you can get a refinancing loan with a low interest rate at all.

In fact, whether that’s a possibility or not is something that has been on your mind ever since you first thought about refinancing at all. And, of course, if you happen to find out that getting this type of a loan with low rates is possible, you will want to learn how to exactly do it.

Learn what refinancing is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refinancing

Your head filled with questions about this particular opportunity, you are bound to start searching for your answers. Understanding clearly what this option entails and whether you can find a cheap one, so to speak, is definitely important, because it will tell you what your next steps should actually be.

Speaking of those next steps, you may not exactly know which ones you need to take and what to do if you decide to get a refinancing loan, so that’s another topic for us to cover as well.

What Is Refinancing in the First Place?

Starting with the basics, shall we? Digging deeper for information about the interest rates and about the general costs of these types of loans is not the best move if you still don’t quite understand what refinancing is.

Basically, it is the process of taking out a new loan to replace your old one or to pay off certain debts that you may have accumulated. The goal is for that new loan to, of course, have better terms, and especially better interest rates.

So, put differently, nobody refinances if the terms they will get on their new loan are less favorable than the ones you already have. Agreeing to higher rates than those you’re paying on your existing loan makes absolutely no sense, so refinancing is not a good idea when the situation is like that.

It is, however, a good idea if you find that the new terms you can get are much more favorable than the ones you’re already paying. And, when it comes to credit card debt, they are certainly always going to be more favorable.

What do you think do those terms you’re getting actually depend on? Sure, while they do depend on the lender you choose, since different ones will have different offers to make, we can’t deny the fact that it also depends on you.

On your specific financial situation and on your credit score. If your score has improved and your financial situation has taken a turn for the better, you could expect to get lower interest rates, as well as to get out of the debt much sooner by increasing the monthly installments and repaying it faster.

What happens, though, if your financial situation takes a turn for the worse? Is refinancing something you should think about then as well, or is it an option you should completely ignore?

While it could sound a bit counterintuitive, the truth is that you may benefit from refinancing even if your financial situation is currently unfavorable. Say your income has decreased and you have started struggling with paying those monthly installments.

By refinancing, you can agree on new terms and lower those monthly installments, while extending the repayment period, thus easing the burden and making things financially much easier for you.

Can You Get a Refinancing Loan With a Low Interest Rate?

Having understood what refinancing is and how you could benefit from it in different points in your life, you will now want to figure one thing out next. Put simply, you want to know if you can expect your unsecured refinancing loan, that is, your refinansieringslån uten sikkerhet, to be offering low interest rates.

Used to finding higher interest rates on unsecured loans, that is, those that don’t require collateral, you could easily assume that getting these med lav rente is pretty much impossible.

And yet, it most definitely isn’t. While it is normal to expect slightly higher rates on the new, unsecured loan you are getting, here’s the truth. You can definitely find these options with lower rates, especially if you work on your credit score first.

And, on top of that, you can certainly expect the rates to be lower than those on your credit card, or cards, which is immediately a big advantage. To sum up, the answer is yes – you can get a refinancing loan with a low interest rate.

How to Do It?

Understanding you can do this is one thing, but actually understanding how to do it is a completely different thing. Sure, it’s not science fiction, but you still need to know how to go through the process of getting this type of a loan and how to do everything right, so that you’re completely sure you are getting the best option for you.

If you take things slowly and take all the right steps in this process, focusing on important factors while choosing your loan, no doubt you’ll get what you’re searching for.

Naturally, your focus should be on finding the right lenders, as they are the ones deciding on the terms, and thus offering either higher or lower interest rates. As explained, your credit score plays a role in the rate as well, so your first task should be to actually work on that score, after which you should proceed to searching for those right lenders.

Assuming you’ve done everything you can to improve that score, paid your bills, paid off your debts, and identified any mistakes on your credit report, and anything else that may have a positive impact on it, we’re immediately going to proceed towards helping you understand how to find those lenders and get your refinancing loan with a low interest rate.

First off, you’ll need to search for them online, because most of the great lenders operating in this field nowadays will have their websites to show for, allowing you to easily check all the terms they are offering, including the interest rates.

Talking to some people who have previously refinanced their loans could also be of help, as they could recommend the lenders they’ve worked with, or tell you if they’ve been unhappy with the rates and the services they received. Both of those steps will help you create a list of potential lenders and potential loan offers.

Perhaps the most significant thing to do, though, is find a website that lists all of those borrowing options at one and the same place, thus helping you do your comparisons more easily.

Those websites have been designed with the purpose of providing people with all the information they need regarding specific lenders and their refinancing loan opportunities.

Using them to compare all those offers will be of great help, as you’ll get to more easily identify those lenders that offer reasonable interest rates and reasonable terms in general, as well as those that could be a bit on the expensive side.

Since your goal is to get, well, a low interest rate, that should be, well, one of the first factors for you to compare when researching the lenders and their specific offers.

If you really want your refinancing loan to be inexpensive, though, you’ll have to check other important factors as well, such as the processing fees, the fees for being late, as well as practically any other fees that the lenders may charge for their service.

And, naturally, checking the offered repayment periods and choosing the period that works for you is also quite significant. Which repayment schedule will work for you depends on the goal you want to achieve with your refinancing loan. When you’ve found everything that works for you, your next step will simply be to apply for the loan and wait to get approved.

Legal

Thai Court Amends Law to Allows Wives to Sue Husband’s Lovers

Thailand's Constitutional Court Allows Wives to Sue Husband's Lovers

Angry Thai Wife: File Image

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has changed the Civil Code will allow women to sue their husbands’ lovers, male or female. The Constitutional Court found on Tuesday that Section 1523 of the Civil Code breached Section 27 of the constitution, which safeguards Thais’ rights and liberties regardless of gender.

The court directed that the verdict be enforced within 360 days.

Section 1523 of the Civil Code states that husbands can sue their wives’ lovers, and wives can sue other women who publicly display an adulterous connection with their husband.

Keirov Kritteeranon, secretary-general of the Office of the Ombudsman, stated that the Ombudsman had previously urged the court to rule on the legality of Section 1523, which allowed wives to suit only female lovers.

Husbands can now sue their wives’ boyfriends regardless of gender, and there was no requirement for any public declaration of an adulterous connection, he claimed.

Once enforced, Tuesday’s Constitutional Court order, according to the Ombudsman, will correct this imbalance.

Thailand Amends Marriage Law

Meanwhile, Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian country to recognise same-sex marriage, after its marriage equality law was passed in the Upper House on Tuesday and is now on its approach to being promulgated before going into effect in the coming months.

LGBTQ+ advocates rejoiced as the Senate voted 130-4 to pass the bill on its final reading, with 18 abstentions. They hailed the development as a win in their long struggle for equal rights.

When the advocates who had gathered at parliament on Tuesday to witness the Senate’s final reading and vote on the measure heard the outcome, they burst out in cheers.

They next went to authorities House, where the authorities had planned a celebratory reception for them later in the day. They then went to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, where the party lasted until late at night.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is on sick leave due to Covid-19, congratulated them via Zoom call from Government House.

The new law will allow any two people aged 18 or older to register their marriage and obtain the same advantages and rights as heterosexual couples. The bill refers to married couples as “two individuals” rather than “a man and a woman,” and changes their legal status from “husband and wife” to “spouses.”

LGBTQ+ people from any country can legally marry in Thailand. When the bill goes into force, foreign same-sex married partners will be eligible for a spousal visa.

The law will be sent to the government for approval before being presented to the monarch.

It will take effect within 120 days of its publication in the Royal Gazette, making Thailand the third Asian country to accept same-sex marriages after Nepal and Taiwan.

Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, spokesman for the Senate’s special committee evaluating the proposed law, called it a victory for equal rights campaigners.

“There is no reason for the Upper House to disagree with the judgement made by the House of Representatives,” he told reporters. He was referring to the legislation’s passage in the Lower House prior to its submission to the Senate for approval.

The battle for same-sex marriage legislation began 23 years ago. Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a Move Forward Party list-MP, said that the law’s passage on Tuesday signified the beginning of a new chapter in Thai history.

Source: Bangkok Post

Court Upholds Israel’s Ban on News Agency Al Jazeera

Court Upholds Israel’s Ban on News Agency Al Jazeera

Legal

Thailand’s Senate Passes Landmark Marriage Equity Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage

Thailand’s Senate has approved a long awaited marriage equality bill on Tuesday, making the country the third Asian country to accept same-sex couples. The Senate approved the law 130-4 with 18 abstentions.

The marriage equality bill will be sent the palace for royal clearance. The marriage equality law takes 120 days to take effect after Royal Gazette publication.

LGBTQ+ advocates welcomed the proposal a “monumental step forward” because Thailand would be the first Southeast Asian country to legalise marriage equality. Thailand is popular with travellers due to its LGBTQ+ culture and tolerance.

“This would underscore Thailand’s leadership in the region in promoting human rights and gender equality,” the Civil Society Commission of marriage equality, activists, and LGBTI+ couples said.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who wore a rainbow shirt to commemorate Pride Month, joined thousands of LGBTQ+ revellers and activists in a Bangkok parade at the start of June.

The prime minister will open Government House to commemorate the bill’s passage. Pride supporters will march from Parliament to the prime minister’s office. Mr. Srettha, who has Covid-19, will join them online after taking several days off.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai anticipates June’s Pride Month to create approximately 4.5 billion baht in economic cash flow.

Marriage Equity Bill

Pride Month in Thailand

On Saturday, Mr. Phumtham said the government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is encouraging sexual diversity and working with the commercial sector to plan more Pride Month festivities to attract LGBTQ+ tourists.

He claimed it will increase the country’s trade potential by giving SMEs business expansion chances and adding soft power value.

Mr. Phumtham claimed Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, told him Pride Month celebrations will make Thailand a “pride-friendly destination” for LGBTQ+ Thai and global consumers.

This would help the country become a regional tourism hub under the government’s “Ignite Tourism Thailand” initiative to enhance tourism in 55 “worth visiting” provinces.

He added that such festivals will support downstream industries like event planners, food and beverage companies, hotels, and transport services and disperse cash to local areas. Mr. Phumtham stated Thailand’s Pride Month began in 1999. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Chon Buri host parades, festivities, and campaigns.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects approximately 860,000 people to attend this year’s festival and contribute at least 4.5 billion baht for the economy. LGBT Capital estimates that the world’s LGBTQ+ population has US$4.7 trillion in purchasing power and Thailand’s sexually varied population has US$26 billion.

LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand are improving, but there’s still much to do. The LGBTQ+ community in Thailand is notably strong in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Strong legal recognition allows transgender people to change their names and titles. Many LGBTQ+ couples lack legal rights since same-sex marriage is banned.

Marriage Equity Bill

LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand

Thailand is becoming more accepting despite these difficulties. LGBTQ+ rights are gaining favour. Activists want legal changes to guarantee equality.

Pride parades are becoming increasingly visible, demonstrating diverse acceptance. While challenges remain, LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand are improving as awareness and acceptance expand.

Legal

Protecting Your Designs: Intellectual Property Rights in the Jewelry Manufacturing Industry

Intellectual Property jewellery

The jewelry manufacturing industry is a vibrant and highly competitive sector where creativity and innovation are paramount. Designers invest significant time, effort, and resources into crafting unique pieces that appeal to consumers’ tastes and preferences. However, this industry faces a persistent challenge: the protection of original designs from imitation and unauthorized use.

Intellectual property rights (IPR) play a crucial role in safeguarding jewellery designs, ensuring that creators receive recognition and financial benefits from their work. This article delves into the various forms of intellectual property rights pertinent to the jewelry manufacturing industry and offers insights on how designers can protect their creations.

Understanding Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property rights are legal mechanisms that grant creators exclusive rights to their inventions, designs, and artistic works. These rights encourage innovation by providing creators with the means to control the use of their creations and to benefit financially from them. In the context of jewelry design, the most relevant forms of IPR are copyrights, trademarks, patents, and design rights.

Copyrights

Copyright protection extends to original works of authorship, including artistic creations such as jewelry designs. Under copyright law, the designer of a piece of jewelry automatically acquires the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and display the design upon its creation. This protection does not require registration, although registering the copyright with the appropriate governmental body, such as the U.S. Copyright Office, can provide additional legal benefits and evidence of ownership.

For jewelry designers, copyright protects the aesthetic aspects of a piece, such as the specific design, patterns, and artistic expressions. However, it does not cover the functional elements or the materials used. The duration of copyright protection varies by country, but it typically lasts for the life of the creator plus an additional 50 to 70 years.

Trademarks

Trademarks protect symbols, names, logos, and slogans that distinguish goods and services in the marketplace. For jewelry manufacturers, a trademark can cover the brand name, logo, or even a unique product line name.

Registering a trademark with the appropriate authority, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), provides nationwide protection and the exclusive right to use the mark in connection with the specified goods or services.

A strong trademark helps consumers identify and differentiate a brand’s products from those of competitors, fostering brand loyalty and reducing the risk of confusion in the marketplace. It also provides legal recourse against counterfeiting and unauthorised use of the brand’s identity.

Patents

Patents protect new inventions and technical innovations. In the jewelry industry, this could include innovative manufacturing processes, unique mechanisms for adjustable or interchangeable jewelry, or novel materials and techniques. A patent grants the inventor the exclusive right to use, make, and sell the invention for a limited period, usually 20 years from the filing date of the patent application.

Obtaining a patent involves a rigorous process of proving that the invention is novel, non-obvious, and useful. For jewelry designers, the primary benefit of patent protection lies in safeguarding their innovative techniques and mechanical features, which can provide a competitive edge in the market.

Design Rights

Design rights specifically protect the visual appearance of a product, including its shape, configuration, pattern, and ornamentation. These rights are particularly relevant to the jewelry industry, where the aesthetic appeal of a product is a key selling point. In many jurisdictions, design rights must be registered to be enforceable, though some countries offer unregistered design rights that provide limited protection.

Registering a design right involves submitting detailed representations of the design to the relevant authority, such as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for protection within the EU. Registered design rights typically offer protection for up to 25 years, subject to renewal fees.

Steps to Protect Jewelry Designs

Document Your Designs: Maintain detailed records of your design process, including sketches, prototypes, and finished pieces. This documentation can serve as evidence of originality and ownership in case of disputes.
Conduct Searches: Before launching a new design, conduct thorough searches to ensure it does not infringe on existing intellectual property. This can prevent legal issues and costly disputes.
Register Your IP: Where applicable, register your copyrights, trademarks, patents, and design rights with the appropriate authorities. Registration enhances protection and provides legal advantages in enforcing your rights.
Use NDAs and Contracts: When working with manufacturers, suppliers, and collaborators, use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and detailed contracts to protect your designs and outline the terms of use. ( Check out EJ: A Jewelry Manufacturer with NDA’s.
Monitor the Market: Regularly monitor the market for potential infringements. This can involve online searches, attending trade shows, and staying informed about competitors’ activities.
Take Legal Action if Necessary: If you discover an infringement, take prompt legal action to enforce your rights. This may involve sending cease-and-desist letters, pursuing litigation, or seeking alternative dispute resolution methods.

Challenges and Considerations

While intellectual property rights offer significant protection, there are challenges and limitations to consider. The cost and complexity of obtaining and enforcing IPR can be prohibitive, especially for small designers and startups. Additionally, the global nature of the jewelry market means that protections obtained in one jurisdiction may not be recognized elsewhere, necessitating international strategies for comprehensive protection.

Moreover, the fast-paced nature of fashion and jewelry trends can make lengthy registration processes impractical for certain designs. In such cases, relying on unregistered design rights or focusing on brand protection through trademarks may be more viable strategies.

Conclusion

Intellectual property rights are a vital tool for protecting the creativity and innovation that drive the jewelry manufacturing industry. By understanding and strategically utilizing copyrights, trademarks, patents, and design rights, designers can safeguard their creations, enhance their competitive edge, and ensure they reap the financial rewards of their ingenuity. As the industry continues to evolve, staying informed about IPR and adapting to emerging challenges will be crucial for sustaining success in the dynamic world of jewelry design.