A draft law amending Thailand’s intellectual property rights is expected to be approved by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and enforced soon, according to Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn.
Ms Apiradi’s remarks were made Thursday while witnessing the annual destruction of seized goods violating IPR worth Bt2 billion, considered to be the highest value of pirated goods ever destroyed by Thailand.
Counterfeit goods weighing some 80 tonnes consisted of clothing, handbags and luggage, watches, auto spare parts, and more, went up in smoke was also witnessed by senior officials of the Royal Thai Police, the Customs Department and other government agencies.
Ms Apiradee said violations of intellectual property in Thailand have declined as the interim government has paid extra attention to the issue, and related agencies have also cooperated.
At present Thailand is on the United States government’s Priority Watch List, she said. It is hoped that several countries, especially the United States, would be satisfied and reconsider Thailand’s place on list as the amending law is expected to be approved soon, she said.
The destruction of goods violating IPR is to ensure manufacturers of genuine goods that IP infringements receive attention by Thai authorities and to also ensure that counterfeit goods would not be exported.
