To mark the World Intellectual Property Day April 26, Thailand’s Commerce Ministry unveiled a special centre for ending intellectual property and copyright infringements in an effort to have Thailand removed from the United States’ Priority Watch List.
Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikua said he will seek Cabinet endorsement of what the ministry has named the Operations Centre for the Suppression of Intellectual Property Infringement, saying it needs cooperation from 25 public and private agencies.
Names of major IP violators, if detected by the centre, will be submitted to the Revenue Department to check their tax payment status, or the Anti-Money Laundering Organization will be asked to confiscate their assets worth more than Bt500,000.
He said AMLO recently arrested a trader for violating a clothing trademark in a department store and seized Bt500,000 in his possession.
Thailand has been on the Priority Watch List in a report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative under Section 301 as amended to the Trade Act. Another PWL evaluation is scheduled this month.
