IP department scrambles for US upgrade in piracy status
In a last-ditch attempt to persuade the United States to upgrade Thailand's trade status in its review this month, the Intellectual Property Department has launched many activities and proposed legal amendments to show significant progress in protecting
Pajchima Tanasanti, director-general of the department, said yesterday that it recently submitted its plan for April-December to the US Trade Representative (USTR).
The US government is scheduled to announce revisions to the status of trading partners by the end of the month in the USTR’s Special 301 Report to Congress.
After Thailand was categorised in an Out-of-Cycle Review last year, the department hopes that the US will upgrade the country to its Watch List this year after it was included in the Priority Watch List (PWL) for five years, which is the second-lowest ranking given to countries alleged by Washington to be violating IP rights.
The plan submitted to the USTR highlights legal revisions. This month, the Council of State should finish its review of the amendment to the Trademark Act for ascending to the Madrid Protocol and outlawing refilling practices. These draft laws should be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration soon.
By June, the Anti-Money-Laundering Act should be fully implemented. The Council of State will finish its review of the amendment to the Customs Act to grant ex officio powers to inspect goods in transit and transshipment.
COPYRIGHT ACT
By August, the department will forward the Copyright Act amendments for the protection of copyrighted works in the digital environment to Parliament. The department has already proposed copyright amendments for the Anti-Camcording Act to Parliament.
By September, the government will complete an in-depth study on landlord liability, which will provide the basis for drafting new provisions. Any landlord allowing illegal trading on its premises would be held liable under the law.
Thailand has vowed to continue strengthening suppression efforts and IPR awareness campaigns throughout the year.
It will suppress IPR violations at all levels, targeting large-scale infringers and those in “red zones” and notorious markets.
This month, the department will implement an inter-agency database to coordinate the tracking of IPR-related prosecutions and the penalties imposed.
