US keeps Thailand on priority watch list
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Although the United States has kept Thailand on its Priority Watch List (PWL) for intellectual-property violations, it says it will review the country's status if it makes significant progress on the matter by passing key legislative initiatives and impro
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Wednesday released its annual Special 301 Report, in which it maintained Thailand and nine other countries on the PWL. Thailand has been grouped in this category of countries deemed weak in protecting IP rights for six consecutive years, since 2007.
Pajchima Tanasanti, director-general of the Commerce Ministry’s Intellectual Property Department, said that although Thailand had not yet been kept on the list for now, it had been given a special opportunity to be upgraded this year if it passes legislation strengthening its vigilance against IPR violations.
Such violations can affect bilateral trade relations with the US, including preferential tariffs.
Two major laws that should be passed and enforced stringently this year will address unauthorised camcording of motion pictures in cinemas and improve legal mechanisms to address the rapidly growing problem of copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting on the Internet. Moreover, the US has urged Thailand to complete many of the legislative initiatives begun in past years.
Pajchima said Thailand should be able to pass such laws by October. This would ensure that it is upgraded by the USTR this year.
According to the report, the US remains encouraged by Thailand’s commitment to improving IPR protection and enforcement.
It is also encouraged by the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which includes IPR offences as a predicate crime, and the launch of the National IPR Centre of Enforcement, and it is hopeful that this centre will lead to improved coordination among enforcement agencies and more effective crackdowns.
The other countries remaining on the PWL were Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia and Venezuela.
