Thais warned to beware of new Copyright Act

The new law will take effect on August 4. Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said it would have eight main features.
First, it will focus on tackling Internet plagiarism. It will attempt to protect creators of content published on the Internet and to keep up with changes in the way media content is used, and exploited. Any information sharing must give credit to the owner of the content or its copyright.

It will also stringently punish hackers or people who break passwords or use information without permission.

The law will also prevent improper use of other people’s original content for commercial proposes. Violators will be subject to penalties, including fines and jail.

The Copyright Act will also give Internet service providers the right to abrogate their content or copyright in the case of violations. 

Trade in second-hand products such as books is permissible. 

The court has full authority to destroy seized illegal products, while it also has the right to call for compensation from violators or wrongdoers up to twice the value of the goods.

Apiradi warned people to make themselves aware of these aspects of the Copyright Act before sharing or trading any second-hand products, otherwise they could be subject to penalties. She expects fewer copyright violations after this law is enforced.

The ministry also hopes international businesses will see this act as an attempt to crack down on piracy, and it will encourage them to invest here.

According to the Intellectual Property Department, the law determines that individual wrongdoers will face fines of Bt10,000-Bt100,000, but if the illegal act was for commercial purposes, they could face a jail sentences of three months to two years and fines of Bt50,000-Bt400,000, or both.