IP Dept to target 11 markets
THE COMMERCE Ministry will continue its efforts to please Washington by cracking down on 11 areas of Thailand identified by the United States as “notorious” for violating copyrights.
Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the ministry’s Intellectual Property Department, said her department had met with key government agencies including the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Special Investigation, the Customs Department, the Revenue Department, and the Economic Crime Suppression Division on drawing up a plan for suppressing intellectual-property (IP) violations before proposing the plan to a subcommittee on this issue chaired by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.
Under this plan, 11 “notorious” markets named by the Office of the United States Trade Representative will be targeted. They are at Karon and Patong beaches in Phuket, Pattaya in Chon Buri province, Rong Kluea Market in Sa Kaew, and, in Bangkok, Pantip Plaza, Klong Thom, Baan Mo, MBK, Sukhumwit Road, Patpong Market, and Jatujak or JJ Market.
Saphan Lek and Sukhumwit Flea Market were also named by the USTR, but have already been shut down.
To suppress the markets pinpointed by the US, relevant agencies will send teams to each place without any warning and concentrate on large traders of illegal goods.
In rural areas, the Commerce Ministry will ask for the Interior Ministry’s cooperation in instructing provincial governors to inspect and suppress traders of illegal goods.
“The meeting agreed that to get rid of large illegal goods traders, the government will enforce not only intellectual-property law to punish wrongdoers, but also tax and anti-money-laundering laws,” Nuntawan said.
She added that during the investigation process the Anti-Money Laundering Office would also be invited to join in.
Moreover, if any foreigners are found trading in illegal goods, such cases will be passed on to investigation teams before asking Interpol to blacklist the wrongdoers. Nuntawan said it was necessary to punish foreign wrongdoers severely as there were many cases of trading of copycat goods by foreigners, some of whom are repeat offenders.
Also, the Commerce Ministry will ask the owners of buildings and other places where illegal traders operate not to extend their rental contracts.
Nuntawan claimed that the trade in illegal goods in Thailand had been reduced as all relevant agencies had helped suppress such violations, seizing and destroying counterfeit goods. To tackle Internet-based violations more efficiently, the department has amended the Copyright Act.
Nuntawan said the US should be satisfied with Thailand’s attempts to reduce intellectual-property infringements and it spassage of laws to punish violators.
“I believe that the US will consider upgrading our trade status from the Priority Watch List to the Watch List after we demonstrated suppression of IP violations, passed relevant laws, and increased awareness of IP rights in the past years,” she said.
The hoped-for upgrade should ensure that Thailand does not |any more trouble trading |with the US. Otherwise, Washington could cut some |assistance or stop granting some trade privileges.
Thailand has been on the Priority Watch List under the US Special 301 Report since 2008 on grounds that it lacks awareness of IP protection and particular laws to prevent violations.
