FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Thai firms told to watch out for GI certification

Thai firms told to watch out for GI certification

IP Department calls for caution in the use of certain words to market their products

The Intellectual Property Department has warned Thai enterprisฌes to beware of using imitation words to name their products as it could breach the intellectual property right on Geographical Indication (GI).
The comment came after Japan proฌceeded to seek GI protection for three products – Yubari melon, Tajima beef and Kobe beef – in Thailand.
Thosapone Dansuputra, the Department directorgeneral, said Thai enterprises must be more cautious in the use of words to proฌmote their products as some products from other countries already have GI certiฌfication in Thailand; for instance Bordeaux wine, Scotch whisky, Pisco grape and Parma ham.
“Kobe beef is very popular and famous in Thailand. Once Japan gets the certiฌfication for the product, Thai enterprisฌes should carefully consider when they use wording for promotion of their prodฌucts,” he said.
Meanwhile, more Thai products will also get GI certification overseas, which will increase protection for Thai prodฌucts trading in targeted markets. 
The three products are: Hom Mali Thung Kula Ronghai rice, Tabtim Siam pomelo in Pak Panang, and Sweet tamarind in Phetchboon – they are askฌing for GI protection in China; Doi Chang and Doi Tung are asking for GI protection in Cambodia; Lampoon Yok Dok silk has got GI certification in Indonesia, while this product will also ask for GI protection in India.
So far, Thailand has provided GI cerฌtification for 90 products, of which 76 are Thai products from 53 provinces and 14 products are from eight countries. 
Currently, six Thai products have got GI certification overseas: Hom Mali Thung Kula Ronghai rice, Doi Tung cofฌfee, Doi Chang coffee, and Pattalung Sung Yod rice in the European Union; Isaan local silk got GI protection in Vietnam; and Lampoon Yok Dok silk recently obtained GI protection in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the department will join hands with Central Department Store to open a booth sellฌing GI products at 120 Central outlets nationwide.
Primarily, the GI booths will be opened at Central Chidlom, and Change Wattana branches. Thosapone said Central would give closer cooperation to support trading of GI products from now onwards. The department store will proฌvide support covering all 120 branches within this year.
To promote the sale of GI products, the department will encourage GI goods producers to create a story on their GI products so that it will attract consumers.
 

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