Anti-pirated goods campaign launched in Thailand

BANGKOK, February 22 (TNA) - Thailand's Tourism and Sports Ministry has joined forces with allied networks to launch an anti-pirated goods campaign among international tourists in the country. Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Pongpanu Svetarun announced the campaign at a press conference, held in Bangkok on February 21, in which the ministry's allied networks, including representatives from tour guide companies, tour guides, foreign embassies, the Department of Intellectual Property, under the Ministry of Commerce, and the Tourist Police Division, participated. Under the campaign, Pongpanu said, international tourists in Thailand will be encouraged not to buy pirated products to be in accordance with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha's policy on a serious crackdown against violations of intellectual property rights. Pongpanu acknowledged the move is also expected to lead to the United States' removal of Thailand from its Priority Watch List (PWL) on intellectual property rights, after Washington has put Bangkok on the PWL list since 2007. According to the senior official, 90 per cent of pirated products found at tourist attractions in Thailand include brandnamed watches, bags and clothes. The senior official pointed out that most foreign tourists who purchase pirated products normally travel by their own without a tour group and buy the goods even though they know they are pirated ones. The senior official noted that his ministry, however, plans to campaign for tour companies and tour guides not to take or suggest tourists to go to areas where pirated products are sold and to disseminate proper information on intellectual property rights protection. Meanwhile, the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) plans to propose the inclusion of intellectual property rights protection into the country's new business ethics law as a legal solution to the problem. (TNA)