Thailand deserves better ranking in IP index: Thai official

BANGKOK, Feb 12 (TNA) -- Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property insisted Thailand deserved a better ranking in the global intellectual property index as the country has strictly adhered to the international requirements which led to improved compliance in recent years. DIP Director General Mr Thosapone Dansuputra said the ranking was purely based on the American private sector's satisfaction, not on well-rounded opinions of relevant stakeholders. Thailand is ranked the 40th on the 45-country list, with the total score of 9.35 out of 35 points, on the recent assessment by the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC), under the US Chamber of Commerce. Mr Thosapone insisted Thailand had effectively complied with the requirements of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement under the World Trade Organization. However, certain indicators of the GIPC are higher than those required by TRIPS causing Thailand to fall under par for those indicators. GIPC also indicated that Thailand lacked legislation on the suppression of counterfeit products through border trades and transit/transshipment goods, which Mr Thosapone flatly denied saying Thailand has amended two relevant laws to authorize customs officials to arrest the violators. The laws became effective since late 2015. These clarifications have been made officially to the US Embassy to Thailand and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the director-general. However, Mr Thosapone said, the GIPC has noted that Thailand had made progress on intellectual rights protection, trademarks, design patents, IP coverage period, and the unlimited use of commercial brands. These improvements have pushed Thailand's ranking from the 27th to the 25th on the transparency of customs procedures and the suppression of IP violations. To improve the ranking next year, the director-general said, Thailand needed to work more closely together among relevant agencies across the ministries. In addition, several procedures are being taken in order to improve Thailand's compliance in the intellectual property, including continued updating of relevant laws, improved effectiveness of the patenting process, promotion of creativity and utilization of intellectual property, said Mr Thosapone. Thailand is also preparing to enter The Hague Agreement by amending relevant legislations which pertain to the compulsory licensing. (TNA)