OCA warns automotive, parts sector on using fake software

BANGKOK, Feb 24 (TNA) - The Open Computing Alliance (OCA), an international organisation dealing in protection for intellectual property rights, has recently warned automotive and spare parts sectors in Thailand to order their suppliers to use only legitimate computer software. OCA’s warning was made after Thailand’s Economic Crime Division found that many partners of Japanese automotive assemblers and Original Equipment Manufacturers in Thailand have violated software rights. Under the U.S. Unfair Competition Act (UCA), the law will be strictly imposed on countries which have violated the rights, and Thailand is one of the countries to be punished by this law if manufacturers in the kingdom continue to violate such rights. Meantime, Thai exports to the U.S. may be affected as well if there is no action from the Bangkok government. Thailand’s National Police Bureau and the Intellectual Property Department have cooperated in suppressing violators in the country. As a result, software piracy rates in Thailand declined to 72 per cent in 2011 from 80 per cent in 2006. The warning comes as the Washington government is scheduled to meet in April and considers whether to improve Thailand’s trade status to Watch List (WL) from the current Priority Watch List (PWL). Thailand has been on the U.S. PWL list since 2007. (TNA)