Commerce Minstry satisfies with proactive measures against pirated products

BANGKOK, March 10 (TNA) -- The Commerce Ministry joined hands with the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) to beef up operations to eradicate pirated products. Deputy Minister of Commerce Sonthirat Sonthijirawong said that ministry was satisfied with operations to eradicate pirated goods from the country during the past year, especially at the red areas of Maboonkrong or MBK shopping mall in Bangkok and Roang Klua market in Sa Kaeo. He said the selling of pirated products in both locations have lowered by 80 per cent, after concerned agencies have beefed up measures, particularly against the extension of contract with shops which were selling pirated goods, which led to better cooperation from the retailers. Mr Sonthirat noted that more than 90 per cent of the pirated goods were imported from abroad especially from neighbouring countries through the border. He stressed that the selling form for pirated products has changed in the present day, as more have opted to sell the items online, prompting the Department of Intellectual Property (IP) and concerned agencies to randomly inspect the post office to prevent such lucrative businesses. A total of 3.6 million pirated goods have been confiscated last year, the highest record in the country's history, amounting to a street value of 1.7 billion baht, which comprised of clothes, leather goods, shoes, watches, mobile phones, computers, CDs/ DVDs, which reflecting continuous effort to eradicate the illegal items. The commerce ministry is confident that the operations would help lower Thailand's rank on the United States' PWL in April. A ceremony to destroy the confiscated pirated products from 2,368 cases would be held today at the plaza at the 11th Infantry Regiment King's Guard, in which the event would be presided over by Deputy Premier/Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon. (TNA)