Thailand steps up against IP infringements

BANGKOK, January 27 (TNA) - The Thai government plans to set up a special centre to crack down intellectual property (IP) infringements in the country and to toughen relevant laws against IP violators, as part of national attempts to have the Kingdom removed from the United States' Priority Watch List (PWL). Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikua told journalists on Saturday that the decision was made during a recent meeting of a government panel tasked with commanding the amendment of the laws in order to effectively suppress the violations of intellectual property rights before the US Trade Representative evaluates the status of Thailand in April 2013, with a hope that the US authority should improve Thailand's position to its Watch List (WL). Nattawut acknowledged that the relevant laws to be amended include those concerning copyrights on digital and internet networks and customs laws to enable customs officials to seize pirated goods during trans-shipments, goods on transit and on landlord liability. Nattawut said that Thai government agencies will also be encouraged to use legal software and his ministry's Department of Intellectual Property and other concerned agencies will be assigned to negotiate with private dealers on the possibility of lowering prices. Besides, according to the deputy commerce minister, the Thai government's committee also agreed to increase the destruction of seized items of pirated goods from twice a year to 3-4 times yearly. (TNA)