IP violations raise hackles
The US-based International Intellectual Property Association (IIPA) has asked the Office of the US Trade Representative to downgrade Thailand from a "watch list" to "priority watch list" country due to the increasing volume and value of counterfeit products.
The association reported that violations in Thailand caused American companies to lose more than Bt10 billion (Bt387 billion) last year. A source at the Commerce Ministry put a higher price tag on the problem, saying that the US lost a total of $308 million - or Bt11.9 billion - from patent and copyright infringements in Thailand last year. In addition, US losses from such violations in 68 problem countries reached $15.8 billion last year. The source added that the IIPA demanded in its letter sent to the trade representative's office to downgrade Thailand because its survey showed that copyright violations in Thailand are climbing. In addition, Thailand is a manufacturing base for counterfeit products that are exported to neighbouring countries. The trade representative is currently reviewing the status of 68 countries that it's closely monitoring for copyright violations. If a country is downgraded to PWL, the US can cut tax privileges on its exports under the generalised system of preferences. The IIPA also urged the 68 countries to intensely suppress pirated goods. The source added that the US had already complained about copyright violations of its textbooks. The US has found that violations in Thailand have expanded into satellite signals, cable television, and the Internet. In 2005, there were 8,915 cases of software infringement in the Kingdom, compared to 1,304 in 2004. The government should create stringent protection measures to control the imitation of products, particularly by targeting manufacturers and retail stores, the letter stated. Most of the violations concerned VCDs, DVDs, software and textbooks.
Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
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