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Published on March 25, 2008

Speaking after visiting Beijing last week, Intellectual Property Department director-general Puangrat Asavapisit said that the Chinese government was preparing to send its officials to Thailand to learn CL procedures.

Despite the Chinese government's interest, Puangrat has expressed worries that Thailand may be downgraded to "Priority Foreign Country" in the US revision of trade status this year.

"The US may be dissatisfied with China's move, which would pressure Thailand to be downgraded to the weakest country for intellectual property rights violations," she said.

However, the government will try to develop efficiency in IP suppression in order to ensure that Thailand will remain on the Priority Watch List or be upgraded to Watch List status this year, said Puangrat.

Meanwhile, to increase efficiency in suppressing copyright violations, the Commerce Ministry will propose that Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej set up a special committee to revise the draft of the country's first-ever Copyright Act.

The move resulted from the opposition of many songwriters and musicians to the Intellectual Property Department's draft, saying that the act does not create fair practice for copyright owners.

Deputy Commerce Minister Banyin Tangpakorn said the committee should revise the draft based on fair practice and effectiveness in cracking down on violations.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation