Thailand to amend intellectual property laws

BANGKOK, January 26 (TNA) - Thailand, through the Ministry of Commerce, is accelerating amending existing laws and will enforce the revised ones later this year, after having been on Washington's Priority Watch List (PWL) for over four years for allegedly violating US intellectual property rights. Speaking at a seminar in Bangkok on Thursday on the prevention and suppression of violations of intellectual property rights in all forms, Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Siriwat Kajornprasart acknowledged that the illegal practice is now mostly found through the Internet, as violators try to avoid selling counterfeit products at shops or markets, making it more difficult for local law enforcers to punish them. Siriwat said that the amended laws will cover legal actions against the violators of intellectual property rights through the Internet, noting that he will inspect goods at Panthip Plaza and at Mah Boon Krong shopping centre, two main hubs of on-line related products in Bangkok, on January 30, during which he will also meet executives of the two major shopping malls to seek their cooperation against the pirated products. The deputy commerce minister warned that decisive punishment will be taken against operators of shopping centres and other business outlets who ignore the amended laws, saying that he will, however, join entertainers in public campaigns to create people's proper awareness against fake goods in all forms. (TNA)