US Likely To Keep Thailand, Several Other Countries On PWL in 2012

BANGKOK, April 24 (TNA) - The United States is expected to maintain Thailand and several other countries on its Priority Watch List (PWL) pending their strict enforcements of intellectual property protection laws. Patchima Thanasanti, Director-General of the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Intellectual Property, acknowledged Tuesday despite Thailand's continual efforts to prevent and crack down intellectual property infringements in all forms over the past five years, the country has not yet promulgated and strictly enforced intellectual property protection laws. Patchima told journalists that her department is speeding up the drafting of the Thai intellectual property laws, now expected to be ready for the promulgation next year covering the protection of computer software and films. According to the senior Thai official, her department's officials have also met the US trade representative and authorities of other relevant US agencies, expected to result in Washington's review and a decision on shifting Thailand up on its Watch List or WL next year, instead of the PWL, in the wake of its 2012 review set to be released on April 30. Meanwhile, Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol has told the Department of Intellectual Property to take legal action against owners of local shopping centers who have allowed the sale of pirated products. The department will also organize the "Intellectual Property Fair 2012" at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok from May 4–6 to provide a good opportunity for product innovators to meet with manufacturers in order to add commercial values to their innovations and to encourage Thai innovators to patent their innovative products. (TNA)