Thailand signs MOU with e-commerce for combating online IP infringement

Thailand signs MOU with e-commerce for combating online IP infringement

Teaming up with e-commerce and IP owners, the Commerce Ministry of Thailand has signed an MOU for combating online infringement.

MOU has been signed with industries such as Shopee, Lazada, JD Central, and other IP owners. Jurin Laksanawisit, Commerce Minister, said the move aims to curb online infringement that may create adverse effects for economic growth, trade, and investment while lowering consumer trust in the online trading system.

Multiple e-commerce giants such as Alibaba and Amazon are left out due to their unpopularity in Thailand. Therefore, companies such as Shopee, Lazada, JD central are the most popular platforms among Thailand local users.

Laksanawisit said, "The MOU has two main objectives: to disable online sales of infringing products and to provide IP knowledge and awareness to online merchants. Intellectual property protection will increase Thailand's competitiveness by using innovations and technologies as well as adding value to products and services."

Vuttikrai Leewiraphan, director-general of the IP department, said, "The authorities already conducted 231 raids and seized 44,953 items last year. Since 2018, more than 1,500 websites have been blocked due to infringing content under the Computer Crime Act. The MOU will help ensure Thailand's IP protection and enforcement system and establish the appropriate environment for the growth of online trading. The department is desperate for direct cooperation from copyright and website owners to make the suppression efforts more effective"

"The department has set up an alert system to remind business operators about foreign patents which are about to expire, focusing mainly on medicines, food, agricultural machinery, and industrial products," Leewiraphan added.