The amendment will increase flexibility for the government to crack down on violations quickly and punish the owners of offending websites.
“The shutdown of illegal websites will immediately reduce intellectual-property infringements,” Thosapone Dansuputra, newly appointed director-general at the Intellectual Property Department, said yesterday.
He said the government was highly concerned about IP infringements on the Internet and social media, particularly on Facebook.
Currently, the IP Department of the Commerce Ministry has no authority to close down an illegal website unless copyright owners file a petition with a court. The amendment to the Computer Act will allow the department to take down illegal content on the Internet immediately.
Thosapone said that previously the department had faced problems cracking down on illegal websites, as most of their servers are overseas. The amendment will help them to block such websites.
He added that Prime Minister Prayut Chan o-cha was highly concerned about infringements via social media such as on Facebook, as it is easy for people to access. The government will stringently protect intellectual property by integrating the work of many agencies.
The Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy have agreed to cooperate with the department and the Department of Special Investigation to reduce trade in counterfeit goods.
Moreover, the government will blacklist foreign traders in illegal goods if they are caught in Thailand.
Other plans to suppress violations include educating the general public about the disadvantages of illegal goods and increasing recognition of IP rights.
The IP Department will ask Airports of Thailand to install a billboard at Suvarnabhumi Airport warning travellers not to buy counterfeit goods. The department has also stringently cracked down on fake goods at flea markets nationwide.
According to the department, the government in cooperation with the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Special Investigation, and the Customs Department took action in 5,592 cases leading to the seizure of 3.75 million counterfeit items in the first nine months of this year.
Last year, there were 8,733 such cases, with the seizure of 3.88 million items.