CityNews – This year Thailand remains at number nine of the top ten Priority Watch List for piracy regarding software, entertainment and branded goods for the eighth year running.
Khao San Road
The US Trade Representative (USTR) confirmed on Wednesday that Thailand would remain on the list of the world’s worst intellectual property violators along with China, India, Russia, Algeria, Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, Pakistan and Venezuela.
The United States has mentioned its encouragement by Thailand’s efforts to improving intellectual-property protection, but urges stronger action to be taken this year. It has been suggested that the political instability has halted most efforts on cracking down on illegal product traders, which has kept it on the list.
The USTR has renewed, but left unchanged, the list of ‘red zones’ that are under scrutiny, including MBK centre, Siam Square, Sukhumvit Road and Chatuchak market to name a few.
In addition to the widespread piracy of software and entertainment products, the US has urged Thailand to increase its laws to ‘deterrent-level sentencing’ to help combat piracy and also to focus more on the longstanding problem regarding pirated cable and satellite television.