WASHINGTON--2 May--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest Admonishes New Spending from Thailand on Public Relations at the Expense of Public Health and AIDS Programs USA For Innovation welcomes the decision today by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to maintain Priority Watch List (PWL) status for China and Russia, two countries that typically dominate the landscape for poor intellectual property protection, as well as Thailand's elevation to the PWL in its annual "Special 301" report outlining global abusers of American intellectual property rights. As noted in an April 23, 2007 letter from USA For Innovation's Executive Director Ken Adelman to USTR Susan C. Schwab, efforts to protect intellectual property have deteriorated in Thailand since the democratically-elected government was overthrown in a military coup last September. The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), a coalition of seven trade associations representing the copyright-based industries, noted in its annual recommendations to USTR that piracy rates had held steady or risenacross all categories (records and music, business software, entertainment software, books, motion pictures) of copyrights in Thailand from 2005 to 2006. Also noted in the letter were concerns regarding recent decisions by Thailand's Minister of Health to issue in a manner inconsistent with Thailand's obligations under the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) compulsory licenses on American and European medical technology: "While the government of Thailand's inability toenforce intellectual property protections is troubling enough, the Ministry of Health has taken a sharp turn for the worse in announcing its intensions to issue government-use compulsory licenses ... The important distinction between theft of American assets on the streets of Bangkok and theft of American assets in Thailand's public health care system is that the latter issanctioned, endorsed and promoted by the government of Thailand." Statement by USA for Innovation: "The Special 301 Report is used by American investors and businesses to determine how and where to spend their money in the international marketplace. Americans need to feel that their property rights will be respected before settling on a home for their dollars in Asia. In earning its place on the Priority Watch List, Thailand joins the ranks of the world's most dangerous places for American intellectual property. Even China, a known intellectual property pariah, showed some marginal improvement in addressing piracy. For Thailand to perform worse than China is very disappointing." Public Relations over Public Health USA For Innovation also noted several reports out of Thailand indicating that the government will spend $600,000 on a public relations campaign to counter concern highlighted by USA For Innovation. Statement by USA for Innovation "We are deeply saddened that the government has once again decided to prioritize spending away from public health. This new budget for public relations should have been a new budget for public health. The current government cannot credibly claim a health emergency while it continues to throw money away on frivolous projects." To access the Reuters UK report on Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont announcement to spend $600,000 on a public relations campaign to counter USA For Innovation, go here: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK159154.htm About USA for Innovation USA For Innovation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of intellectual property and continued innovation around the globe. USA For Innovation educates decision makers, the media and general public about threats to innovation. For additional information, please contact us at 866-646-8668 or [email protected] . SOURCE USA For Innovation CONTACT: USA For Innovation, +1-866-646-8668, [email protected] --Distributed by AsiaNet ( www.asianetnews.net )--