Bangkok--14 Jan--124 Communications
Department of Intellectual Property joins Airports of Thailand to warn tourists who carry counterfeit and pirated products into European Countries
Penalty for carrying counterfeit and pirated products to European Countries - Up to 3 years in jail and 300,000 ? Fine (Approximately 14,100,000 Thai Baht!!!)
Mr. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Minister of Commerce, presides over the opening ceremony and handing over the documents requested for the collaboration from the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) to warn both Thai residents and foreigners about the penalties of importing, exporting and carrying counterfeit and pirated products to some European countires. Mrs. Puangrat Asavapisit, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, and Mr. Serirat Prasutanound, General Manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport and acting president reveals that this project is a part of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, section 86, that the state shall protect intellectual properties. In some European Union countries, they already have the policies to protect intellectual properties by giving the highest penalties to importers, exporting or even who carry counterfeit and pirated products into their nations. Therefore this collaboration will result in protecting the intellectual properties.
Mr. Alongkorn explained that “The objective of today’s collaboration between the Department of Intellectual Property and the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited is to warn Thailand residents and foreigners to respect others the intellectual properties by not importing, exporting or carrying counterfeit and pirated products especially to countries in Europe. These warning sign can be used as a tool to warn both Thai and foreigners in protecting themselves from being the offender and to promote Thailand as country that considers the importance of protecting the intellectual properties.
Finally, Mr. Alongkorn stated that different countries got different legal actions to the importers, exporters and the person who carry infringing and pirated products. For example, up to 3 years in jail/ 300,000 ? fine in France (approximately 14,100,000 Thai Baht), yet for Italy the fine is up to 10,000 ? (approximately 470,000 Thai Baht).
For further information, please contact:
Inthira Chaion-nom
Panasya Yoonuch/ Eakkapop Panthurat
124 Communications Plc.
Tel: +662-662-2266