Market Monitoring with Thai Enforcement Authorities at MBK Center.
1 Mar 2023
Thailand
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On February 3, 2023, S&O IP was invited by the Department of Intellectual Property, in conjunction with the Internal Security Operations Command, the Economic Crime Suppression Division, the Thai Customs Department, the Department of Special Investigations, representatives from the U.S. Embassy, the EU Delegation, and MBK Center executives including, private stakeholders and IP representatives to conduct market monitoring, patrolling and to raise awareness among landlords, vendors, customers, and the general public at MBK Center.
MBK Center is a famous shopping center famous for sales of counterfeit goods in the heart of Bangkok. The objective of the operation was to assist in preventing the sale of counterfeit products that infringe intellectual property rights and seek cooperation from vendors to prevent counterfeit activities, as well as to protect consumers and rights-holders.
The Thai Government has a policy of actively combating intellectual property infringement, including copyright and trademark infringements, which damages Thailand’s economy and consumers. The operation sought to assist in the objective of reducing intellectual property infringements.
Before the operation started, a meeting was held at MBK Center in the meeting room of the Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center to discuss measures to protect intellectual property rights from infringement.
During the operation, we entered the MBK Shopping Center area to check for counterfeits and imitation goods. We also took steps to educate MBK vendors about legal issues related to counterfeiting and the disadvantages of selling fake products. Going forward, the Thai enforcement agencies will continue to collaborate to prevent and solve problems related to intellectual property rights to build trust among trade partners, encourage foreign investment, and to avoid endangering people's lives and property.
The Thai enforcement agencies asked entrepreneurs in commercial areas and online markets to stop producing, selling, importing, and exporting infringing products. If any stores are offering the sale of counterfeit goods, the MBK Center has committed to terminate the rental contract of tenants charged with intellectual property infringement. This initiative demonstrated the continued work being done by the Thai authorities to address counterfeits, with the goal of furthering positive legal commercial activity and to attract foreign investment. We will continue to work with the Thai authorities to achieve these goals.
