Prompted by recommendations that Thailand be placed on a “Watch List” for 2013 by the US Government in relation to the production and sale of counterfeit items, the Thai Government has declared that 2013 is the “Year of IP Protection” and the Police are now working tirelessly to clear Pattaya of those involved in Intellectual Property Violations.
On Wednesday Night a team of officers from Pattaya Police and the Police Region 2 Intellectual Property Protection Unit conducted raids on two popular Shopping Malls, which the Police have decided not to name.
A total of 22 vendors were arrested and an estimated 5 Million Baht’s worth of fake branded goods ranging from clothing items to Ipads were seized.
The operation was led by Police Major General Tara, Deputy Commissioner of Region 2 Police, who is under pressure to clear Pattaya of these items and arrest those responsible for producing and selling the items, following recommendations made by an influential organization in United States, the International Intellectual Property Alliance, to the US Government to increase Thailand’s ranking on its list of countries that violate intellectual property rights.
