Economic Crime Division police are expanding their crackdown on the unlicensed software used widely across Thailand.
In the first four months of 2013, police raided 94 business organizations, 75% of which were run by Thai nationals. They discovered unlicensed software on 1,904 PCs, worth an estimated THB206 million – a 64% increase over last year’s estimate.
Chainarong Charoenchainao, Deputy Commander of the Division, said that the efforts were in line with the government’s policy to make 2013 the year of intellectual property protection. Intensified efforts at enforcing intellectual property claims are being conducted with the goal of having Thailand withdrawn from the US Trade Representative’s Special 301 Report that placed the country under the Priority Watch List (PWL) category for flagrant IP violators.
Chainarong urged citizens to report the use of unlicensed software at 02-714-1010 or www.stop.in.th. Those who make a report may receive an award of up to THB250,000. The identity of the report sender is protected.
Read Coconuts’ report on the software piracy situation here.
