You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

August 11, 2015

The BigChilli Magazine: Unreal! Welcome to Thailand’s Shocking World of Fakes

Subscribe to Updates
The BigChilli

Suebsiri Taweepon, an attorney-at-law in Tilleke & Gibbins’ intellectual property group, was interviewed by The BigChilli  magazine for his thoughts on counterfeiting in Thailand. His comments appeared in an article named “Unreal! Welcome to Thailand’s Shocking World of Fakes,” which also featured Tilleke & Gibbins’ Museum of Counterfeit Goods.

Speaking on the proliferation of counterfeit goods through the Internet, Suebsiri said, “many IP-infringing products like movies, music, and apparel are now offered for sale online, and sellers now use social media to facilitate communication with customers. This makes it easier for the sellers, and also more difficult for IP owners and government authorities to track them down.”

Many such counterfeit products can be found in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Museum of Counterfeit Goods. “The museum has about 700 items on display and around 4,000 in storage,” Suebsiri said. Also, many of the fake goods on display relate to a significant case handled by Tilleke & Gibbins. “Four years ago we were representing a sportswear company and we seized over 100,000 clothing items.” Continuing, Suebsiri said that a lot of manpower is needed when counterfeit products are seized in a warehouse, and “we have many lawyers reviewing all the documents and going back and forth to the court for the purpose of obtaining an Anton Piller order,” which allows enforcement offers to search premises and seize evidence without prior warning.

Commenting on how the average consumer can identify whether a product is genuine or not, Suebsiri said, “if the product is too cheap, it is almost always a fake. Another way to detect counterfeit items is to compare the instructions or manufacturer’s specifications inside the box,” he continued. “For example, the lot number should be identical on the product and in the packaging. Another red flag for the consumer should be when the packaging is damaged or the color is not right.”

The BigChilli  is a Thailand-based lifestyle, business, and educational magazine. If you would like to read the full interview, please visit The BigChilli website.

Download Full Article
RELATED PROFESSIONAL

Practices

Intellectual Property

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

July 28, 2011
Spanish News Agency EFE, the largest Spanish-speaking news agency and fourth-largest news agency in the world, recently visited the Tilleke & Gibbins Museum of Counterfeit Goods. EFE interviewed Clemence Gautier, Consultant at Tilleke & Gibbins, about the history and purpose of the museum, as well as the prevalence of counterfeit goods in the market today. Clemence discussed various issues, such as the hazards of counterfeit goods, the importance of intellectual property rights, and the role played by consumer demand in encouraging the production of fakes.
Read More
July 8, 2011
CNNGo, the travel and lifestyle segment of the news website CNN, recently featured the Museum of Counterfeit Goods in its Bangkok section. James Evans, Consultant at Tilleke & Gibbins, explained the purpose of the museum and the consequences of counterfeiting during the interview. “Its purpose is to educate the public about intellectual property (IP) infringement and to create an awareness of the extent and consequences of counterfeiting,” says James.
Read More
June 9, 2011
Under increasing pressure from the WTO and many Western nations, Thailand is making a considerable effort to crack down on its expanding counterfeit goods trade. In the article “Thailand Tackles Role as Regional Hub for Counterfeit Goods,” Peter Janssen of Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports that Thai Customs officials have had training to spot counterfeit goods being imported from outside the country.  Wiramrudee Mokkhavesa, Attorney-at-Law with Tilleke & Gibbins, explained that “for the past few years, we’ve had good cooperation with the Customs Department.”
Read More
June 6, 2011
Suebsiri Taweepon, an attorney-at-law in the Tilleke & Gibbins IP group, was recently interviewed by Press TV, an English-language international news network based in Tehran, Iran. The interview focused on the counterfeit trade in Thailand and the steps that the government and private companies are taking to combat it. “As a law firm, we represent thousands of clients to register trademarks and provide brand names to Customs agents, as well as quarterly training on how to identify counterfeit products versus regular products,” Suebsiri told Chen Fye Tham, who reported on the story.
Read More