The workshop aims to contribute to Thailand’s continued efforts to improve intellectual property right (IPR) protection in the online environment. It will highlight initiatives being undertaken in Thailand to explore more areas for voluntary collaboration mechanisms against infringements and discuss the Memorandum of understanding (MoU) on online advertising and IPR. The MoU was facilitated by the European Commission and signed by several European and international companies and associations, including advertising agencies and online advertising platforms.

The workshop will enable EU businesses in Thailand to discuss the new Customs Notification system on border enforcement of trade marks and copyrights and the practical aspects of implementing the new system. It will also serve as an awareness-raising activity as intellectual property rights holders are required to register both their trade marks and copyrights with the Customs Department in order to benefit from the remedies under the new system.

The awareness-raising campaign on social media in SEA countries will target the significance and importance of providing IP protection and enforcement. The focus of the campaign will be on the benefits of IP to the economy, the importance of protecting IPRs, hence creation and innovation, in the region and the adverse effects of IP infringements to businesses and consumers (in terms of economic losses, negative impact on jobs as well as risks to public health and safety) as a priority.

This activity entails the participation of IP Key SEA Phase II project to  major IPR events (IP Fairs, IP contests, the World IP day) organised by relevant stakeholders, to promote the importance of IPRs in the SEA region from an EU perspective.