Thailand Extends Copyright Protection

Under pressure from the United States, Thailand amended its copyright law Thursday to tighten control on production of fake designer clothes, books, music tapes and other goods.

After days of fierce politicking by opposition politicians, parliament approved by a 183-134 vote an amendment to the 1978 Copyright Act effectively extending its protection to the United States.

U.S. Trade Representative Clayton K. Yeutter had set a Dec. 15 deadline for Thailand to give American companies better protection, or face the risk of losing valuable trading privileges.

Opposition speakers in the debate, which lasted nearly six hours, said the new law would reduce access to U.S. books and other goods essential to the country’s development and said Thailand should not knuckle under to American pressure.

They said Washington was also demanding the copyright law be extended to computer software, not included in the present amendment, and that the government tighten its patent law, which covers medicines.

The issue had threatened the four-party coalition of Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda. Some pro-government members of parliament joined the opposition in voting against the bill in its first reading last November.

The vote was seen as part of the political sparring in the run-up to a debate on May 9 of a no-confidence motion in the Prem cabinet, in which the government was also expected to secure a majority.

The amendment leaves open whether computer software should be included and courts would have to interpret the law in later cases.