Judges from the Supreme Court of Thailand Visit WIPO

Geneva, September 17, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/284

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, received a delegation of judges from the Supreme Court of Thailand on September 17, 2001 for an exchange of views on ways of enhancing enforcement of intellectual property rights in Thailand. Dr. Idris assured the Court of WIPO's continued cooperation and support.

The visit of the delegation, headed by the Chief Justice of the Intellectual Property and International Trade (IP and IT) Division of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sermsakdi Pladthura, was considered particularly timely in light of the growing importance of intellectual property as a tool for wealth creation and economic and cultural development. In today's information and knowledge-driven societies, the intellectual property system has a key role to play in converting knowledge and information into tangible economic assets. This has highlighted the need to address questions relating to enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights.

The Director General commended the initiative taken by Thailand to establish a distinct judicial system for enforcement of intellectual property rights. Thailand's approach has enabled expeditious hearing of intellectual property cases and, in this way, has served to establish an environment that is conducive to promotion of investment, innovation and economic development. This approach has also helped to create an "intellectual property culture" in Thailand.

Chief Justice Pladthura informed the Director General of the work of the IP and IT Division of the Supreme Court which was receiving an increasing case load. In 2000 alone, the Division had heard around ninety intellectual property cases. The Chief Justice also identified certain areas where WIPO's cooperation would be helpful in enhancing the capacity of the Court to address intellectual property cases.

The Director General assured Chief Justice Pladthura of WIPO's cooperation with the Court including through specialized training programs, fellowships and provision of reference material.

Earlier, the delegation of judges was briefed by WIPO officials on the Organization's overall mandate and functions, technical cooperation activities with developing countries, particularly with Thailand, and work in the areas of legislative reform, arbitration and mediation, and the Internet domain name process.

The Thai judges showed keen interest in WIPO's activities relating to strengthening and modernizing intellectual property systems in developing countries, especially reform of legislation and the work done by WIPO's Arbitration and Mediation Center.

The Thai delegation also included Mr. Pinich Petchrung, Judge, Intellectual Property and International Trade Division of the Supreme Court, Mr. Prachar Prasongchanya, Judge, Intellectual Property and International Trade Division of the Supreme Court, Mr. Prinya Deepadung, Assistant Judge, Intellectual Property and International Trade Division of the Supreme Court of Thailand.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

• Tel: (+41 22) 338 81 61 or (+41 22) 338 95 47;
• Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10;
• E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int