Counterfeit Products Remain Popular

With counterfeit goods costing a fraction of the price of the originals, less than half of respondents, 48% felt any guilt in purchasing them. Products that would normally be out of the financial reach of most people can be bought cheaply from many outlets with many bearing a strong likeness to the original items.

The dean of the university’s law department, Anraya Singsangob said, “Forty per cent of respondents said piracy was widespread in Thailand due to the high cost of copyrighted items. Six percent singled out state officials’ negligence and conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, most respondents, 95.4%, agreed that Thailand should be active in tackling copyright problems, and most suggested cuts in the prices of copyrighted items as well as more stringent punishment.”

According a study by the Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau of the International Chamber of Commerce, counterfeit goods make up 5 to 7 % of World Trade. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Lacoste, and Rolex are among the most popular copied brands.