The Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Shopee, signed an MOU to crack down on online copyright infringement, revealing that in the first half of 2026, over 1.6 million counterfeit items worth a total of 786 million baht were seized, alongside a campaign encouraging Thai people not to use counterfeit goods.
Ms. Supachai Sutthampan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, presided over an event promoting respect for intellectual property rights under the theme “Do Not Buy, Do Not Use, Do Not Support Intellectual Property Infringement.” The event included executives from the Ministry of Commerce, representatives from the Royal Thai Police, Customs Department, Department of Special Investigation, government agencies, private rights holders, foreign embassies in Thailand, and international organizations. It was held at Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon Shopping Center, and the Walking Street area of Siam Square to raise public awareness of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and to strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating intellectual property violations both in markets and on online platforms in a concrete manner.
Ms. Supachai revealed that intellectual property infringement hinders economic progress, directly impacting producers, entrepreneurs, and consumers. It also weakens the country’s trade competitiveness. Furthermore, intellectual property protection is a crucial factor considered by key trading partners, especially the United States, when assessing Thailand’s intellectual property status. This affects the country's image, investor confidence, and the business investment environment. Therefore, the Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Intellectual Property, has been strengthening Thailand’s intellectual property protection system alongside promoting an innovation ecosystem that supports creators and Thai entrepreneurs. It is also developing cooperation mechanisms with domestic and international agencies to raise the intellectual property system’s standards to meet global levels and to drive Thailand toward an innovation- and creativity-driven economy.
To further enhance cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, and rights holders, the Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Intellectual Property, organized a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on combating intellectual property infringement on internet platforms. The agreement was between the Department of Intellectual Property, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) through the Economic Crime Suppression Division, and Shopee (Thailand) Co., Ltd., aiming to elevate collaboration in information exchange, investigation, and prosecution of offenders, as well as improve efficiency in preventing and combating the sale of counterfeit goods on online platforms. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, along with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Wutthikrai Leewirapan, witnessed the signing.
Additionally, the Department received a cooperation agreement from Unilever Thailand Trading Co., Ltd., the latest private company to join the Notice and Takedown initiative to suspend the sale of counterfeit goods online. This brings the cooperation network to 45 organizations, including 3 government agencies, 37 private sector companies, and 5 platform providers: Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop, Nex Gen Commerce, and LINE.
The event also featured an exhibition campaign “Do Not Buy, Do Not Use, Do Not Support Intellectual Property Infringement.” This exhibition aimed to raise awareness about the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and educate the public about the impacts and dangers of counterfeit goods. It also provided knowledge about protecting intellectual property rights for creators and entrepreneurs, contributing to the country’s economic advancement. The campaign fostered values encouraging consumers to choose legal products and services. The exhibition was held until 12 July 2026 at the foyer on the 5th floor of Paragon Hall.
Following this, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, along with ministry executives, representatives from government agencies, foreign embassies in Thailand, international organizations, and private rights holders, took part in a march from the front area of Siam Square One to Walking Street at Siam Square. They invited the public, especially youth, to join in showing their commitment to “Do Not Buy, Do Not Use, Do Not Support Intellectual Property Infringement.” The campaign aims to cultivate a culture of respecting intellectual property rights and raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit goods, urging people to avoid purchasing and using counterfeit items to break the production and distribution cycle of intellectual property infringement in the market.
Regarding this, Ms. Ornmon Supthaweetham, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, stated that the Department of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Commerce has continuously integrated efforts with relevant agencies to strengthen prevention and enforcement measures against intellectual property violations. The focus is on addressing major production sites, distribution sources, and principal offenders while coordinating with online platforms to promptly block and remove infringing goods. This approach has led to faster, more targeted, and effective deterrence outcomes. Specifically, in the first six months of 2026 (January to June) 456 intellectual property infringement cases were prosecuted, and 1,654,698 counterfeit items were seized, representing damages exceeding 786 million baht.
The Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property concluded that effective and sustainable prevention and resolution of intellectual property infringement require cooperation from all sectors, especially consumers. She invited everyone to join in “Do Not Buy, Do Not Use, Do Not Support Intellectual Property Infringement” to help build a society that respects rights, supports legitimate businesses, and drives Thailand’s creative economy to grow steadily and sustainably. She also urged the public to report any suspected intellectual property violations to the Department of Intellectual Property’s Enforcement Division by calling 0 2547 4702 or the hotline 1368.
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