HONDA, STEA combat counterfeit

Laos News Agency (KPL) 
11/30/2006


The Government of Lao PDR is serious in the intellectual property rights (IPR) and upgrade the capacity for IP enforcement in Laos in order to boost the investment.

As Laos is in the process of accession to the WTO as well as respond to the issue of the violation of the IP rights of Honda Motor Company was raised in relation to its motorcycles CLICK and Wave (i) and all other registered trademarks and industrial design including word mark, industrial design, logo, three dimensional shape and others that belong to Honda Company the Lao Department of IP under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office has deployed the official execution Team through Science, Technology and Environment Agency (STEA) in each province to inspect and cease the infringement of the use of trademarks and industrial design, in all provinces nationwide.

The Honda Motor Company in cooperation with the STEA strives to combat with the counterfeit products and illegal trafficking, distribution and sale of counterfeit products in all provinces of Laos and all boarders.

This reflects in the official survey of the counterfeit products of Honda Motor Company in Savannakhet from 14-21 November 2006 followed by Vientiane Capital from 20-29 November 2006.

After the official survey in the market areas and boarders, the official inspection was conducted from 30-31 November 2006 in Savannakhet and will be followed by Vientiane Capital and other provinces later on.

On 30 November 2006, the official execution team went to monitor the use of trademark, design and logo (have been already registered in Lao PDR) by Honda Motor Company in all shops, all distributors and dealers in Savannakhet province in order to keep enforcement and case the counterfeit products. The monitoring is to follow to the official notices that have been distributed to all dealers and distributors before in the areas. In addition, the official monitoring will be conducted regularly and will be conducted in other provinces as well. The official execution team is involved various relevant Government’s Bodies such as Provincial Division of Transport, Judiciary division, judge, prosecutor, Provincial Division of Trade, Provincial Division of Industry, Provincial Custom, Provincial Division of Public Security and STEA.

During the monitor the official execution team has made the official record and give the official warning to the dealers if the found of any infringement, according to the official execution committee meeting, to those who still distribute the counterfeit products after receiving the warning the first time will be punished according to the Law and Regulation
The strong enforcement of the IP rights in Laos is to ensure the fair competition in Laos in order to boost the investment and creation the country as well as generate higher incomes and encourage the high technology development in Laos as well as the preparation to the WTO.