Thailand Blacklisted From Receiving New AIDS Drugs

[Jai Dee]

Outrage grows at US trade pressure

HIV groups to march on embassy; lobbyist linked to Thaksin PR firm

A rally will be held in front of the US Em-bassy in Bangkok today by the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids, to protest the US Trade Representative's decision to downgrade Thailand's trade status.

Thailand's downgrade to the US Priority Watch List over copyright violations is widely seen as retaliation against the Public Health Ministry's move to enforce compulsory licensing on certain drugs - including an Aids medicine sold by a US-based company.

"We have found that the affected company hired a lobbyist firm - USA for Innovation - that recently spread false information about Thailand's compulsory-licensing process," Aids Access Foundation director Nimit Tienudom said yesterday.

He added that this lobbyist firm was also linked to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. "However, I don't know whether Thaksin is involved in the misleading campaign," Nimit said.

The executive director of USA for Innovation is Ken Adelman, who is also a senior adviser to Edelman Public Relations, which is also used by Merck, Abbot Laboratories, Sanofi - and Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Aids Access Foundation and the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids are among non-governmental organisations that relea-sed a joint statement supporting the Public Health Ministry's move to enforce compulsory licensing.

Many academics, including Samlee Jaidee and Chulalongkorn University lecturers Wittaya Kul-somboon and Jiraporn Limpana-nont, also signed the statement.

The statement urged all government units to be united in the compulsory licensing.

"In particular, the Foreign Affairs and Commerce ministries should fully cooperate with the Public Health Ministry in explaining that the compulsory-licensing process has been in line with Thai law and international rules … don't alienate the Public Health Ministry," the statement read.

An informed source disclosed that USA for Innovation - which claims to be a non-profit organisation - recently launched a campaign about violations of US intellectual-property rights that contained misleading information.

For example, the campaign alleged that Thailand was going to enforce compulsory licensing "on 30 medicines".

"It's untrue," Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla yesterday said in response to the allegation.

He insisted that his ministry had announced breaking the patents of three medicines only. Of them, only the compulsory-licensing process for the HIV/Aids drug efavirenz, sold by US-based global pharmaceutical giant Merck under the trade names Sustiva and Stocrin, had already been completed.

The Public Health Ministry has been in negotiations with the patent-holders of two other medicines.

"We have never aggressively enforced compulsory licensing. We've always asked for compassion for the patients," Mongkol said.

Compulsory licensing is permitted under World Trade Organisation rules in national emergencies or justified non-commercial cases. Patent-holders can receive some royalties.

Mongkol said he would fly to the US later this month to explain the rationale behind the compulsory licensing and meet with US drug companies, senators and the US Trade Representative, with arrangements to be made by the Foreign Ministry.

The public-health minister also confirmed that Thailand would join 15 other developing countries and the Clinton Foundation in the bulk buying of drugs, so that they could be bought cheaper.

All of the countries have enforced compulsory licensing.

"The government's compulsory-licensing move wins our full support. This is a move to manufacture life-saving medicines. Thailand needs to move on, because this is the hope of countries all over the world," Wirat Purahong, chairman of the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids, said yesterday.

He believes other countries could lose ground in negotiations with the US if Thailand backs down.

Wirat yesterday led a group of HIV-positive people in offering moral support to Mongkol na Songkhla.

Mongkol thanked the supporters with a vow to push ahead with compulsory licensing. "I will carry on. I will never abandon the patients, and I definitely will not lose heart," Mongkol said.

The US Embassy in Bangkok, however, insisted the downgrade stemmed from widespread violations of copyrights on audiovisual products.

Source: The Nation - 03 May 2007

[John K]

Wow, another news article that has Thaksin’s name in it.

[Jai Dee]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

[nick2k]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

imagine how much money BP invested in venezuela only to have it stolen by chavez? billions.. I wonder how BP is going to cover up the loss in their annual reports?

america companies should be in america providing jobs to americans. and my guess is - someday soon the people of america will make sure they understand that.

I know. some of you are saying isolationism, protectionism is bad. but the way I see it, china is doing it, japan is doing it, and even thailand is doing it. so, it can't be all that bad, right? I say america is better off doing it too. stop the h1b visas. quit the donations overseas.

[Galong]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

imagine how much money BP invested in venezuela only to have it stolen by chavez? billions.. I wonder how BP is going to cover up the loss in their annual reports?

america companies should be in america providing jobs to americans. and my guess is - someday soon the people of america will make sure they understand that.

I know. some of you are saying isolationism, protectionism is bad. but the way I see it, china is doing it, japan is doing it, and even thailand is doing it. so, it can't be all that bad, right? I say america is better off doing it too. stop the h1b visas. quit the donations overseas.

You make a lot of sense Nick... it's nice to think that the global economy can prosper in a fair and balanced manner, but it's obvious that it isn't and perhaps can't. The US is farming out everything it can as labor is cheaper abroad. The one thing it does have is intellectual property and if they try to save that, people cry foul?

I wouldn't trust Thailand if I was in a position of losing a lot of money. Instead of stealing medicine, perhaps the Thai government could have tried a different approach. The pharm companies are in business. It's unfortunate that their 'business' puts lives in the balance. Just my two satang's worth anyway...

[Plus]

If Thailand was indeed stealing the US would have retaliated for stealing, and not denied that the recent downgrade relates to the drug stealing in any way.

All the more to suggest that there is no stealing and it was all entirely lawful and the US is using bullying tactics.

[nick2k]

If Thailand was indeed stealing the US would have retaliated for stealing, and not denied that the recent downgrade relates to the drug stealing in any way.

All the more to suggest that there is no stealing and it was all entirely lawful and the US is using bullying tactics.

it is stealing. but I know you will never admit to it.

as for no retaliation? my guess is that abbott and many other corporations will not be as open with thailand in the future like they were in the past.

what do you think?

[endure]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

The real reason why Lord Browne resigned is because he was caught telling lies on oath to the High Court about where he met his boyfriend and also trying to trash his bf's reputation to save his own. It has nothing at all to do with Chavez.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../nbrowne201.xml

[nick2k]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

imagine how much money BP invested in venezuela only to have it stolen by chavez? billions.. I wonder how BP is going to cover up the loss in their annual reports?

america companies should be in america providing jobs to americans. and my guess is - someday soon the people of america will make sure they understand that.

I know. some of you are saying isolationism, protectionism is bad. but the way I see it, china is doing it, japan is doing it, and even thailand is doing it. so, it can't be all that bad, right? I say america is better off doing it too. stop the h1b visas. quit the donations overseas.

You make a lot of sense Nick... it's nice to think that the global economy can prosper in a fair and balanced manner, but it's obvious that it isn't and perhaps can't. The US is farming out everything it can as labor is cheaper abroad. The one thing it does have is intellectual property and if they try to save that, people cry foul?

I wouldn't trust Thailand if I was in a position of losing a lot of money. Instead of stealing medicine, perhaps the Thai government could have tried a different approach. The pharm companies are in business. It's unfortunate that their 'business' puts lives in the balance. Just my two satang's worth anyway...

thanks for the vote of confidence.

what worries me more than the insane farming of everything abroad is - that the american government seems to be clueless to the damage they are causing to our national security by giving our technology to foreign countries. yes, we are GIVING away our technology. I just read recently where intel is going to built an advance factory in china. idiots.

once we train these people how to make chips and advance circuitry, what do you think they are going to do with this new technology?

my guess is - they are going to use it to improve their military might.

and then, the usa military complains about how hard it is to keep up our defenses?

doesn't make a lot of sense, doesn't it?

yes, I truly believe my government is full of idiots right now. the whole lot of them are idiots.

[nick2k]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

The real reason why Lord Browne resigned is because he was caught telling lies on oath to the High Court about where he met his boyfriend and also trying to trash his bf's reputation to save his own. It has nothing at all to do with Chavez.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../nbrowne201.xml

yeah. right. ...from what I heard, he also forsaked over 6 million pounds in compensation that he was entitled to. like - that doesn't make sense over some stupid lie. on the other hand, I could see how he would feel guilty about keeping the money after he screwed up on convincing everyone to invest in venezuela where BP lost billions.

...think about it.

[Jai Dee]

Surayud insists to go on with compulsory licensing on Aids medicines

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont Thursday stood by his government's decision to enforce compulsory licensing on Aids medicines.

"We have reasons to explain to the world. We are confident that relevant parties will understand our needs," Surayud said amid the growing pressure from the United States.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) has recently downgraded Thailand's trade status to the US Priority Watch List over intellectual-property violations. The move is widely seen as retaliation against the Public Health Ministry's move to enforce compulsory licensing on certain drugs including an Aids medicine sold by a US-based company.

USTR, however, has pointed out that widespread violations of copyrights on audiovisual products were the main reason behind the downgrade.

Surayud said the Commerce Ministry would work things out in a bid to remove Thailand from the US Priority Watch List.

"Our officials will work with US officials in addressing existing concerns…It's best to proceed by applicable requirements," the premier said.

Source: The Nation - 04 May 2007

[Bottlerocket]

Beggars. Take, take, take, and never give back anything in return. I hope they lose all of their trade benefits for their refusal to innovate. Beggars.

[Galong]

Beggars. Take, take, take, and never give back anything in return. I hope they lose all of their trade benefits for their refusal to innovate. Beggars.

"Curmudgeons" ...sweet, I learned a new word today, thanks

I bet if the shoe was on the other foot the Thais would be furious over someone stealing their products. I seem to remember a major uproar over some Hom Malee rice found growing in Cambodia a year or two ago... same, same, not different.

[Jai Dee]

Public health minister vows to try best to explain Thailand's position on CL

Thailand's Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla on Friday pledged to try his best to clarify to all segments concerned in the United States about Thailand’s need for compulsory licencing (CL) of key drugs in his visit to the US.

Speaking before chairing a meeting of the National Health Insurance Committee, Dr. Mongkol said the ministry had been under heavy pressure following its issuance of CL for Merck's HIV/Aids treatment drug Efavirenz.

Dr.Mongkol said he believed the announcement of CL was the main reason behind the US Trade Representative’s decision to place Thailand on the priority watch list for intellectual property piracy.

He said his ministry and the Foreign Affairs and Commerce Ministries would attempt to make the clarification over the matter to the utmost of their abilities.

“Actually, we have issued CL of no more than 5 drugs to save our people’s life from the threat of fatal diseases including AIDS, heart illness, and cancer. We have not announced CL for 20-30 drugs as reported in the US. We have just made it for only 3 drugs so far.

“It seems the reports are made with an aim to damage us. I don’t know how they were distorted to taint our image,” he said.

Asked whether Thailand would revoke the issuance of CL as a result of the international pressure, he said, the government would not do that if it had to exchange it with people’s life.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont shared his common view that the government would attempt to find a ‘’soft” way to deal with the misunderstanding because it believed some ill-intention groups had distorted facts to damage Thailand’s image in the eyes of foreigners.

Dr. Mongkol said he would leave for the US on May 7 and sign an agreement with Bill Clinton Foundation and 16 developing countries on May 8 to jointly procure cheaper drugs.

Compulsory licencing is allowed under World Trade Organisation rules so that countries can temporarily suspend patent protections on medicines to safeguard public health in national emergencies or justified non-commercial cases. Patent-holders can receive some royalties.

Source: TNA - 04 May 2007

[cclub75]

Public health minister vows to try best to explain Thailand's position on CL

Thailand's Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla on Friday pledged to try his best to clarify to all segments concerned in the United States about Thailand’s need for compulsory licencing (CL) of key drugs in his visit to the US.

Another brillant exercise of rethoric from the Health Minister.

"Needs" ? Thailand "needs" to break IP rights ?

A thief too "needs" the money he wants to steal...

More than a visit, in order to "explain" the situation, I believe that the dear minister was summoned.... Quickly and presto.

He's going to have a bad time.

[Mid]

Wow, another news article that has Thaksin’s name in it.

smelly ain't it ..........................

USA for Innovation

Ken Adelman, Executive Director

Ken Adelman is the Executive Director for USA for Innovation. He currently serves as a member of the Defense Policy Board. Under President Reagan, he was Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency from 1983 to 1987. He served as Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations in the early '80s, and as assistant to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from 1976 to 1977.

Ambassador Adelman is a regular columnist and commentator on FoxNews, CNN, NPR, and television networks. He has also written several articles for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and other publications, and he is the author of five books, including The Defense Revolution (1990) and The Great Universal Embrace (1989).

News Article

Troubles from Thailand

by Ken Adelman, The Washington Times

April 27, 2007

Press Release

USA for Innovation to Release Video Message to People of Thailand Via Google YouTube Service

April 26, 2007

YouTube.com/USAforInnovation

Press Release

USA for Innovation Releases A Compendium of Concerned Coverage on Thailand's New Military Spending

April 26, 2007

Press Release

USA for Innovation Ad Campaign Highlights Thailand's Theft of American Assets

April 25, 2007

Thai Release (PDF)

Press Release

USA for Innovation's 8 Deadly Lies About Thailand's Theft of Innovation

April 25, 2007

Press Release

USA for Innovation Calls on Administration Officials to Confront Thailand's Theft of US Property

April 23, 2007

Letter from USA for Innovation Executive Director Ken Adelman to Cabinet Members (PDF)

April 23, 2007

Thai Version of Letter (PDF)

April 23, 2007

can anyone say one eyed .......................

[nick2k]

smelly? no.

frankly, I think it is good that we have somebody who will hopefully look out for the interests of america and americans.

someone who understands the implications involved with our giving out our technology to people who may not be our friends.

it's about time we do what everybody else is doing. ..looking out for their own people's interest.

like I said earlier, china is doing it, japan is doing it, thailand is doing it. hey. even chavez is doing it. so, I see no wrong in america doing it too. right?

like thailand's motto - khon thai riplao?

america FOR americans.

has a good ring to it, doesn't it?

no more h1b visas. no more donations overseas.

[Mid]

just need a verifiable tie in with Thaksin's PR firm and I'm done ..............................

[cclub75]

it's about time we do what everybody else is doing. ..looking out for their own people's interest.

like I said earlier, china is doing it, japan is doing it, thailand is doing it. hey. even chavez is doing it. so, I see no wrong in america doing it too. right?

Yep !

I'm not american. But if Thailand wants to continue this little stupid game, yes absolutly, US should retaliate.

Enough is enough of those thai generals, non elected, who think they can deal with important matters and launch important reforms, like they treat their soldiers.

Many people focus, with the hand on the heart, about the Aids drugs. But they forgot that one of the medecine licensed is Plavix, that is used to treat heart diseases... AKA a lifestyle disease. Absolutly not an "emergency health situation" like staded in WTO.

And second point : what is the amount of money we are talking about ? 26 millions of USD per year, 880 millions of THB !

It's the amount of taxes the thai gvt ask Thaksin wife over the Ratchada land deal !

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/04May2007_news01.php

So come one, the whole discussion is ridiculous.

The bottom line is : the corrupted thai elite doesn't want to pay to help its fellow (but poors) citizens. Period.

This is the reality.

[Pepe']

it's about time we do what everybody else is doing. ..looking out for their own people's interest.

like I said earlier, china is doing it, japan is doing it, thailand is doing it. hey. even chavez is doing it. so, I see no wrong in america doing it too. right?

----------------

Thank You

Yep !

I'm not american. But if Thailand wants to continue this little stupid game, yes absolutly, US should retaliate.

Enough is enough of those thai generals, non elected, who think they can deal with important matters and launch important reforms, like they treat their soldiers.

Many people focus, with the hand on the heart, about the Aids drugs. But they forgot that one of the medecine licensed is Plavix, that is used to treat heart diseases... AKA a lifestyle disease. Absolutly not an "emergency health situation" like staded in WTO.

And second point : what is the amount of money we are talking about ? 26 millions of USD per year, 880 millions of THB !

It's the amount of taxes the thai gvt ask Thaksin wife over the Ratchada land deal !

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/04May2007_news01.php

So come one, the whole discussion is ridiculous.

The bottom line is : the corrupted thai elite doesn't want to pay to help its fellow (but poors) citizens. Period.

This is the reality.

[Plus]

...if Thailand wants to continue this little stupid game, yes absolutly, US should retaliate.

But it's been said time and time again that Thailand acted entirely within the limits of the law, entirely within its legitimae rights.

Enough is enough of those thai generals, non elected, who think they can deal with important matters and launch important reforms, like they treat their soldiers.

Public Health Minister, Mongkol Na Songkhla, is not a soldier and generals had nothing to do with this.

[nick2k]

...if Thailand wants to continue this little stupid game, yes absolutly, US should retaliate.

But it's been said time and time again that Thailand acted entirely within the limits of the law, entirely within its legitimae rights.

Enough is enough of those thai generals, non elected, who think they can deal with important matters and launch important reforms, like they treat their soldiers.

Public Health Minister, Mongkol Na Songkhla, is not a soldier and generals had nothing to do with this.

you just don't get it, do you?

let me put it to you another way...

I heard on tv that thailand exports the most rice in the whole world. if this true, let me ask you this..

if america were to start selling an EXACT copy of jasmine rice at a LOWER price on the world market, how would you feel?

instead of a 10 billion dollar surplus that they have now, it could be a 10 billion dollar deficit.

how would thailand feel about that?

hey! it would not be illegal for the usa to do this. you know they could, don't you? remember, the usa doesn't have a FTA with thailand.

...when you really think about it - this is what china is doing to the usa. the exact same thing. friends? ..what friends?

it's ok for china and thailand to <deleted>#k around with the usa. cause my country to have a big deficit because of their greed. and then, if we try to retaliate, they call us evil?!?

america for americans.

Edited May 4, 2007 by nick2k

[cclub75]

...if Thailand wants to continue this little stupid game, yes absolutly, US should retaliate.

But it's been said time and time again that Thailand acted entirely within the limits of the law, entirely within its legitimae rights.

Enough is enough of those thai generals, non elected, who think they can deal with important matters and launch important reforms, like they treat their soldiers.

Public Health Minister, Mongkol Na Songkhla, is not a soldier and generals had nothing to do with this.

Plus, you're playing with words... The Health Minister is a member of the interim gvt, formed by the junta, after a military coup... The generals are ruling the country. The PM is an ex general...

Then, you speak about "legitimate rights" within the limits of the law, I disagree. It's laughable to put a drug like Plavix within the WTO regulations that allow a country to bypass IP rights in case of national medical emergency...

Okay, I know what you re going to say : WTO says that the country has to define itself what constitute a medical emergency... Fair enough.

What the world will say when another lunatic country will use this regulation for the... masculine impotence with a drug like Viagra ?

[ChiangMaiAmerican]

if america were to start selling an EXACT copy of jasmine rice at a LOWER price on the world market, how would you feel?

instead of a 10 billion dollar surplus that they have now, it could be a 10 billion dollar deficit.

how would thailand feel about that?

Already happened in 2001. Thais protested in front of the US Embassy and the farmers held a cursing ceremony complete with the burning of chili peppers. But when the boot is on the other foot that is a different matter. Still have the protests in front of the US Embassy though.

RICE ROW: Govt to take case to court Ministry hires US lawyers to bar any patent attempt

By The Nation

Published on Nov 12, 2001

Two American lawyers have been chosen to represent Thailand in a lawsuit over the right to patent an American version of Thai jasmine rice, Deputy Commerce Minister Suvarn Valaisathien said yesterday.

Suvarn said the government would sign a contract with the lawyers this week as part of an effort to initiate a lawsuit in the United States Administrative Court. He said the legal action was aimed at preventing rice-breeder Chris Deren from patenting a new rice variety being developed from genetic material from Thailand's Khao Dok Mali 105.

Full story here:

http://www.biothai.org/cgi-bin/content/bio...cy/show.pl?0002

[endure]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

The real reason why Lord Browne resigned is because he was caught telling lies on oath to the High Court about where he met his boyfriend and also trying to trash his bf's reputation to save his own. It has nothing at all to do with Chavez.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../nbrowne201.xml

yeah. right. ...from what I heard, he also forsaked over 6 million pounds in compensation that he was entitled to. like - that doesn't make sense over some stupid lie. on the other hand, I could see how he would feel guilty about keeping the money after he screwed up on convincing everyone to invest in venezuela where BP lost billions.

...think about it.

Mr Justice Eady (the judge in the Browne case) said in court that Browne could possibly have committed either perjury or an attempt to pervert the course of justice by his actions. Perjury has a maximum sentence of 7 years in gaol and perverting the course of justice a maximum of life imprisonment. It's not yet been decided whether Browne will face trial on either count. Hardly simply 'a stupid lie'. I don't know where you got £6M from. If he'd stayed on till July he'd have got another £15M in pay and bonuses which he now won't get. He is still in line for £55M in bonuses. Did you actually read the article I pointed you at or is 'yeah right' the extent of your interest in the facts?

[nick2k]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

The real reason why Lord Browne resigned is because he was caught telling lies on oath to the High Court about where he met his boyfriend and also trying to trash his bf's reputation to save his own. It has nothing at all to do with Chavez.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../nbrowne201.xml

yeah. right. ...from what I heard, he also forsaked over 6 million pounds in compensation that he was entitled to. like - that doesn't make sense over some stupid lie. on the other hand, I could see how he would feel guilty about keeping the money after he screwed up on convincing everyone to invest in venezuela where BP lost billions.

...think about it.

Mr Justice Eady (the judge in the Browne case) said in court that Browne could possibly have committed either perjury or an attempt to pervert the course of justice by his actions. Perjury has a maximum sentence of 7 years in gaol and perverting the course of justice a maximum of life imprisonment. It's not yet been decided whether Browne will face trial on either count. Hardly simply 'a stupid lie'. I don't know where you got £6M from. If he'd stayed on till July he'd have got another £15M in pay and bonuses which he now won't get. He is still in line for £55M in bonuses. Did you actually read the article I pointed you at or is 'yeah right' the extent of your interest in the facts?

evidently, you didn't "think about it." so, don't bother me about your details. the example was just for illustration of my case. and is not really pertinent to the actual topic at hand. if you like to debate the issue in another thread, be my guest. otherwise, focus on the topic at hand. thank you.

[endure]

PM is looking into the latest attack by US drugs Innovation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicates that the government will find a solution after it has decided to break a patent on an AIDS drug produced by a US company. The US has then criticized Thailand for failing to protect of intellectual property rights and has included Thailand among 12 countries on an annual "Priority Watch List".

Gen. Surayud says the Thai government had a discussion on the possible scenarios related to this issue. However, he says the government will find the best way to prevent the negative impacts on the Thai economy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

..there wouldn't be any "negative impacts" on the thai economy if thailand didn't steal the drugs.

when you take away somebody's livihood via illegal means, what did you expect? smiling faces?

what will thailand do next? nationalize all the foreign factories in thailand like chavez did? talk about stealing. for sure, nobody is going to invest in his country anymore. BP learned their lesson. and my guess is that that is the real reason why their CEO resigned.

The real reason why Lord Browne resigned is because he was caught telling lies on oath to the High Court about where he met his boyfriend and also trying to trash his bf's reputation to save his own. It has nothing at all to do with Chavez.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../nbrowne201.xml

yeah. right. ...from what I heard, he also forsaked over 6 million pounds in compensation that he was entitled to. like - that doesn't make sense over some stupid lie. on the other hand, I could see how he would feel guilty about keeping the money after he screwed up on convincing everyone to invest in venezuela where BP lost billions.

...think about it.

Mr Justice Eady (the judge in the Browne case) said in court that Browne could possibly have committed either perjury or an attempt to pervert the course of justice by his actions. Perjury has a maximum sentence of 7 years in gaol and perverting the course of justice a maximum of life imprisonment. It's not yet been decided whether Browne will face trial on either count. Hardly simply 'a stupid lie'. I don't know where you got £6M from. If he'd stayed on till July he'd have got another £15M in pay and bonuses which he now won't get. He is still in line for £55M in bonuses. Did you actually read the article I pointed you at or is 'yeah right' the extent of your interest in the facts?

evidently, you didn't "think about it." so, don't bother me about your details. the example was just for illustration of my case. and is not really pertinent to the actual topic at hand. if you like to debate the issue in another thread, be my guest. otherwise, focus on the topic at hand. thank you.

I'm sorry if the 'details' (i.e. the facts) don't fit in with your particular set of preconceptions but if you post 'examples' that are misleading and disingenuous you can hardly complain when they are challenged.

[nick2k]

to endure...

so, what do you think?

after "stealing" the drugs from abbott, do you think thailand will ever go as far as nationalizing foreign assets in thailand like chavez did? I mean with all the anti-foreigner sentiment that is going around here, that would seem to be the next step in the evolution of things.

and don't tell me there isn't any anti-foreigner sentiment here.

you see it everyday. from the 2 tier pricing with sonthaws in pattaya to the overpricing in restaurants. it's rampant.

I don't know how many times I've seen thais cut in front of foreigners in stores. or taxi drivers overcharging foreigners. I have even had old ladies who were total strangers come up to me on the orange buses telling me quote, "I will never leave thailand." ...like I really give a <deleted>#k.

now we are getting this "attitude" from thais that if we don't GIVE them our drugs (that WE invented), we are evil. talk about having mental problems.

if it wasn't for companies like abbott, we wouldn't have these beautiful drugs that benefit mankind. personally, I agree they deserve the privilege of a monopoly for a short period of time as a reward for inventing the drugs. I believe that without the patent system, mankind would not have experienced the revelation of discoveries in the last century.

another thing, I do agree with thailand in that america shouldn't have a FTA with them. the way I see it, thailand will take advantage of it and screw america at any given chance. it's already abundantly clear that this is the case with all the pirated software, and pirated goods sold on the streets. no FTA.

[Mid]

I believe that without the patent system, mankind would not have experienced the revelation of discoveries in the last century.

The US Patent System Is Out of Control!

It seems that every day somebody finds a patent that just makes everyone's jaws drop open in utter astonishment. Here's one I just discovered: US patent 5,443,036 covers the use of a laser pointer in playing with a cat. Check it out; this is not a joke, unless you consider (as I do) the entire US patent system to be one very sick joke.

Patently Absurd

When twenty-first-century historians look back at the breakdown of the United States patent system, they will see a turning point in the case of Jeff Bezos and Amazon.com and their special invention: "the patented 1-click feature," Bezos calls it.

American Patent System

As firms competed for larger market shares, control not only of inventions but of the inventors themselves often became an important strategy.

[ColPyat]

smelly? no.

frankly, I think it is good that we have somebody who will hopefully look out for the interests of america and americans.

someone who understands the implications involved with our giving out our technology to people who may not be our friends.

it's about time we do what everybody else is doing. ..looking out for their own people's interest.

like I said earlier, china is doing it, japan is doing it, thailand is doing it. hey. even chavez is doing it. so, I see no wrong in america doing it too. right?

like thailand's motto - khon thai riplao?

america FOR americans.

has a good ring to it, doesn't it?

no more h1b visas. no more donations overseas.

And you wonder why people all over the world turn increasingly anti-American, when confronted with opinions such as these. Especially if those opinions are not just from a negligible fringe of trailer trash, but are actually ideas subscribed to by many members of the present US government and establishment (as can be read here: http://www.newamericancentury.org/ ).