Since the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, there has been no sign of its resolution. This event has had a direct impact on the global economy, causing various financial instabilities.
Currently, Russia has employed a notable method of warfare that directly affects many countries, especially those unfriendly towards Russia, including the United Kingdom and the United States. In this strategy, Russia utilizes intellectual property law as a tool. This allows Russian businesses to freely use intellectual property from unfriendly countries without paying royalties. For example, they can replicate trademarks like those of KFC and open fried chicken outlets accordingly. They can also produce drugs patented by these countries for their own use without paying any royalties.
This approach has normalized intellectual property infringement in Russia and has been conducted freely. Previously, the United States identified Russia as one of the countries to be closely monitored due to inadequate intellectual property protection policies.
However, the use of intellectual property as a weapon of war has not been widely observed before. This could be because modern warfare has more effective tools than conventional weapons, causing significantly greater damage to the opposing side. Additionally, it can cause substantial economic damage to countries, particularly those with leading intellectual property rights such as the United States and Japan.
In light of this, as outsiders, we must continue to observe the situation. I urge Thai people to consistently prioritize intellectual property for the benefit of its owners and the country as a whole.
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