WeChat, Thai Officials Defend Copyright Infringement Efforts

The U.S. trade representative shouldn't designate WeChat a notorious market (see 1810040053) because its policies combat copyright infringement, the owner of the mobile app commented, filed Tuesday. Tencent acknowledged “some bad actors may seek to use the WeChat instant messaging platform to promote infringing goods,” but its terms of service prohibit such activity. Thailand argued its online and offline markets shouldn't receive the designation, either, citing widespread enforcement. January-August, Thai authorities did 4,800 raids on physical markets and seized 10.5 million items, officials said. January-July, Thai authorities did 117 raids in online markets and seized 4,878 products. Like entertainment industry groups, the International Intellectual Property Alliance cited The Pirate Bay as a bad actor, plus Rapidgator.net and Uploaded.net.