Monk’s image at centre of copyright tussle

The image of the late Luang Phor Koon Parisutho at the heart of a copyright issue with a popular American clothing brand is not registered as intellectual property with the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), according to the agency.

The DIP said it found no record of the yant (incantation tattoo design) featuring the late abbot in its intellectual property registration history. 

Checks showed that copyrights were secured with the department on 21 items related to Luang Phor Koon. They include 15 songs, a book on the senior monk’s commemorative coins, a documentary film and a sculpture, according to DIP director-general Vittikrai Leewiraphan. 

Despite the lack of registration, the yant in question is deemed an artistic work whose owner is entitled to full copyright protection, said Mr Vittikrai, and any replication,…