The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau has decided to change the logo it will use in its bid to host the World Expo 2020 after allegations that it may have been copied.
To end the controversy, the logo and mascot selection committee met yesterday and voted to use a graphic designed by Pavita Srisuwan, the first runner-up among 1,000 entries in a logo-design contest held last month. It will replace the logo designed by Suphap Ruangsen.
The committee also disqualified Mr Suphap and seized his prize money. Mr Suphap was widely criticised over the fact that his expo logo was similar to an old Brasil Telecom logo.
Both graphic logos have an identical shape, but design details inside differ. Mr Suphap used Thai prajam yam pattern design (four-petal flower), instead of a normal square in the company logo.
TCEB president Akapol Sorasuchart said the bureau owned the copyright of the new logo design and was now adjusting it to better reflect the expo theme and concept. It will introduce the new logo on Aug 19.
"We will inform the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) about the case and hope the bureau and other countries will understand," he said.
Thailand will use the new logo, whose shape is similar to a ta pian fish, until the BIE announces which country will host the World Expo 2020 in June 2013.