Police Seize 140,000+ Illegal CDs in Nonthaburi

[Jai Dee]

Police seized 140,000+ illegal CDs

The Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General, Pol. Gen. Seripisuth Temiyavej, and Pol. Lt. Col. Visut Vanichbutr, the Commanding Officer of the Economic and Cyber Crime Division, together with a team of police officials seized about more than 140,000 counterfeit CDs in three residences in Nonthaburi province.

In addition, a total of 11 people were arrested during the inspection in the three houses in Nonthaburi. The counterfeit CDs include records and movies. Police also confiscated the CD burners used for producing counterfeit CDs as well as the counterfeit CD covers. Police said the illegal CDs include Thai and foreign records, movies, and a number of pornographic films.

Pol. Gen. Seripisuth said the Royal Thai Police has a policy to eradicate all type of counterfeit CDs and pornographic media in the country.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 April 2007

[Wolfie]

wasn't in pantip then?

[sunshine13]

so its locked up in evidence?

[PhilHarries]

They'll learn.

Take the deputy PM, pass the word out, and every one is being a good boy except for one hapless little sucker. Easy day, lights, action, camera everyone gets to be a star. Back to the station, feet up and home early.

Don't take the deputy PM, do the job you're hired to do, and what happens? You go and uncover a veritable den of iniquity laden with crooks, contraband and illegal apparatus. Then you get to spend the rest of the day and half the night filling out all the paperwork. On top of that nobody thanks you as it looks like you've been slacking letting all these crims operate on your patch.

Advance warning. You know it makes sense.

[kmart]

Are we expecting a VIP visit from overseas or something then?

[peter991]

Are we expecting a VIP visit from overseas or something then?

Sounds like something is about to happen.

Still heaps of pirated DVDs available for 100 baht each (buy 8 get 2 free).

Peter

[ChiangMaiAmerican]

Are we expecting a VIP visit from overseas or something then?

Sounds like something is about to happen.

That something is the US Congress. According to reports the US Congress will revisit the IP issue in Thailand this year. With the US Congress' current mood particularly with regard to foreign trade coupled with the pressure of IP owners whose copyrights and patents have been freely violated, the US Congress may initiate trade sanctions against Thailand. The raid was likely done in support of a letter sent to the US saying Thailand was making great progress in fixing the problem. Now if more raids occur and raids on Pantip Plaza and other malls begin to yield more than 1 arrest Thailand may be able to make a case. However, a letter and a single major raid will likely be looked at as mere window dressing in a attempt to avoid sanctions. The IP owners get their imformation from more than newspaper accounts despite what some ay think here. I have no doubt they have sent investigators posing as shoppers into Pantip and other locations to purchase contraband. Thailand's claim of ernest efforts to stop IP theft won't wash unless more is done.

Edited April 26, 2007 by ChiangMaiAmerican

[Jai Dee]

11 arrested in raid against CD piracy

National police chief General Seripisut Temiyavej led a raid by officers against piracy and arrested 11 piracy suspects, seizing more than 140,000 counterfeit CDs in three locations in Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay district yesterday.

Carrying a search warrant, Seripisut and Lt-Colonel Visut Vanichbutr of the economic and cyber-crime division led simultaneous raids at 7am on three houses.

In Tambon Wat Chalor, four suspects were arrested at the first location along with CD burners and 60,000 counterfeit CDs, while three more suspects were nabbed along with CD burners and 80,000 fake CDs at the second house.

In Tambon Bang Kruay, another four suspects were apprehended and a printing machine and some 100,000 counterfeit CD covers were seized.

The seized counterfeit CDs included music records and movies from Thai and foreign companies and a number of pornographic films.

Seripisut said the arrests - a crackdown on the biggest CD piracy network - were part of police policy to eradicate counterfeit CDs and pornographic media in Thailand. He gave importance to the issue following patent-breaching complaints filed by Thai artists and producers.

Police would extend the arrests to other network members, as none of those arrested had admitted to owning the three houses, saying they were just employees, he said. Producing and distributing counterfeit CDs is punishable by two years in jail and/or up to a Bt400,000 fine.

Deputy Prime Minister and Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham, who also joined the raids, said counterfeit CDs posed a serious social problem as they could damage the economy and hurt business operators, while pornographic media caused problems among youths. Later yesterday at a meeting on safe media, he urged city officials to join forces in curbing pornographic media at eight areas in Greater Bangkok including Pantip Plaza, Silom, Khlong Thom, Ban Mor, Sear Rangsit Shopping Mall, Future Park Rangsit, Tawanna and Saphan Phut Night Market.

Source: The Nation - 26 April 2007

[steves_the_1]

140,000 cds where did they put the other 100,000 surely the total is 240,000 if

60,000+80,000+100,000=240,000

[AlexLah]

Still heaps of pirated DVDs available for 100 baht each (buy 8 get 2 free).

Peter

Seems you have been ripped off, ha ha ha!

I pay no more then 80 Baht

[bkkmadness]

Still heaps of pirated DVDs available for 100 baht each (buy 8 get 2 free).

Peter

Seems you have been ripped off, ha ha ha!

I pay no more then 80 Baht

And Peter buys 10 for 800 baht.

[ChiangMaiAmerican]

Are we expecting a VIP visit from overseas or something then?

Sounds like something is about to happen.

Still heaps of pirated DVDs available for 100 baht each (buy 8 get 2 free).

Peter

Here's your something. Thailand is already in trouble over piracy despite what the government says. An industry group including representatives of the software and motion picture industries is lobbying hard to have Thailand sanctioned though you will read little of it here. The drug dispute just added fuel to the fire.

Drug dispute could lead to trade trouble

US might downgrade Thailand on IP list

Washington is due to release its annual report on IP protection under the so-called Special 301 section of US trade law at 9 pm tonight Thailand time. Sources say that Thailand could be downgraded from the Watch List to the Priority Watch List (PWL) of IP violators.

AND

Under the Special 301 Act, Washington can take trade action or seek dispute settlements against countries on either the PWL or the WL. In practice, countries on the PWL are much more vulnerable.

A Commerce Ministry official said he was optimistic that the situation would not deteriorate further. He expressed hope that no trade action would be taken to remove GSP privileges, which would hurt about 20 key products.

''These products used up more than half of the total GSP privileges the country enjoyed from the US market last year,'' he said.

Full story here:

http://bangkokpost.com/Business/30Apr2007_biz23.php