Report Thai Restaurant Accuses Foreign Couple of Menu Theft for Copycat Plans

[kwak250]

1 hour ago, still kicking said:

Now I live in a city of 2 million, all Thai restaurants are empty but Chinese or Indian restaurants are packed why is this?

Because you live in India or China?

[2long]

Stealing the physical menu(s) is wrong, and a crime. That is for sure.

 

But a restaurant having cameras positioned like this, and posting the footage on public social media seems like a foolish strategy that could backfire on them legally. If they have filed a police report, why go to these lengths? Also, it could cause others to copy the copycats, if that makes sense.

 

And I'm unsure how someone's online payment record could lead to being found to be a restauranteur in another country. Something here smells wrong. I reckon there's more to this than we know.

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, 2long said:

Stealing the physical menu(s) is wrong, and a crime. That is for sure.

 

But a restaurant having cameras positioned like this, and posting the footage on public social media seems like a foolish strategy that could backfire on them legally. If they have filed a police report, why go to these lengths? Also, it could cause others to copy the copycats, if that makes sense.

 

What is wrong with such cameras in a public area ?...    in shopping malls, Airports, shops etc, there are security cameras everywhere, very few blind spots.

 

8 minutes ago, 2long said:

And I'm unsure how someone's online payment record could lead to being found to be a restauranteur in another country. Something here smells wrong. I reckon there's more to this than we know.

 

The Bill Payment contained the 'full name' and they were able to run a search - Facebook / LinkedIn and found them that way perhaps ???

 

 

[ikke1959]

Is there a proof that these people copycat the plans??? Are not all Thai dishes different of taste according to the cooks taste?? Tom Yam Kung, Som Tam  and many other dishes of which the recipes can be found everywhere on the internet??? So what is the problem?? They are stealing the menu chart.. so what?? Maybe the are collection menus....and did not have this one ... What a lot of problems about a piece of laminated paper

[KireB]

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

Who wants to eat crappy Thai food?

I love crappy Thai food. You don't?

[BKKKevin]

No Thai seems to mind that a business can use your payment information to track you down… 

[Cameroni]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

especially considering that their menu is readily available online as a downloadable PDF. This gesture underscores their belief that the theft was a deliberate attempt to infringe on the intellectual property rights of Kaithong Original.

 

How can it be IP theft, if the menu is freely downloadable online?

 

 

[RayC]

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

Now I live in a city of 2 million, all Thai restaurants are empty but Chinese or Indian restaurants are packed why is this?

 

The Chinese and Indian restaurants are open but all the Thai ones are closed😉

[2long]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

What is wrong with such cameras in a public area ?...    in shopping malls, Airports, shops etc, there are security cameras everywhere, very few blind spots.

 

 

The Bill Payment contained the 'full name' and they were able to run a search - Facebook / LinkedIn and found them that way perhaps ???

 

 

I'm all for CCTV but why have cameras directly above a table, facing down. For me, this is an invasion of privacy and (apart from cases like this) serves very little purpose in terms of security. the tops of peoples' heads look the same, and it could be seen to be perving down ladies' tops or into handbags.

 

I just feel there's more to this than the report suggests.

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, 2long said:

I'm all for CCTV but why have cameras directly above a table, facing down. For me, this is an invasion of privacy and (apart from cases like this) serves very little purpose in terms of security. the tops of peoples' heads look the same, and it could be seen to be perving down ladies' tops or into handbags.

 

I just feel there's more to this than the report suggests.

 

I see what you mean - its odd if thats just 'one camera pointing down at that table' with a narrow field of view.

I just assumed it was a crop from an image with a wider field of view.... which seems the most logical explanation.

 

i.e. Our security camera at home faces directly down at the bottom of the frame, and also out towards the car at the top of the frame...   I suspect restaurants such as this might have a couple at different sides of the restaurant to ensure full coverage.

[KhaoHom]

3 hours ago, still kicking said:

Who wants to eat crappy Thai food?

 

I love Thai food. At least 2 of 3 meals pd are Thai food

 

May you be banned from the nation. But you don't live here so never going to happen

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, BKKKevin said:

No Thai seems to mind that a business can use your payment information to track you down… 

 

Unless paying in cash...    All businesses have your name and can theoretically 'track you down'...   

 

.. whats the issue ?

[Cameroni]

6 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

 

 

Yeah, another totally irrelevant poster that doesn't live in Thailand.

 

I'm beginning to think that there are more users on this forum that live outside Thailand than live in the country

 

Aseannnow needs to change it's name yet again. Reddit is taken. Might I suggest babbit.com

 

Perfect for numpties

 

Why are you quoting me?

 

Everyone knows I live in Thailand.

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, kwak250 said:

3 hours ago, still kicking said:

Now I live in a city of 2 million, all Thai restaurants are empty but Chinese or Indian restaurants are packed why is this?

Because you live in India or China?

 

He's just making rubbish up... 

 

No city in Thailand has 2 Million people... 

 

Bangkok has way more and no other city is close to 2 million.

The next largest 'city' is Samut Prakan with ~400,000 / Chiang Mai has ~200,000... 

 

As for Thai restaurants being empty - thats the biggest load of hogwash I've read on this forum since the Anti-Vax and Flat earth threads.

 

[ukrules]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Very odd....  I don't see how they (the couple) can be seen as infringing on copyrights as the menu is online... 

 

Even if they were very dim and didn't know the PDF was online they could have simply took out the phone and made a high quality photo of each page.

 

This is nonsense.

There is only 1 question : How do they know they operate Thai restaurants abroad?

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

There is only 1 question : How do they know they operate Thai restaurants abroad?

 

 

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Unless paying in cash...    All businesses have your name and can theoretically 'track you down'...   

 

 

[Funkymover]

I would be more freaked about , why do they have cameras above the tables 

[Jethro27]

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo via Facebook/ ก่ทอง ออริจินัล - Kaithong Original

 

A foreign couple has landed in hot water after allegedly stealing two menu books from the renowned Kaithong Original restaurant in Bangkok's Central Embassy shopping mall. The incident, which occurred on 29 April, was brought to light when Kaithong shared CCTV snapshots on their official social media page detailing the alleged pilfering.

 

According to the footage, the man in a grey T-shirt was seen photographing menu items and tableware, while his female companion discreetly slipped two menu books into her bag. Further investigation by the restaurant staff, using payment details, unveiled that the man operates Thai restaurants in Indonesia under various brand names.

 

In response, Kaithong Original has lodged a police report and plans to pursue legal action. The restaurant expressed its dismay over the violation of professional ethics, emphasizing the seriousness of the act, especially considering that their menu is readily available online as a downloadable PDF. This gesture underscores their belief that the theft was a deliberate attempt to infringe on the intellectual property rights of Kaithong Original.

 

The incident sparked reactions on social media, with Thai netizens discussing the broader issue of imitation branding in Indonesia. One user highlighted similar infringements, noting "Multiple brands in Indonesia copied Thai brands, and ChaTraMue is one of them."

 

ChaTraMue, a well-known Thai tea manufacturer, reportedly deals with imitation issues abroad, illustrating a pervasive challenge for Thai brands in international markets.

 

Netizens reacted with a mix of ridicule and disbelief, with comments pointing out the futility of the theft given the menu's online availability. Others humorously speculated about the couple's next move, joking about the potential launch of 'Kai-ngen Original,' a play on words suggesting a knockoff brand as 'golden chicken' (Kaithong) becomes 'silver chicken' (Kai-ngen).

 

The incident has put a spotlight on intellectual property concerns in the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of respecting culinary creations and brand integrity across borders. Kaithong Original's firm stance serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against brand imitation and the measures businesses must take to protect their creative assets.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-05

 

 

The Chinese have been doing it for decades of all types of intellectual property so no big deal. Get over it.

[wavodavo]

20 hours ago, still kicking said:

Who wants to eat crappy Thai food?

OH !! , come on. They have probably got dozens more out the back. What's the problem ??

[hotchilli]

20 hours ago, kwak250 said:

That's like saying doing a ladyboy is the same as a women

Turn the lights off it comes a close second...

[Beerzy65]

20 hours ago, still kicking said:

Every dish taste the same

Rubbish comment. Quite untrue

[Cabradelmar]

Here is a novel idea... Just don't steal. Ffs. Tourist 🙄 

[john11k]

This restraunt can’t be doing very well , if they have to worry about two menus going missing !

I would be more concerned with a camera pointing directly down on me at my table ! 

[factual monk]

They didn't shamed the nationality of this couple... so I assume that they are Thai's or one of them is  Thai and running business in Indonesia 

[newbee2022]

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo via Facebook/ ก่ทอง ออริจินัล - Kaithong Original

 

A foreign couple has landed in hot water after allegedly stealing two menu books from the renowned Kaithong Original restaurant in Bangkok's Central Embassy shopping mall. The incident, which occurred on 29 April, was brought to light when Kaithong shared CCTV snapshots on their official social media page detailing the alleged pilfering.

 

According to the footage, the man in a grey T-shirt was seen photographing menu items and tableware, while his female companion discreetly slipped two menu books into her bag. Further investigation by the restaurant staff, using payment details, unveiled that the man operates Thai restaurants in Indonesia under various brand names.

 

In response, Kaithong Original has lodged a police report and plans to pursue legal action. The restaurant expressed its dismay over the violation of professional ethics, emphasizing the seriousness of the act, especially considering that their menu is readily available online as a downloadable PDF. This gesture underscores their belief that the theft was a deliberate attempt to infringe on the intellectual property rights of Kaithong Original.

 

The incident sparked reactions on social media, with Thai netizens discussing the broader issue of imitation branding in Indonesia. One user highlighted similar infringements, noting "Multiple brands in Indonesia copied Thai brands, and ChaTraMue is one of them."

 

ChaTraMue, a well-known Thai tea manufacturer, reportedly deals with imitation issues abroad, illustrating a pervasive challenge for Thai brands in international markets.

 

Netizens reacted with a mix of ridicule and disbelief, with comments pointing out the futility of the theft given the menu's online availability. Others humorously speculated about the couple's next move, joking about the potential launch of 'Kai-ngen Original,' a play on words suggesting a knockoff brand as 'golden chicken' (Kaithong) becomes 'silver chicken' (Kai-ngen).

 

The incident has put a spotlight on intellectual property concerns in the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of respecting culinary creations and brand integrity across borders. Kaithong Original's firm stance serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against brand imitation and the measures businesses must take to protect their creative assets.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-05

 

 

Stupid strange foreigners.

Why stealing???

Some photos would have been ok.

[ChaiyaTH]

This has to be some joke lol, Thais do nothing but copying others...

[Grumpy one]

21 hours ago, kwak250 said:

That's like saying doing a ladyboy is the same as a women

 

21 hours ago, kwak250 said:

That's like saying doing a ladyboy is the same as a women

Don't know and 100 % DON'T want to find out

[kuzmabruk]

21 hours ago, still kicking said:

Every dish taste the same

What a sad life you must be living.   Married a farmer and living in a village eating raw beef with chilies.   555.    Up your game and venture out to a neighbor’s house and maybe try some raw pork. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

The restaurant's online menu states they cook their fish from live. I can't imagine they have a huge tank containing marine fish such as pomfret and king mackerel at each branch.

[newbee2022]

22 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Many people in the World want to eat Thai food .

Its in the top ten of World cuisines 

No, @still kicking mentioned "crappy" Thai food. And everybody will agree. Nobody likes CRAPPY Thai food but delicious Thai food. But sometimes the chef gets a bad day.