Today I was in Fortune Town and I noticed all the Software stores were clearing their shelves and appeared to be closing down. I asked one of the clerks what was going on and he said, 'must close'. That didn't really tell me much. It could be that the same person owns most the shops and they are simply moving but I thought maybe there was some type of crackdown that might be taking place too. Anyone know if something like this is happening?

Perhaps it's due to the fact that by using bit torrent applications, anyone with HS internet access can download the same things they're downloading without having to go to the shop.

I read in one of the papers that due to the Asean Summit pirated software, etc will not be available

I was there 2 days ago and noticed the pirated stuff wasn't in full view. It was available if you looked on the very back shelves.

Some of the shops have been closed down due to crackdowns. However, there are a few around still. They take you into a back room where you can select stuff.

shops closed in mbk too yesterday that sell dvds. usually some shops stay open during the "police coming" but today everything is closed and shop keepers didnt hang around. i am sure it wont last long.

A phony crackdown as "Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai's planned visit to the United States" this month.

Thai Police are a joke.

Did you see the report on CNN last year where endangered species are being sold at JJ Market?

A raid was planned but the Police telegraphed their arrival.

The shops closed temporarily.

Posts have been removed for "suggesting" new ways to sell "pirated" movies and software which is "illegal" and therefore contrary to Thai Visa forum rules.

Please keep it to observations/news reports only thank-you.

A phony crackdown as "Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai's planned visit to the United States" this month.

Thai Police are a joke.

Did you see the report on CNN last year where endangered species are being sold at JJ Market?

A raid was planned but the Police telegraphed their arrival.

The shops closed temporarily.

a close freind of mine was a part of that raid and the news story was, if not fabricated, somewhat creatively edited and presented.

Jeff corwin had scheduling problems and did not arrive in Bangkok on time for the weekend, so the raid on the weekend market actually occurred on a tuesday afternoon. CNN completely misrepresented the story to make ythe thai police look much more inept than was actually the case. It was highly unlikely that the vendors were there to close their shops in the first place.

Police raid Pantip Plaza on New Petchburi road on Friday and confiscated about 50,000 pirated VCDs and DVDs. Two suspects were arrested and charged during the raid.

from todays online issue of "The Nation" Front page - breaking News......

link:

Today I was in Fortune Town and I noticed all the Software stores were clearing their shelves and appeared to be closing down. I asked one of the clerks what was going on and he said, 'must close'. That didn't really tell me much. It could be that the same person owns most the shops and they are simply moving but I thought maybe there was some type of crackdown that might be taking place too. Anyone know if something like this is happening?

It happens periodically.