English ex-pat caught selling copy DVD movies

PATTAYA:-- Investigators at the Economic and Cyber Crime Division of the Royal Thai Police were recently made aware of an advertisement running in a Pattaya English Language Newspaper which was offering copies of popular movies and UK TV Series.

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2010-03-30

Must be on the list of jobs Farrang can't do

enterprising gent supplementing his retirement income. I reckon the tea money wasn't paid last month

Thees turkeys never sece to amaze me.

I've seen adverts like these for a long time now. It's amazing that they choose to arrest this guy with all the piracy going on. Do they need to cooperation of each tv studio to prosecute this guy ? It would seem to be a civil offence to me.

I know in the past when I've watched documentaries on British TV about the England football kit being ripped off in Thailand they raided a factory which was making football shirts for many different teams, but only the Umbro branded ones were confiscated as only Umbro were making a complaint. They were working away in the background making more football shirts while the raid was happening, didn't seem to be a problem.

A certain advert for these DVD's has been running in the paper for years and years!!!

Yes the ad has been going a long time. It is illegal but hardly the crime of the century. I hope the guy doesn't have his life ruined over this.

Must be on the list of jobs Farrang can't do

LOL

This kind of supplementation of a persons income is going to become more and more prevalent, as the Pound (and other currencies) take a bit of a hammering, like has been seen these past few months.

Penkoprod

Hmmmm guess the BIB havent been to TUKOM?

Might have to contemplate doing a "Reggie Perrin"

(Think that DVD is shown on picture 5)

I reckon the tea money wasn't paid last month

No, I doubt if it's that, more likely some of the local "dealers in quality entertainment material" got p1ssed off by either being undercut or being blown out on quality by this guy.

There's a few like him dotted around the town wide open for a sting operation involving the BiB and another farang ready to grass up anybody for a few hundred Baht.

I know in the past when I've watched documentaries on British TV about the England football kit being ripped off in Thailand they raided a factory which was making football shirts for many different teams, but only the Umbro branded ones were confiscated as only Umbro were making a complaint. They were working away in the background making more football shirts while the raid was happening, didn't seem to be a problem.

The only illegal thing he was doing according to Thai law was working on a retirement extension and without a permit. It would be up to each copyrighted label to prosecute him for copyright violations which is a civil matter between the seller and the label owners.

This arrest merely provided the drama the police really enjoy here...making a big deal about nothing. In the meanwhile there are thousands of copyright violations going on all over town under their noses. No one cares unless a copyright owner makes a complaint.

He's been advertising in the Pattaya Mail for at least nine years. Always says 'Fools and Horses' etc.

Never had a bad DVD from that advertisement, great price too, anyone know any other contacts

Never had a bad DVD from that advertisement, great price too, anyone know any other contacts

Recommendation is said to be the "Best form of Advertising"! lol On a plus Tackelec in Burma is the best place to buy DVD's etc...Nice day out too..........

Thees turkeys never sece to amaze me.

Neither does the English posted here on TV

Never had a bad DVD from that advertisement, great price too, anyone know any other contacts

There is another bloke who advertises in the Pattaya Trader.

Yes the ad has been going a long time. It is illegal but hardly the crime of the century. I hope the guy doesn't have his life ruined over this.

What counts as "ruined"? In his country of origin he might face imprisonment for this crime, though likely a suspended term in the case of a first conviction.

Must be on the list of jobs Farrang can't do

Precisely, or he forgot to make a visit to the local police colonel first to discuss the tax rates.

It would be interesting to hear about a follow-up on this story.

I wonder whether his extensive DVD stock was confiscated or whether an agreed 'fine' was agreed down at the station?

Yes the ad has been going a long time. It is illegal but hardly the crime of the century. I hope the guy doesn't have his life ruined over this.

What counts as "ruined"? In his country of origin he might face imprisonment for this crime, though likely a suspended term in the case of a first conviction.

He might get deported for being a criminal. For many expats who are settled here and like it that way, that counts as ruined.

Yes the ad has been going a long time. It is illegal but hardly the crime of the century. I hope the guy doesn't have his life ruined over this.

What counts as "ruined"? In his country of origin he might face imprisonment for this crime, though likely a suspended term in the case of a first conviction.

He might get deported for being a criminal. For many expats who are settled here and like it that way, that counts as ruined.

I doubt that would happen for DVD copying. Plus Bob has a Thai wife and son.

Anyone know what happened to him. He is a nice guy.

How did the police lure him to the Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel with his inventory of DVDs? Is it possible they used a tourist police volunteer to offer to buy his stock?

I have known and sometimes dealt with this guy - I know its not the crime of the century but he was advertising with blatant disregard - actually I think the bigger crime may be that he was taking work away from a Thai.

His marketing skills went deeper than just advertising - for instance, previously he had been seen at the Royal British Legion on remembrance day trying to sell copies of The World at War etc. When he was busted I was tempted to go down to the nick and give him a copy of 'The Great Escape' - or perhaps 'The Sting' may have been more appropriate.

Dawson

I have known and sometimes dealt with this guy - I know its not the crime of the century but he was advertising with blatant disregard - actually I think the bigger crime may be that he was taking work away from a Thai.

His marketing skills went deeper than just advertising - for instance, previously he had been seen at the Royal British Legion on remembrance day trying to sell copies of The World at War etc. When he was busted I was tempted to go down to the nick and give him a copy of 'The Great Escape' - or perhaps 'The Sting' may have been more appropriate.

Dawson

Great story.

Well he is a Scouser!

Was anyone recording his Arrest, Maybe out on DVD soon ,

Yes the ad has been going a long time. It is illegal but hardly the crime of the century. I hope the guy doesn't have his life ruined over this.

What counts as "ruined"? In his country of origin he might face imprisonment for this crime, though likely a suspended term in the case of a first conviction.

He might get deported for being a criminal. For many expats who are settled here and like it that way, that counts as ruined.

I think that we can all agree - for an enforced return to UK, "ruined" is an expression inadequate to convey the true horror of the calamity. And if he's from Liverpool, doubly so.

Selling Copy DVD is illegal in Thailand... and most of us here including me are part of the problem by buying them. However the police are even guiltier by selectively enforcing the law - which can be very confusing. For example it is obvious that most of the DVD shop at Tuckom are selling copy DVDs out in the open why not start with them? All you have to do is go to the beach (Pattaya or Jomtien) not only you will see many copy DVD being sold there you'll see underage kids selling pornos?? Where are the police???