Group Pushes For Thailand's Inclusion In List Of World's Worst Ip Violators

[Locationthailand]

What's next? A crackdown on the 'hub of IP theft'. Anyone here who denies having taken a DVD or software CD or DVD to their own advantage would be lying. The payoffs from this are enormous and taking down Panthip, Patpong, IT Malls. Rangsit et al and ongoing, is just never going to happen. The ritual of busting a few heads (read - removing competition) will happen annually as always but in reality, IP is very hard to protect and even harder to claim against unless you are silly enough to engage lawyers who are probably using bogus software to raise your case!

[FarangTalk]

IP theft against anything locally made or recorded is usually met with harsh punishment. It's that old hypocrisy raising its head again.

Anything made or produced in the West seems to be fair game.

Try and sell some copied Thai pop CDs and see what happens.

[Andre0720]

Watch out for a steam roller crushing a few DVDs in the not too distant future.

Someone once told me that the first word a Thai child learns is "copy" actually I believe the first word they learn is "cheat"

What a pathetic and stupid statement!

Perhaps it is so.

But I believe the first words they learn is 'Mai pben rai', and ''I am not responsible for that''.

I do believe that...

[Briandajew]

According to the other paper they require to do a full audit and replacement of pirated software in all government offices to be even considered for removal. Other criteria that need to be met include declaring piracy as organised crime and making landlords responsible if tenants sell pirated goods.

They can seize and destroy all the copied DVDs and watches they want; it has been clearly outlined what is required and so far no significant effort has been made to address these issues.

It isn't that long ago that the Thai Government Ministers were using Hotmail addresses.............smart eh? I have to admit, I am in no way in favour of supporting Hollywood and their foul ilk in setting out their Draconian copyright legislation - Long Live The Pirate Bay and all who sail in her! These idiots keep quoting the billions of dollars that they say are lost to pirates every year, simple fact, the money is not lost, as the people that use the pirate copies would in most cases have absolutely no intention of paying their ridiculous prices for their overpriced goods.

Take Adobe - how many people in Thailand could afford to fork out almost 1000 USD for some of their software? Seriously? - It gets hacked, people use it, even if it was 100 dollars a pop, it is still out of the reach of a lot of people. Most of the people I know use pirate copies of Adobe Photoshop or similar, they just use it to mess around with their photos as a bit of fun, they aren't graphic artists or proffesionals, they wouldn't dream of paying Adobes prices. If Adobe and all of these other whining conglomerates cannot make their products "Hack Proof" then that is their problem. These days it seems that even if you buy a legitimate DVD video or software, they only license you to use it on one machine, they try to stop you making a backup, you basically seem to own only the 5 Baht DVD Blank that they put their material onto - the content is NEVER YOURS!

[mightyharriss]

The next move will be for Thai police to stop people after they have purchased a copied item and then fine them 5000 baht anyway, the police will be selective, save face, and let the crimes continue at their will

[Andre0720]

"The best way to start would be to include a real copy with all new laptops and pc bought , like they do in the uk .. As no new computer bought in thailand comes with software"

That may be true for unbranded machines, but I bought a BenQ notebook from (Lotus) Tesco with an OEM authorised version of Windows.

I bought this ASUS laptop from BigC three months ago. I had to pay B3,000 for an authorized version of Windows and B2,000 for an authorized version of MS Office. Should have checked out Lotus but maybe the price would have been higher with the SW installed.

In poorer countries, Thailand, Algeria for example, copies are the norm. And there is no fear of consequences...

Some 15 years ago, software copies were used on computers in government offices. That was resolved. Fear got around.

But in these poorer contries, where consequences of using non-genuine software are non-existant (up to now), after installing a small program, there is just no difference between genuine and non-genuine.

But fear motivates some people to send a bit more money to Bill Gates and the likes... The computer I have here, not sure if the operating system is genuine or not.

In my country, I do have a genuine operating system. And I do not go through red lights and I follow the speed limits as well....

[saroq]

What exactly do they mean by "IP violators"?

Is it that a lot of people are downloading, or is it because of servers in Thailand storing and making available pirate warez on the net?

To me that is an extremely stupid headline. There are multitudes more warez servers around the world than Thailand would ever be able to host.

The article reads Internet Protocol violation and not about product available on the street................

Copy? Right!.....................

it's about intellectual property and although many of the violations occur on the WEB it includes those items sold on the street in such large number that the legitimate market is swamped by them. Thai violation of IP is open, brazen and so prolific that it requires a change in attitude according to the International Intellectual Property Alliance. China would also be on the list but the Chinese just ignore what anyone says and do as they please.

[geriatrickid]

Is "US-based intellectual ..." the oxymoron of the day ?

Have they arrested George Bush (and Blair) for war crimes yet ? There are more important things in life thn violation of copyrights.

When you can make a case to support your allegation, go ahead and bring the charges.

You demonstrate ignorance when you dismiss the importance of the theft of intellectual property. You are of the view that theft is not important. Ok then, don't complain when a burglar steals from you, because you say theft is ok.

When you become ill and need the benefit of medication or medical devices not available in Thailand, because of Thailand's lack of respect for property rights, please come back and comment again. Thing is, you will probably be on a plane to some place where you can access the drugs and equipment.

people that invest the time and money into the creation of new ideas, products and processes have a right to be paid for their creations. Perhaps in your utopian marxist world, such assets belong to the masses that do not contribute. Fine. Unfortunately for you, the people doing the work disagree.

[vijer]

In order to be removed from such a watch list it would be necessary for the government to do something, anything, about the open-air IP piracy shops all over town including some of the large malls. Of course, nothing whatsoever has been done about them...business is too good.

Thats because they are not being operated by farang without a work permit. And of course you could probably go to any BiB's house and find a huge collection of illegal stuff, DVD's, watches, drugs, guns, etc

[brfsa2]

In Thailand, Buying an original DVD or blueray movie is quite expensive, going to the theather is also expensive (compared to thailand income), you can't rent good movies either, they are all VCD in thai...

You cannot buy or watch online with sites like netflix or apple store.

Not only in Thailand but most of the 3rd world countries this discrimination occurs.

The US make it so hard for others to reach the content, yet they make all this big deal with IP violations and try to sue everyone.

If I could easily pay a reasonable price to watch a good movie and have access without discrimination to copyrighted material, I would be happy to do so.

until then everything I get from thepiratebay.se

BTW, you people should watch the new Piratebay movie. it's not bad.

https://thepiratebay.se/search/tpb%20afk/0/99/0

[brfsa2]

Is "US-based intellectual ..." the oxymoron of the day ?

Have they arrested George Bush (and Blair) for war crimes yet ? There are more important things in life thn violation of copyrights.

Well Said!!

why not worry about the war crimes committed every day by the US government and Obama?

All this hollywood bs is a distraction for the real issues... Wake up!!

why you don't see news that Israel has attacked Syria and sponsoring a war in the middle east ?

why you don't see in the news that everyday a Drone is launched to kill many innocents in the middle east? Signed by Obama war criminal...

because everyone is just so busy with their entertainment and facebook...

wake up people, you are being brain washed.

[Ian Curtis]

Too many pieces of the big pie will be taken away if complete banning ip is enforced.

How can the BiB expect to get there 1 million bhat member fee back with actual real Police work?

And lets face it that its one of the pulls of Thailand cheap contraband.

I have 1 question thought and please answer as this is not Thai bashing its just a question.....How many percentage of police officers in this country have never taken a bribe?

Having given this question lots of thought, I seem to be concluding that 'zero' would be a very close approximation

[Andre0720]

Is "US-based intellectual ..." the oxymoron of the day ?

Have they arrested George Bush (and Blair) for war crimes yet ? There are more important things in life thn violation of copyrights.

When you can make a case to support your allegation, go ahead and bring the charges.

You demonstrate ignorance when you dismiss the importance of the theft of intellectual property. You are of the view that theft is not important. Ok then, don't complain when a burglar steals from you, because you say theft is ok.

When you become ill and need the benefit of medication or medical devices not available in Thailand, because of Thailand's lack of respect for property rights, please come back and comment again. Thing is, you will probably be on a plane to some place where you can access the drugs and equipment.

people that invest the time and money into the creation of new ideas, products and processes have a right to be paid for their creations. Perhaps in your utopian marxist world, such assets belong to the masses that do not contribute. Fine. Unfortunately for you, the people doing the work disagree.

If you think that some people are not being paid for their creation, well check around the cars they are driving, and the mansions they are living in.. And do check also how much taxes they are paying...

Because these same people are not checking around how many people are starving....

[shunima]

According to the other paper they require to do a full audit and replacement of pirated software in all government offices to be even considered for removal. Other criteria that need to be met include declaring piracy as organised crime and making landlords responsible if tenants sell pirated goods.

They can seize and destroy all the copied DVDs and watches they want; it has been clearly outlined what is required and so far no significant effort has been made to address these issues.

True , and how difficult is it to buy an original copy of windows ? And why would most people when it is 100 thb for a copy or 5000 thb for a real version ?

The best way to start would be to include a real copy with all new laptops and pc bought , like they do in the uk .. As no new computer bought in thailand comes with software

I pay 5000 to get the updates that iron out most of the bugs and backdoors that will pop up in future times. And... Go to an IT Mall, plenty of computers with pre-installeg genuine Windows. Just stop looking at the very cheap end of each model. Finally... I buy 'naked' machines (Dell and the likes) in bulk in Europe as our company has its own licenses. It's up to the consumer and with that to education to understand and value a product.

[Foggy Bottom]

Wow - 44 posts and no-one mentioned the dual pricing in the OP's photo?

You're slipping guys. It was the first thing I noticed - $100 for 7 pirate VCD's ... must have been photographed in Phuket or Bangkok?

[cup-O-coffee]

This is really pointless. IP violations (yeah right) and the argument about the certainty of its meaning and letter of law is like a many headed hydra. No matter how many heads you lop off, more will grow. There really is no place to begin to lay blame. Putting a price tag on an idea and creation that gets distributed on the Internet, whereas that distribution grows exponentially, is going to be flat out impossible to curtail and keep track of regarding "violators". The USA cannot tell other countries to tidy up their act just because the USA is anal retentive and suffers from extreme OCD and has every t crossed and i dotted on its citizens and their personal lives.

You cannot lay any blame on Thailand or anyone else, or expect everyone to erase their hard drives and buy new ones just to make a very very few people able to sleep at night. Different countries; different cultures and different interpretations of what is acceptable and unacceptable, as well as priorities will make any enforcement of an already inundated system of illegally gained copyrighted materials absolutely meaningless and lead to no end.

You can draw borders on a map and keep people in or out and ID them and require them to ask how far when you say "jump", or just kill them or imprison them in the process, but you can't do that in the ether. I think that the whole point is that the USA is buggered over the fact that there exists something it cannot control, monitor and manipulate, and it eats away at the government. It galls them to no end that they cannot shove a probe up everyone's ass and know what they are thinking.

So, in principle it may be wrong to a few million, but in reality we are all guilty of this crime in some way or form at one time or another. It's time to move on and tell the USA to shove this issue where the Sun doesn't shine. Were I Thailand, I would do so.

[surangw]

IP theft against anything locally made or recorded is usually met with harsh punishment. It's that old hypocrisy raising its head again.

Anything made or produced in the West seems to be fair game.

Try and sell some copied Thai pop CDs and see what happens.

No need to, just copy from youtube to your favorite device

[davidrkw]

Everyone knows where to go to buy pirated movies and software but I have noticed that the originals are readily available also, often side by side with the copies. There is a mall in Pattaya where this can be observed. Problem is the copy is B400 and the original is B8000+, using Windows 7 as an example.

[Bluespunk]

Deleted

[asiamaster]

What you mean we not copyright?? We not copy wrong -we copy right!!!!

[Ned]

Love my counterfeit goodies and software. Not too keen on fake medicines or aircraft spare parts though. Such is life.

[dominique355]

Is "US-based intellectual ..." the oxymoron of the day ?

Have they arrested George Bush (and Blair) for war crimes yet ? There are more important things in life thn violation of copyrights.

Well, if you were an artist and making works of art protected under the copyright laws and you would see how millions of people copy your work and use it for free and their government just watches idly, you might think differently, because it is your property and income that is stolen.

[Soupdragon]

"The best way to start would be to include a real copy with all new laptops and pc bought , like they do in the uk .. As no new computer bought in thailand comes with software"

That may be true for unbranded machines, but I bought a BenQ notebook from (Lotus) Tesco with an OEM authorised version of Windows.

I bought a higher end Toshiba laptop from one of Thailands biggest electrical retailers. I chose the machine that came without an OS as I already have a genuine copy of windows 7.

Out of curiosity I asked if the retailers could supply genuine software only to be told they that they only have pirate copies which they would install for 100 baht. They couldn't even tell me where I could buy genuine software.

[davejones]

Is "US-based intellectual ..." the oxymoron of the day ?

Have they arrested George Bush (and Blair) for war crimes yet ? There are more important things in life thn violation of copyrights.

When you can make a case to support your allegation, go ahead and bring the charges.

You demonstrate ignorance when you dismiss the importance of the theft of intellectual property. You are of the view that theft is not important. Ok then, don't complain when a burglar steals from you, because you say theft is ok.

When you become ill and need the benefit of medication or medical devices not available in Thailand, because of Thailand's lack of respect for property rights, please come back and comment again. Thing is, you will probably be on a plane to some place where you can access the drugs and equipment.

people that invest the time and money into the creation of new ideas, products and processes have a right to be paid for their creations. Perhaps in your utopian marxist world, such assets belong to the masses that do not contribute. Fine. Unfortunately for you, the people doing the work disagree.

Don't know what Marxism has to do with it. Are you saying that every time the USA creates a new law, that the world should follow. People from poor countries don't have to obey USA laws. The USA doesn't rule the world, although they like to think they do. Poor people earning $100 a month can't afford a genuine copy of Windows, a new expensive CD, etc. I'm not saying theft is the way to go, but what do you do if you're extremely poor? I know what I'd do. It wouldn't be right, but my needs would come ahead of a rich corporation. I don't have anything against big corporations in general, but some of the abuse their positions of power so much that they deserve all the get as far as I'm concerned. Just look at Apple, Amazon. You buy a digital product from them and you can't even leave to your kids when you die, because it's only licensed to you. How screwed up is that? If they treat paying customers that badly, then I don't really care about them. I don't have much money, but even I give more to poor people than some corporation with billions in the bank. Not about socialism, or anything like that. Just about caring for a fellow human being. If Thais want to steal from the corporations, I don't really care. Good on the Thais I say.

And it's complete crap that it loses the corporations money, because if the poor people that steal their software didn't steal it, they certainly wouldn't buy it, so nothing is lost. In fact more is gained, as when the country gets more affluent, people are more likely to buy the products. So don't know what the big corps are really complaining about.

And don't know what you're getting so upset about.

[Thai at Heart]

What's next? A crackdown on the 'hub of IP theft'. Anyone here who denies having taken a DVD or software CD or DVD to their own advantage would be lying. The payoffs from this are enormous and taking down Panthip, Patpong, IT Malls. Rangsit et al and ongoing, is just never going to happen. The ritual of busting a few heads (read - removing competition) will happen annually as always but in reality, IP is very hard to protect and even harder to claim against unless you are silly enough to engage lawyers who are probably using bogus software to raise your case!

I think you might be just underestimating where this may lead.

There was a Thai company recently punished in the usa for supplying goods, whilst having unlicensed software on it's systems. They are on the labor watch list already, await companies having to prove that ALL their software is kosha if they want to deal with the USA.

Then, force the main suppliers to check their suppliers.

[cup-O-coffee]

Here is a sample of an Intellectual Property Rights Statement for a website, but after researching a few other items, I found this statement fairly accurate throughout for all items and services.

All materials contained in this Website are protected by copyright laws, and may not be reproduced, republished, distributed, transmitted, displayed, broadcast or otherwise exploited in any manner without the express prior written permission of ***. You may download material (one copy per page) from this Website for your personal and non-commercial use only, without altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from such material.

This statement pretty much covers all grounds which make each and every one of us consumers guilty of an intellectual property violation at one time or another.

Anything we buy and tamper with is a violation. Anything we replace a non-OEM part with is a violation. Any second hand computer we purchase with the hardware already installed on it is a violation. Anything we have and sell for a profit, loan to a friend or give away as charity without compensation or the express prior written consent of the manufacturer is a violation.

On a side note where there is a great degree of risk in using the product or service, I find it curious that each of these manufacturers corporate scum will drag a victim and his or her family (who purchased and used of one of their faulty products or services) through a long drawn out class-action or individual court case, and years of appeals before they will admit to or provide compensation for their faulty product or service.

The great lengths and the sheer lies and deceit and threats which manufacturers and corporations go to exonerate themselves from any responsibility or blame from a faulty product or service is as ignorant and as stupid as their whining and complaining about what we do with their product or service.

At the end of the day it gets to the point of such minute hair-splitting that there is no extent at how far these cry-babies can take this.

So here's the deal. It's mine. I'll do with it as I want and I'll use my senses about it. And if I want something and it is made available to me whether through auction, free gratis, loan or what have you, I will make every endeavor to obtain it. If asked whether or not I give a dam_n about the manufacturer or (as geriatrickid stated) "the people doing the work" I will emphatically tell anyone I do not give a dam_n.

We are all guilty of violating intellectual property rights laws. I submit that were we to go through their personal belongings, then it would not be difficult to turn up intellectual property rights violations on every corporate manager, CEO or "the people doing the work". Regarding "the people doing the work": do you mean the slave laborers and cheap-for-hire third-world laborers who have displaced the intellectual workers who are in the unemployment line and cannot afford the prices to get something they, themselves, used to make?

What a bunch of chumps. When one stands back and looks at how anal retentive the USA has become it is enough to make one unable to decide whether to laugh, cry or shit their pants.

[FarangTalk]

For all of you thinking that buying copied CDs and DVDs in Panthip isn't a problem, think again.

Some of those same 'harmless' sellers also retail child pornography, often quite openly, and have no qualms about doing so. It has been offered to me in Panthip on two separate occasions, after having refused their initial offers of 'porno' and 'DVD, game, software mister'.

If you are going to steal something, download it yourself, don't give money to these animals.

[cup-O-coffee]

For all of you thinking that buying copied CDs and DVDs in Panthip isn't a problem, think again.

Some of those same 'harmless' sellers also retail child pornography, often quite openly, and have no qualms about doing so. It has been offered to me in Panthip on two separate occasions, after having refused their initial offers of 'porno' and 'DVD, game, software mister'.

If you are going to steal something, download it yourself, don't give money to these animals.

A nice thought, and I agree, but is it really practical to object to buying something here in Thailand on the basis of Western or European morals and ethics?

One would be rendered unable to buy anything at all were that so; yes?

Edit: I did not see that last line of your post until after I had submitted. I apologize. I am a thief of the first degree in your view; and proud of it, so I guess you will probably disregard my post. Again, I apologize.

[davejones]

Here is a sample of an Intellectual Property Rights Statement for a website, but after researching a few other items, I found this statement fairly accurate throughout for all items and services.

All materials contained in this Website are protected by copyright laws, and may not be reproduced, republished, distributed, transmitted, displayed, broadcast or otherwise exploited in any manner without the express prior written permission of ***. You may download material (one copy per page) from this Website for your personal and non-commercial use only, without altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from such material.

This statement pretty much covers all grounds which make each and every one of us consumers guilty of an intellectual property violation at one time or another.

Anything we buy and tamper with is a violation. Anything we replace a non-OEM part with is a violation. Any second hand computer we purchase with the hardware already installed on it is a violation. Anything we have and sell for a profit, loan to a friend or give away as charity without compensation or the express prior written consent of the manufacturer is a violation.

On a side note where there is a great degree of risk in using the product or service, I find it curious that each of these manufacturers corporate scum will drag a victim and his or her family (who purchased and used of one of their faulty products or services) through a long drawn out class-action or individual court case, and years of appeals before they will admit to or provide compensation for their faulty product or service.

The great lengths and the sheer lies and deceit and threats which manufacturers and corporations go to exonerate themselves from any responsibility or blame from a faulty product or service is as ignorant and as stupid as their whining and complaining about what we do with their product or service.

At the end of the day it gets to the point of such minute hair-splitting that there is no extent at how far these cry-babies can take this.

So here's the deal. It's mine. I'll do with it as I want and I'll use my senses about it. And if I want something and it is made available to me whether through auction, free gratis, loan or what have you, I will make every endeavor to obtain it. If asked whether or not I give a dam_n about the manufacturer or (as geriatrickid stated) "the people doing the work" I will emphatically tell anyone I do not give a dam_n.

We are all guilty of violating intellectual property rights laws. I submit that were we to go through their personal belongings, then it would not be difficult to turn up intellectual property rights violations on every corporate manager, CEO or "the people doing the work". Regarding "the people doing the work": do you mean the slave laborers and cheap-for-hire third-world laborers who have displaced the intellectual workers who are in the unemployment line and cannot afford the prices to get something they, themselves, used to make?

What a bunch of chumps. When one stands back and looks at how anal retentive the USA has become it is enough to make one unable to decide whether to laugh, cry or shit their pants.

What you say isn't true. Just because someone puts a notice on their website doesn't make it the law. Many laws override some of the statements mentioned in your example above, so you wouldn't be breaking any law, and the company couldn't sue you. Just because a company says they will sue you doesn't mean that they have any hope of winning. Most of it is a complete nonsense aimed at frightening consumers.