Thai actress to file charges against an American author over 'hooker' book

[webfact]

Thai Celeb To File Charges Over 'Hooker' Book
By Khaosod English



A Thai actress has pledged to file criminal charges against an American author who put her face on a book about Thailand's sex industry, allegedly without her consent.

BANGKOK — A Thai actress has pledged to file criminal charges against an American author who put her face on a book about Thailand's sex industry, allegedly without her consent.

Usanee "Nok" Wattatana, who stars in many soap operas on the state-owned Channel 7, said she was deeply offended when she discovered a book on Amazon titled, "Thai Hookers 101 - What You MUST Know About SEX And Prostitutes Before Coming To Thailand," featuring her photo on its cover.

According to Ms. Usanee, the photo was from a set of fashion shoots she did for Mixx magazine several years ago, and she believes the author of the book must have found the photo in a Google search. Ms. Usanee said she was never contacted by the writer concerning his use of the photo.

The author identified himself on his Amazon profile as an American citizen called "Seven" who has been living on Thailand's Koh Samui Island since 2008.

"I am afraid that people who don't know me will misunderstand me," Ms. Usanee told reporters today. "Thais know well that I am not that type of woman, but foreigners on my Instagram may see the photo and wonder whether I am a prostitute."

Ms. Usanee said she bought the book out of curiosity, and that she is even more angry about the writer's attitude towards Thai women .

"I am not particularly angry by the photo on the cover, because this is not the first time my photo has been abused for commercial purpose. What angers me a lot is the text on the cover and the contents of the book which greatly insult Thai women," the celebrity said.

"Some sentences simply say, 'You don't need to look good or have a lot of money, but you can still find Thai women to sleep with you'" said Ms. Usanee.

She added that her legal representatives will meet with police on 8 May to pursue criminal charges against "Seven" under the Computer Crimes Act, which forbids the dissemination of false information on the internet. The charge carries both fines and prison terms.

"The senior executives told me they will try to persuade the police to pursue this matter in the harshest way possible," Ms. Usanee said.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1399379253&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2014-05-07

[kurnell]

But I look great according to the girls in Cowboy (handsome man) so I am not one of the guys the writer is referring to.

[soundman]

If the author of the book has indeed used the photo without permission I hope the court throws the book at him.

[Payboy]

Thai Hookers 101 - What You MUST Know About SEX And Prostitutes Before Coming To Thailand

My bible.

[chooka]

"I am not particularly angry by the photo on the cover, because this is not the first time my photo has been abused for commercial purpose. What angers me a lot is the text on the cover and the contents of the book which greatly insult Thai women," the celebrity said.

So it is not the use of the photo but the book itself that angers her because it insults Thai women.

Well Miss Wattatana, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Thailand itself has been building the reputation of Thai women for decades. You can't blame the farangs for Thailand's reputation.

[daoyai]

The "author" is an idiot, he should have hired a "model" and gotten a signed release for the photo. I do find it funny that the sentence she cited as offensive stated,,," you don't have to look good or have a lot of money" the implication being that this is false (about her). pretty funny.

[JoeThePoster]

Always judge a book by its cover(girl). Looks like a good read, it does.

[NeverSure]

She's going to sell a lot of those books for that guy.

[yussiesamui]

She searched Amazon for a book about Thai hookers, and voilà....

[I Like Thai]

He's in serious trouble if he's still in Thailand.

[Ricardo]

Using a picture or design or flag without permission payment, case dismissed !

[retell]

Hmmm a person that gives himself a nickname , lives in thailand , likes to write and has little respect for thai people , must be one of the thaivisa members

Edited May 6, 2014 by retell

[noitom]

Odd that he would be so dimwitted to use a non authorized photo or not have a release. He could very easily have had a photo taken of virtually any Thai girl for a release and use contract and offer some small payment.

[Suriya4]

It is a fact that there are many more hookers in Thailand than most counties in the world. Thai people should learn to accept it and live with it.

Sex is cheap and plentiful here.

[Mrjlh]

Here's his "bio" and supposedly his picture.... http://www.amazon.com/Seven/e/B008BH0JM8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

[chooka]

Here's his "bio" and supposedly his picture.... http://www.amazon.com/Seven/e/B008BH0JM8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

and one of his facebook pages

https://www.facebook.com/godsofthailand

[Mrjlh]

Here's his "bio" and supposedly his picture.... http://www.amazon.com/Seven/e/B008BH0JM8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

and one of his facebook pages

https://www.facebook.com/godsofthailand

Wondering how many of those pictures are "Models" that gave a release or "didn't" give a release?

[virtualtraveller]

Sue the pants off him, as an American he should know better, the litigation in his own country would be crippling. In a country where face is important, seeing your image on the cover of a book about prostitution has got to be the biggest insult.

[rebelplatoon]

No matter what. This is just not done. Besides that I totally dislike these wise guys telling other people how to lure girls in whatever way. No dignity and thinking with the wrong 'head'. Little boys stuff.

[thesetat2013]

Seems she is unaware how easy it is for a foreigner to sex a thai girl regardless of looks or wealth. Maybe she should walk the beaches in pattaya at night and see what happens. Or go to the clubs where foreigners go to party. A thousand baht and a couple drinks is all a woman needs to br motivated to sex you. Seriously doubt she could win a criminal case for giving false info online but i have not read the book to know for sure. She should ask for her royalties for her pic and be happy.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[rubl]

Thai celeb, actress Usanee "Nok" Wattatana is also described as "beauty model" with sexy pictures in FHM magazine. Lots of bikini and 'red carpet' pictures.

Of course she means it when she says "What angers me a lot is the text on the cover and the contents of the book which greatly insult Thai women"

BTW I have nothing against 32 year old Soap stars, but they're hardly in the group of people I'd really like to meet.

[dukeandduke]

Shouldn't she sue the publisher? Am I missing where it says that it was self-published? It's possible, given how heavily sedated I am.

[culicine]

Thailand - the Hub in intellectual property violations. Must hurt now the shoe is on the wrong foot! Now to find the mysterious Mr Seven...

[h90]

If the author of the book has indeed used the photo without permission I hope the court throws the book at him.

I think what shock she must got when she first saw her picture on the hooker book....

[coma]

This guy is a massive D head. He makes my blood boil.And so do a few TV posters that are posting garbage like "how much does she charge " etc etc. Obviously he, and said TV posters are nothing more than whore mungers themselves. Maybe the author should put a photo of his other half on the cover. Or maybe his Mom.

[A1Str8]

It would be more helpful if the article told us how much Ms. Usanee charges.

For using her photo without her consent? Much I guess.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[jpeg]

Odd that he would be so dimwitted to use a non authorized photo or not have a release. He could very easily have had a photo taken of virtually any Thai girl for a release and use contract and offer some small payment.

'persuade police to prosecute in the harshest terms' [sic]

Wouldn't bother luv. I have a very beautiful Thai friend (an architect) who tried to sue for her pic being used without her permission. Got nowhere.

[ratcatcher]

This guy Seven has just received an enormous amount of free publicity for his books. Now, with his picture on the internet and being a resident of Samui, I imagine he will have to increase his security.

She may be a bimbo, but using her picture on such a book without permission is truly outrageous.

[pedro01]

I am on the side of this guy being an idiot.

His website for a start "Gods of Thailand" - that'll be gone soon.

As for the man himself - writing under the name "Kings of Thailand" - he'll either end up in Jail or deported very soon.

[Langsuan Man]

Let's hold off judgement on whether or not the author violated any copyright restrictions on the photo. She may have signed a release to the photographer who took the picture and the author may have paid the photographer for it's use

Don't you think that the Thai Girl in the above photo from Thai Love Links.com signed a release for her photo to be used in advertising for that web site, and if paid for, don't you think that the copyright holder could use it for another advertising program that she may or may not like. A release is a release

But you have to laugh at her naivety thinking that reporting something to the Thai police makes any difference in the rest of the world

Hey puff brains this is a civil problem, not a criminal one