Loei: Copycat Hello Kitty resort is technically legal, according to owner

[webfact]

Copycat Hello Kitty resort is technically legal, according to owner
By Coconuts Bangkok



LOEI: -- The owner of recently opened 'Kitty Resort Phu Ruea' in Loei province has responded to criticisms following a post on Pantip that captured what appeared to be a shoddy (and unauthorized) Hello Kitty-themed resort.

The badly-painted Hello Kitty faces on the landmark, partially furnished guestrooms, and cheap pink tiles were all shown in photos posted by a self-claimed resort guest on Saturday. As Pantip users left comments calling the resort sloppy and unfinished, the owner was forced to defend his Hello Kitty land from the catcalls.

"The photos posted and shared online were taken before the resort opened. I don't know whether the person who posted them sneaked into the resort and did this because of a political conflict or just that their businesses were affected by mine," Baowiw Maneejam, resort owner and former Pua Thai politician, said yesterday.

When asked if the resort violates copyrights, Baowiw dismissed the speculation. [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2015/01/05/copycat-hello-kitty-resort-technically-legal-according-owner


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-01-05

[HeijoshinCool]

And this guy was making decisions that would affect 65 million people.

[Baerboxer]

Why is it somehow not surprising to see he is a former PTP politician?

[klauskunkel]

And this guy was making decisions that would affect 65 million people.

This guy has a friend and colleague with a pink Bentley, he just wanted to be pinker

Edited January 6, 2015 by klauskunkel

[realenglish1]

Why does he think he is not in violation of Copy Write. He is clearly in violation

Eventually they will get him for violation

[bangon04]

Why does he think he is not in violation of Copy Write. He is clearly in violation

Eventually they will get him for violation

Who will get him? Even if the copyright owners launch a lawsuit, the Thai courts will tie it up in red tape and doubletalk for years and years to come...

The rich and connected in Thailand do not face any real punishment for anything.

[soihok]

I think its cute.

Looks far from finished, but certainly different all the same.

[Oziex1]

From street thugs to rich well connected Thai's, Hello Kitty holds a strange fascination.

TIT

[JacChang]

Of course it's legal, as long as you are "Pua Thai" everything becomes legal.

[cookee68]

Why does he think he is not in violation of Copy Write. He is clearly in violation

Eventually they will get him for violation

Because stupid is what stupid does, Thailand lives of copy rights material, and they are proud of it,

[daiwill60]

And Thailand complains when Singapore wants to copy Son Kran , Get real !!

[Toknarok]

I see that Starbucks were successful in shutting down the coffee cart vendor who was infringing on their copyright. He of course was just a poor peasant trying to make a living. Whether a similar action against a more powerful entity would be successful is another matter.

Edited January 7, 2015 by Toknarok

[Tokay]

It would actually be a Trademark issue, not copyright. The Hello Kitty brand name and image are Trademarked. You Copyright a song, work of art, book, software, and so on. You Trademark a logo, image, brand. For example, if Hello Kitty had a song, they would Copyright that song. Or an actual cartoon of the Kitty would have a Copyright. But, the Hello Kitty brand name and logo (the kitty face) would be Trademarked.

However, that means nothing in Thailand. To be fair, that means nothing in a lot of Asia.