Software pirates in the crosshairs

State crackdown to use money laundering law

Published: 19 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

The government plans to cut Thailand's software piracy level to 68% this year in a bid to persuade the United States to remove the country from its Priority Watch List (PWL) of the most serious intellectual property rights (IPR) violators.

The US has put Thailand on its PWL every year since 2007.

The list carries no threat of sanctions but is aimed at shaming governments into fighting piracy and updating copyright laws.

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HowIWish
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Discussion 15 : 19 Jan 2013 at 21.0615
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While all the tourist shopping places have dvd and software stalls selling for 80 - 150 baht you can't stamp it out. Tourist love buying a cheap copy to take home instead of buying the original back home. Thailand isn't the only country selling pirated software, not a country I've been too that you can't buy pirated software. Hopefully the authorities can reduce the business though, but I doubt it.
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bmanak

Discussion 14 : 19 Jan 2013 at 16.3214
Well you know what the Thai Copyright law is, right? "If you 're going to copy, make sure you copy right!" LOL
from iPhone application.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 13 : 19 Jan 2013 at 14.2013
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Obviously this is not going to happen in Thailand. But just assume for a moment people would have to use original software. What would happen?
Currently original software is basically only used by international (connected) companies – because they would not stay in business if they would work the typical Thai way.
The number of local companies and private people who use original software is very limited. In my experience maybe 10% use original SW - maybe.
Would the other 90% use the same SW if they have to pay for it? I don’t think so. I bet most of them would use free SW like Linux, Open Office, etc. Who would pay 50,000B for the basi
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dickemery
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Discussion 12 : 19 Jan 2013 at 13.2412
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saying and doing,are two different words,just wishfull thinking,no more than a publicity stunt,to try a make this regime accountable,l think not
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soltair
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Discussion 11 : 19 Jan 2013 at 13.0511
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geoffo #3, Indeed, This is the umpteen't "we are going to do something about pirate software" in umpteen years I am aware of. Oh wait this new cop in BKK (if ever) is going to start this right?
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DonAleman
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Discussion 10 : 19 Jan 2013 at 12.0710
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Well at least the government has put a figure on it - 68 % theft is an admirable goal !
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dao
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Discussion 9 : 19 Jan 2013 at 11.549
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The authorities could clamp down on copy software anytime they decided to .Monthly pay offs is why they dont .Ask your self what kind of message it sends that the most common things for sale on Sukhumvit are dildos and Viagra ?
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rebel4ever
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Discussion 8 : 19 Jan 2013 at 11.488
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Intellectual Property Right means the Right to Copy....right? So, that what Thais are doing...thus no problem.
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SteveCM
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Discussion 7 : 19 Jan 2013 at 11.457
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barryw (#6) - I assume the same happens in BKK (& elsewhere) as here in Chiang Mai. On the day when there's a [cough] "surprise" raid, quite a few of the shops aren't open. The raid takes its course - some stock gets confiscated, fines (presumably) get imposed..... and the next day the temporarily closed shops open for business as usual. Quite a coincidence.....
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barryw
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Discussion 6 : 19 Jan 2013 at 11.116
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The government's aim is to have the software market consisting of 68 percent pirated material, and they expect that to satisfy the US? There is a simple way to reduce it to less than 10 percent, which is to arrest the sellers and producers and close down the stores that sell it. Start at Pantip and MBK. It really isn't difficult to track the pirates if there is a will. Instead, I often see police chatting and laughing with the vendors. Singapore and Dubai got rid of it, why not Thailand? Well, we know why. As for downloading material, that is impossible to stop, anywhere.
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