Executives of a Hong Kong-based television channel and its Thai partners have asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to tackle online piracy after their drama series and television shows were illegally streamed on many websites, causing about $15 million (478 million baht) in damages.
Desmond Chan Shu Hung, general manager of TVB International Co, Chaiyut Taweepworadej, CEO of MV Television (Thailand), and Adisak Limparungpatanakij, president of MVHub, which holds copyrights for TVB content in the country, on Friday met DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang to discuss measures to ease the problem.
They said TVB and MV TV had jointly operated subscription streaming services of TVB's drama series and television shows from Hong Kong and China. However, they found that TVB's series and shows had been illegally streamed somewhere else, with some websites collecting fees from viewers and some providing free services.
The Hong Kong-based television company wants the DSI to take drastic action against rampant piracy violations.
"Film piracy incurs damages worth about $15 million to TVB. As soon as the shows are broadcast in Hong Kong, they are illegally streamed via websites and applications. This is 100% piracy,'' said the TVB executive.
Mr Chaiyut said MV TV had invited TVB to expand its business in Thailand due to the rapid economic growth and good relations between Thailand and China. More than 10 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand each year. Crackdown operations on piracy would boost confidence among TVB and other foreign businesses, said MV TV's CEO.
Mr Adisak said DSI found that films and series were illegally streamed online by websites that operated online gambling and R-rated movies. These websites used TV series as a front for the gambling service in a bid to draw people to apply for membership.
Pol Col Paisit said the DSI would investigate the case. "The government has constantly cracked down on piracy but there are legal hurdles because many servers used in streaming pirated content are based abroad. After a website is shut down, they open a new one," he said.
The DSI planned to use the anti-money laundering law to trace money trails of those involved in piracy violations and confiscate their assets, said Pol Col Paisit.