Software police target Phuket businesses

Phuket Gazette IT Manager Seubsak ('Big') Sahaworaphan.

PHUKET: -- As part of a nationwide investigation, Phuket businesses are being investigated closely by police for using illegal computer software.

A Gazette source said a 'high profile' property investment firm was raided earlier this week.

Police are said to have seized hardware and software, all allegedly unlicensed. The company was given a million baht fine, the source said.

Following news of the raid, a number of Phuket businesses reportedly closed for the day.

Colonel Sarayuth Pooltanya, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police Economic and Cyber Crimes Division (ECD), said late last month that "all businesses will have to ensure that they are compliant with the Thai Copyright Act."

"Major efforts" to target companies using pirated software began on October 26, he said.

A list of 1,000 suspect companies nationwide compiled by the ECD has been based on tips, some anonymous. These are typically from sources within the target companies.

Leads are also being shared by the Business Software Alliance, which runs a toll-free hotline and website for informants to report on the use of pirated and unlicensed business software.

In recent months, the ECD has stepped up enforcement of intellectual property rights in respect of software.

August marked one of the ECD's most successful months, with 15 substantial raids netting 54.5 million baht's worth of allegedly non-copyright software.

The raided companies came from a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, real estate, automobiles, shipping, design and engineering.

Phuket Gazette IT Manager Seubsak Sahaworaphan said businesses should perform regular checks to make sure employees are not downloading illegal software.

“We use a software checking device called System Hound which is installed in all our computers and has a centralized network control point,” he said.

“The system performs regular checks on all of our computers and makes sure all licenses are up to date,” he said.

It was not reported if or when the probe would be expanded to include computer companies that load up hard drives with illegal software when selling new machines to customers.


-- Phuket Gazette & The Nation 2009-11-05

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This is going to be a nice little earner. I am aware that they are out and about in Bangkok as well. I know one biz owner who had to change all of their software, they had been warned though that they would be getting a visit in advance.

what a joke.

bust the companies paying taxes and employing tax paying staff, and let all the other filth slide.

Happening in Chiang mai too apparently. What do these guys do when they are not having a crack down I wonder ?

If they are not having a crackdown, they are normally creating a hub.

But the outfits in Pantip SELLING all that illegal software will be allowed to continue to do so, - keeping the supply going so to speak.

It's time for a crackdown on the crackdown....That would help on everything 4 sure

So what shit happens, besides i'm sure you your self did some illigal downloads in your time or ?

Thailand is the crackdown hub of Asia didn't you know ,

I'd have to agree. Buy a PC in pantip etc etc, you'll get it pre-installed with windows, office, photoshop etc.

Why have a go at the guys who don't know the details like this - A PC is supposed to come with Windows XP right? They all do?

......

Stop the duplication plants, give amnesty's with a good window - not a quick earner.

./P

Unlicensed hardware ???

all part of the western world promising to help Thailand modernize providing it takes active steps to stamp out unlicensed software. make the most of Thailand while you can. the western world won't be happy until all nations are harmonized into one huge generic blob.

And your point is...?

And I bet the 'property company' was owned and operated by a Farang! Also the -tip offs' would be the the anonymous competitors who are not doing so well. Of some I know who have been raided, they in fact had legal software and their computers have yet to be returned effectively putting them out of business. This all smacks of course - leave that to conjecture.

But of all the Thai companies I know, not one of them uses a legal copy of Microsoft or Adobe Applications. Why would they - MS is vile and unstable anyway - change to Mac which will also confuse the 'crackerjacks'.

The Police prostitution rings, the Police drug money rings, the Immigration Shake downs have all bottom out... so time for a new Police Scheme...

You often buy new computers with preloaded software. So if a customer buys a computer, how are they supposed to know that it was illegally installed and not an OEM licensed agreement to preload the software? What do you tell the police if they challenge it and it came preloaded on your computer?

They should target the schools and universities. I know at the one I taught at, every computer had pirated Windows and SPSS including the ones in the classrooms. The only legal software that I knew of was in my CPU in my office. The good part about my machine is everything worked and downloads were legal.

Topic aside, that's one bad-ass ER diagram in the headline picture

I think they are targeting businesses. It will be a while before they come knocking on your door at home.

Here another tip: Check the computers from the policemen involved in the crackdown too, the tip is not even anonymous (only losers do so). But if you are using software that is stolen, why pay the middleman? Either pay the developer or pay nothing get it from a torrent site.

hahaha .. some excellent postings .. let's call this THE AMAZING CRACKDOWN and the place where it's happening Amazing Crackdown Country - ACC

Absolutely! It's referred to as "selective" law enforcement.

"Thai Copyright Law".... that's hysterical! That's an oxymoron if there ever was one!

If they are not having a crackdown or normally creating a hub, then they are buying dodgy software at the IT mall or downloading porn as part of their 'research'.

I took the day off from work yesterday because of the rain and went in this morning and all the computers in the office where gone. i ask ..... and was told they hit all 3 offices on samui.... They said told the head person in the office that we could have them back for 200,000 baht each... some body is digging deep...

You can use illegal for free or free and completely legal they cost the same, but the later comes with less trouble.  

Now would be a good time to start thinking outside of the box.

Open source,  Open mind.  No police.