I’ve avoided the topic of the 2013/14 street protests, I just hope they end quickly and without violence.
This news story struck me as very funny- this protest features whistles, sellers have been doing big business in whistles, t-shirts and other protest paraphernalia. But not so fast say the protest organizes, only official whistles should be sold/bought, there is even the threat of confiscating whistles due to copyright infringement. Wow, never thought I would read ‘copyright infringement’ in an article about protest merchandise. Amazing Thailand.
This from Khoasod English, the original article can be found here.
Crackdown On ‘Counterfeit’ Whistles Begins
(16 January) Blue Sky TV has announced a crackdown on sales of counterfeit whistles in anti-government rally sites.
The satellite channel, which has been serving as official mouthpiece of the ongoing protests led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), said on a Facebook post that sales of unauthorised whistles would no longer be tolerated.
A symbol of anti-government movements, the whistles are ubiquitously worn by PCAD supporters in their rallies and demonstrations.
But Blue Sky has previously complained that many vendors in PCAD rally sites have copied the special design of whistles officially adopted by the channel, which come in shapes similar to a lightning, and stated that these actions amount to copyrights infringement.
The channel also sells its own “premium” lightning-shaped whistles, costing up to 999 baht per piece.
In the same Facebook post, Blue Sky staff claimed that security guards employed by the channel have confiscated their first batch of countefeit whistles sold at PCAD rally site around Pathumwan Intersection, and said that the guards would do so in all other PCAD protest sites across Bangkok as well.
The announcement also asks for understanding from anti-government protesters, stating that vendors of counterfeit whistles are profiting from opportunistic business ventures which would undermine the channel′s enterprise.
Furthermore, Blue Sky channel would take legal action against manufacturers of these counterfeit items, according to the statement posted on Facebook.
The announcement has attracted many comments from the Netizens. While many expressed their support for Blue Sky′s crackdown on unauthorised whistles, others raised concerns that security guards employed by Blue Sky do not have legal power to confiscate items suspected of violating copyrights.
Some PCAD supporters also commented that the crackdown might alienate many vendors in the protest areas.
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About faranginbangkok
I began working in Bangkok during 2008- a time that featured a great deal of political unrest in Thailand and particularly Bangkok.
I had lived in San Francisco for 15 years and was working on a project in Thailand. Generally, I spent 2 weeks in Bangkok and then 3-4 weeks in San Francisco. Did Bangkok begin to feel like home? Yes, and No. Bangkok and the Thai culture forced me to feel many things, the change in culture and environment was so dramatic it forced the decision- embrace or ignore.
I embraced and made Bangkok my home and base in 2009. I have enjoyed living in Bangkok, experiencing Thailand and the entire ASEAN region. I moved to Singapore in 2016...fallen behind on this blog since.
Farang ( ฝรั่ง) In Bangkok 