Krathong not infringing copyright of San-X: police
TAC Consumer, the copyright agent of San-X in Thailand, has confirmed that the krathong made by 15-year-old girl was not an infringement of its copyright, Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol General Wirachai Songmetta told the press today (November 8) after meeting representatives from the company.
On November 3, the story of a 15-year-old girl from Nakhon Ratchasima province selling krathong in the shapes of popular Japanese characters was shared on social media, men claiming to be the copyright agents in Thailand made a buy, then got the girl arrested by police. The girl was ordered to pay a Bt50,000 fine.
“According to the documentary evidence, the shape of the face and ears on the krathong are not similar to Rilakkuma's, the character under the copyright of San-X,” said Wirachai.
“In addition, if the company noticed an infringement of its copyright, it would have issued a warning letter twice to the party involved before sending their representatives to take legal action”.
He said Prajak Photipol, the representative from Verisec who claimed to be the San-X copyright agent in Thailand, had terminated the contract and has no rights to a arrest or fine.
“We will meet him and his manager to investigate if this was a case of extortion or perjury,” he said.
Recently, A Nation TV reporter went to Verisec, located on the 23rd floor of the MThai Tower in Witthayu road. The reporter found the rented office empty besides a messenger picking up documents sent to the premises.
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