Internet Shop Raid

[Farang1]

We have a little internet shop on the east side of town near Lake Garden city. This past weekend, the police came by while we were out of town and checked our computers. They found a game on them that, I guess, they thought was unapropriate and we had to delete it when we got back. The internet cops came back a couple days later with GMM grammy company's officers. who checked our computers and found 5 had some of their music on them. The police confiscated the 5 computers and my wife had to go to the police station. What it boiled down to was, she had to pay a 20k baht fine on each or go to jail.

We had bought the shop about 8 or 9 months ago and the music had been either, down loaded off the net or copied from pirated CDs before we had bought the shop. We had already spent a bunch of money to get the software and games licensed so, that part was already taken care of.

I have instructed my wife to have ALL the music deleted from the computers in case the police come back with another music producer. Also, to setup the computers so that only an administrator can load something on them.

I flew out of BKK on the 23rd and I am relaying the info that my wife told me.

There are hundreds of shops that sell pirated CDs, VCDs, and DVDs, why don't they "crack down" on them. Or, maybe they are paying protection money?

This is a FYI for those that have an internet shop that hasn't been raided and your software and games aren't legal.

[nkstan]

You have now experienced the problems with being an outsider and doing business in Thailand.Falang based or financed businesses will always be the scapegoats or targets for extortion.

The reason those shops,you mentioned,are not bothered is because they are local,in business with the powers and have no falang investment.

Simple formula,but amazing how many falang won't listen!

[jackspratt]

Just for clarification, it is my understanding that Thai owned internet shops are also raided.

[BobHelm]

Quite often Jack.
From what Cliff from Pops has said on here in the past the Thai laws surrounding the ownership of internet shops are not for the faint hearted.
It sounds like these guys are the same crowd that also raid bars looking for illegal music as well.
As far as the CD etc. shops these are also raided - but I think it is often publicized beforehand to those in the 'know'.
Another example of laws being enforced when they want them to be enforced....

[nkstan]

Just for clarification, it is my understanding that Thai owned internet shops are also raided.

Sure ,with major fines and confiscations also ??Clarification ,indeed Are you saying that falang finaced businesses are not targeted??

[jackspratt]

Just for clarification, it is my understanding that Thai owned internet shops are also raided.

Sure ,with major fines and confiscations also ??Clarification ,indeed Are you saying that falang finaced businesses are not targeted??

Correct on both points Stan - well done.

[Prenders88]

You have now experienced the problems with being an outsider and doing business in Thailand.Falang based or financed businesses will always be the scapegoats or targets for extortion.

The reason those shops,you mentioned,are not bothered is because they are local,in business with the powers and have no falang investment.

Simple formula,but amazing how many falang won't listen!

Stan's is right on the money.

We bought our daughter a coin op laundry five years ago, to provide an income for her and the kid she dropped, with a indolent layabout. When the neighbours saw she was doing all right, one of them rented the shop next door when it became empty. Guess what he opened.....another coin op laundry. My daughters income dropped by half.

[Farang1]

I should clarify something. A couple months after we bought the shop, the police came in to check things out. The software and games were not licensed. No fines (surprise, surprise!) but, they give us a deadline to get them licensed. That's why those were up to date this time around. I don't know if my name is on the business license but, my wife had change her name when we were married. That might give them a hint.

I am hoping my kids have learned from this that, buying cheap pirated CDs isn't always the economical way to go.

[Farang1]

We bought our daughter a coin op laundry five years ago, to provide an income for her and the kid she dropped, with a indolent layabout. When the neighbours saw she was doing all right, one of them rented the shop next door when it became empty. Guess what he opened.....another coin op laundry. My daughters income dropped by half.

Seems, that would be an issue taken up with the landlord if the shops are owned by the same person. By allowing same types of businesses to open next to each other jeopardizes both businesses. Then again, the landlord might not care as the rent is paid a year in advance.