Thailand Warns of Copyright Infringement Penalties for Illegal Streaming
Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property warns that illegal streaming platforms, which often disguise themselves through multiple websites and social media, carry penalties of up to four years imprisonment or 800,000 baht in fines whi
The Department of Intellectual Property has issued warnings about copyright infringement and the penalties for illegally distributing movies, series, and videos, reminding people that apparently "free" or "cheap" content may come with serious risks. According to department director Ormorn Saptaweedharm, recent complaints have revealed a pattern where content is stolen from licensed platforms and redistributed through other online channels using social media promotion, sample clips, and invitation messages with links to external sites. Viewers may then be asked to join groups, register, and pay to access the infringing material, with operators sometimes changing website names, using foreign servers, or employing multi-step links to evade detection and enforcement.
Republishing or distributing someone else's copyrighted films, series, or clips without authorization violates the Copyright Act of 1994 and amendments. For commercial infringement, penalties include imprisonment of 6 months to 4 years, or fines of 100,000 to 800,000 baht, or both. The department has begun verifying reports and coordinating with internet service providers and platforms to quickly remove infringing content while advising complainants on legal procedures.
Ormorn urged the public to exercise caution when accessing online content, especially through channels that cannot be verified as licensed by copyright holders, as this may support infringement and harm creators and the economy. Such unauthorized channels also pose significant risks of personal data theft, financial fraud, malware, and identity theft through suspicious links, file downloads, and unverified applications. The department emphasizes that seemingly "free" or "unusually cheap" content may require payment in the form of compromised security and personal safety.
