Thai Supreme Court rules InfoQuest news is copyrighted -- setting norm for media industry in Thailand

BANGKOK, April 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Supreme Court, the Intellectual Property and International Trade Division, ruled that articles, special reports and interview reports of InfoQuest are protected work under Copyright Act B.E. 2537 and that InfoQuest shall get compensation from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution of the disputed materials. This is the first copyright case related to news brought to the Supreme Court in Thailand, raising the importance of intellectual property and copyright awareness in the Thai media industry.

Mr. Jalthong Patamapongs, Chairman of InfoQuest Limited, a leading online news agency and news service provider in Thailand specializing in economic, financial, stock and investment news, said that the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court read the Supreme Court judgment on March 27, 2019 on the Black Case No. Tor Por 58/2558 and the Red Case No. Tor Por 72/2559 which InfoQuest was the plaintiff. InfoQuest filed a lawsuit against Bisnews AFE (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. and its directors for copyright infringement, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution of InfoQuest news. InfoQuest enclosed 135 of its works comprising articles, special reports and interview reports as evidence to the case.

After considering all evidence and facts, the Court ruled that all 135 pieces of works are not merely news of the day or facts, but they are works that resulted from researches, compilation and selection of specific information, interviews, including data and information analyses by the authors using their proficiencies. The Court further reasoned that these works have been created with diligence, endeavor, intelligence and substantial labor as well as cultivated judgment from previous experiences and initiative of the author in analysis. The Court ruled that the aforesaid InfoQuest works are the copyright work by virtue of Copyright Act B.E. 2537 and that InfoQuest shall receive compensation for the infringement of the said works.

"This is the very first copyright infringement case related to news that has been brought to the Supreme Court. And now the Court has made the final ruling.

"In the past, people always thought that news was merely facts and not protected by the copyright laws. As a result, a lot of news content has been copied, reproduced and redistributed without authorization from the content owners. I believe the ruling on this case will set a norm in copyright for the Thai media and will make them aware of their rights relating to Intellectual Property and their news work.

"The Supreme Court's decision on this case should have a positive effect on international news agencies that operate news businesses in Thailand and have similar news work as InfoQuest's. These agencies will have confidence that the intellectual property laws of Thailand will protect their news works according to international standards," said Mr. Jalthong.

About InfoQuest

InfoQuest Limited is a leading online news agency and a provider of media monitoring and analysis services in Thailand. In addition to online news and information produced by editorial and content development teams, InfoQuest also aggregates news and data from hundreds of sources. Content coverage includes local newspapers, local and international news agencies, research centers, securities companies, credit rating agencies, and government agencies. InfoQuest also offers press release distribution service domestically and internationally to various global destinations.

The company provides the following services: "NewsCenter" online news and information service, "iQNewsClip" online news clipping service, and "iQMediaLink" news release distribution service to domestic and international destinations.