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Isentia embroiled in copyright battle with Thai media group, Matichon

Media monitoring service Isentia has found itself in a copyright dispute with Thai media group, Matichon.

The dispute comes as the company, which was 2018’s poorest performing ASX listed media stock, looks to its Asian operations to restore its fortunes.

Isentia boss Ed Harrison told Mumbrella the company’s Asian operations were a key part of the group’s growth plans

This is not the first time Isentia has found itself in a legal battle over copyright, having sued rival Meltwater over copyright infringement in 2017. The company has also been involved in complex copyright negotiations in Australia over recent years.

Matichon Publishing Group publishes three daily news publications: Matichon, Khao Sod and Prachachat. Mumbrella contacted the group’s Bangkok headquarters for comment but had not received a reply by publication.

In a post to its English language website, the Thai company said: “Recently, Matichon Public Company Limited and its subsidiary, Khao Sod Company Limited, as Plaintiffs have filed a criminal case to The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, Black case no. Aor 336/2562 and Black case Aor 337/2562 to bring charges against iSentia Bangkok Company Limited and iSentia Monitoring Services (Thailand) Company Limited including their directors for the commercial copyright infringement. These companies are the subsidiaries of iSentia group, a listed company where its head quarter is situated in Australia.

“This case filing is a result of these two companies have been used, re-printed, duplicated or reproduced for news-clipping service to their clients for fees the unauthorized works, articles or news which have legal copyright protection, appearing or printing in the Matichon Newspaper, Prachachat Turakij Newspaper and Matichon Weekly which are the main newspaper of Matichon Public Company Limied, as well as those publishing in Khao Sod Newspaper which is the main paper under Khao Sod Company Limited.”

Isentia’s Australian spokesperson told Mumbrella: “Isentia Bangkok Company, Isentia Media Monitoring Services (Thailand) and its local directors are aware of the legal proceedings filed by Matichon Public Company Limited and its subsidiary, Khao Sod Company Limited, for alleged commercial copyright infringement in Thailand.

“This matter is in very preliminary stages and whilst the proceedings have been filed, they have yet to be accepted by the Thai court. Isentia Thailand is working closely with all parties and believes the matters can be resolved through commercial negotiations.

“Isentia takes copyright licensing matters seriously in all markets and we look forward to a resolution of this matter.”

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