Home » The Feed » UPDATED: Use of Thailand photo in The Straits Times article about DOT's "It's more fun in the Philippines" causes copyright debate

UPDATED: Use of Thailand photo in The Straits Times article about DOT's "It's more fun in the Philippines" causes copyright debate

Published: Jan 16, 2012 - 9:00am

The photo which was reportedly used in the article published in Singapore's The Staits Times (posted on the Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito (BMSD) Facebook page by Dax Cruz)

 

 

(UPDATE No. 3, 9:34 p.m., January 16, 2012, with updated segments in bold font) GMA News Online reports that a group of Pinoy photographers—who are members of the Facebook group Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito (BMSD)—have pointed out an alleged copyright faux pas committed by the Department of Tourism (DOT). However, it could be a simple case somebody making the wrong photo attribution in the article published on Singapore's The Straits Times. The said article was referred to by GMA News Online as a "promo" piece for the DOT. That may not be the case. GMA News Online has since taken down the story entitled, "DOT promo photo not taken in PHL?"

 

Click on this link to view a larger photo.

 

On Saturday, January 14, BMSD member Mel Cortez observed that in the promo article "Manila goes big on fun to draw tourists," which was published in Singapore's The Straits Times, one of the photos used was actually not taken in the Philippines. In fact, Cortez disclosed that it was actually taken during Thailand's Songkran festival. He also posted a photo showing that the article and the photo in question are featured in the newspaper's January 12 issue. The image, which is captioned "Water gun. More fun in the Philippines," cites the DOT as its owner. In any case, if the article published in the The Straits Times is reportedly not authorized by the DOT or if the DOT had no knowledge of the said article, then, perhaps, the article's writer made a mistake in assuming that the said "user-generated photo" belonged to the DOT.

 

 

Incidentally, as GMA News Online revealed, the photo in question "first appeared on the travel website 12345-TravelAdventure.com, particularly on its article about Bangkok’s Songkran Festival, which is held every April." SPOT.ph tracked down the said article and took a screenshot of the photo in question.

A screenshot of the photo posted on 12345-TravelAdventure.com along with the article about the Songkran festival in Bangkok.

 

SPOT.ph is waiting for the official statement from the DOT to shed some light on this confusion.

 

For more on this story, log on to GMA News Online.  (But, wait, they already took down their story and there's no note explaining why it was taken down. We'll just wait for the official statement from the DOT or any or its authorized representatives.)

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  • Yu Olredi 4 months ago Report Abuse
    allused?
  • paulbautistadr@yahoo.com 4 months ago Report Abuse
    Its so sad. However, to those kababayans who haven't traveled to other countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia kindly check your world map, you can crossed these countries by land. Philippines is an archipelago. I've visited Banaue Rice terraces, Butanding interaction in Donsol, Pearl farm in Davao Samal island, Monkey-eating-Eagle in Davao, Seven Falls 1.2 Km Zip Line in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, World Heritage site in Vigan, Wind Mills in Bangui, Callao Caves in Cagayan Valley, Mayon Volcano in Bicol, Dolphins and Vinta in Zamboanga... Tagaytay, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cotabato, Saranggani, and many other places from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I suggest that you visit them with your love ones and what it feels like to live in our beautiful country like ours. Have a safe trip !
  • Jeremy Villasis 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Hello Stalker,

    1. True, it might have been a simple case of wrong attribution by the writer. But if you knew the entire story, i called attention to the Songkran photo and addressed it to the Straits Times, the DOT, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Between the Straits Times and the DOT, someone definitely ****** up here.

    2. I don't think it's unreasonable a suggestion to have "centralized memes" on the DOT website. This is by the way, an idea of a friend (and a brilliant one at that). It is possible for DOT to do that. They have the resources. Why just make a photo slogan? Why not make a photo slogan and win a prize for example?

    3. When the DOT called for Filipinos to make their own "its more fun in the philippines" photo slogans, they not only opened the floodgates for copyright infringement, but to ridicule, insensitivitym and bad taste as well. Case in point, "Planking: More fun..." where someone got an image of the Ampatuan massacre; and "Growing Old: More fun..." with Madam Auring in a bikini. Now you tell me DOT is not responsible for that. By calling on everyone to "join in the fun" it's implicit that the DOT encourage such results, including all other non-travel related memes. Why doesn't DOT want to be responsible for that. They asked for helped, those i mentioned above are part of what they asked for. So quick to wash their hands huh?

    3. It was never about hating. It's about correcting mistakes. I've promoted the Philippines via local and international publications countless of times, and hits of my photos online could attest to that. So who's hating? Trolling? please tell that to whoever made the Madam Auring Meme.

    4. Geogre Tapan's photos that appeared on the DOT website where used first before DOT asked permission from him, but later on agreed to have them use it. FYI.

    5. "Water Gun: More fun..." atleast we agree on something.

    p.s.
    And for someone who hides by the moniker "stalker", well i rest my case.
  • Tukmol 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Grabe, ang dami palang mga t*ng* na nagco-comment dito, noh? Hindi muna binabasa ng buo ang article and other comments, birada na ng comments na lumalabas tuloy ang katangahan nila. Hayy... crabs!....
  • Stalker 5 months ago Report Abuse
    1. The Straits Times article was NOT a DOT promotion and Alastair McIndoe is NOT affiliated with the DOT.
    2. The campaign has NOT been officially launched.
    3. There are only three "preview" DOT ads using STOCK PHOTOS.
    4. It is unreasonable for Jeremy Villasis to argue that the DOT should have "centralized the memes" on its website. By which he means the user-generated ads inspired by the DOT campaign. Memes, by definition, cannot be centralized. It's like saying that the internet should be placed under a single commanding authority.
    5. The Straits Times images do not even have the same formatting as the "preview" DOT ads.
    6. And finally, for all those who claim that the DOT should have kept the Wow Philippines campaign: Both the Wow Philippines and It's More Fun in the Philippines campaigns were created by the SAME AD AGENCY.
    7. "Water gun. More fun in the Philippines": not grammatically correct. "Water guns" would have been more appropriate.
    8. Hating and trolling is rampant in the Philippines. And that's no fun at all.
  • Jeremy Villasis 5 months ago Report Abuse

    hello spot. it would have been more appropriate too if you asked me if i would be willing to have a screenshot of my status update on your article. thank you.


    Hello, Mr. Villasis. We're sorry about not asking your permission to take and post a screenshot of your Facebook status update. It was publicly visible and we gravely mistook that to signify that it was OK to take the screenshot. Please pardon us for our error. We have removed the said screenshot, as well as the quotes attributed to you. Thank you so much for your kindness and understanding.  —SPOT.ph

  • Melcortez BmsdPilipinas 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Here's the original acticle as posted (without the photo)

    DOT promo photo not taken in PHL?
    January 15, 2012 3:40pm
    22 Email1 376 ShareThis399

    A photo used by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as part of its new “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign may have been taken from another country — or so some netizens accused.

    Apparently, the photo in question first appeared on the travel website traveladventure.com, particularly on its article about Bangkok’s Songkran Festival, held April 9 - 17, 2011.

    The article was accompanied by two photos, one of which shows a girl holding a water gun and participating in what seems to be a water gun fight. Caption for the photo says "Songkran Festival in Bangkok."

    A couple of Facebook posts said the DOT used the photo as a meme for its "It's More Fun in the Philippines" social media campaign. The photo was said to be published in Singaporean daily newspaper the Strait Times last Jan. 12, in an article titled "Manila goes big on fun to draw tourists." A "Water gun. More fun in the Philippines" text was embedded in the photo.

    A Facebook post shows the photo being used online on the same article. The article also credits DOT as the owner of the photo.

    GMA News Online has yet to reach the DOT — as well as the traveladventure.com and the Strait Times — for its comment. — Justin Joyas/KBK, GMA News
  • Tracy 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Hello did you read the updates? The photo is not from the DOT daw!
  • ngek 5 months ago Report Abuse
    anong klase ba naman...magaadvertise na nga lang, ibang bansa pa...
    o_O
  • Anti 5 months ago Report Abuse
    I'm not surprised. We took another language and made it our own (English). We took music that we dont understand and love it (korean). We copied Teleseryas from other countries. And most of our politicians are corrupt. I love the Philippines but come on What the Hell is going on with our country!
  • Nasunog na Kapuso 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Just a tip for you SPOT.ph: Stop quoting stuff from GMA News Online. I remember you also got egg on your face when you quoted that "Defender of gays" story that also vanished from from GMA News Online site. They make the mistake and you're left holding the bag. Mabait pa kayo nag-note pa kayo na nawala na yung story. GMA News Online just takes the deadma mode, alisin ang story with no explanation. Voila! Then it seems like never sila nagkamali. Fabulous. I'm a GMA News Online fan, BTW. Pero with these 2 vanishing stories, parang hindi ko na alam anong nangyayari sa kanila.
  • Genuine 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Yup. That photo is so NOT Pista ng San Juan and so Thai. Most folks in San Juan city will use pail and dipper kapag basaan na and their local gov't is wont to use fire sirens and its water hoses for that matter. Very rarely will you get to see high end water guns like what those tourists are holding in that photo. Tapos smothered pa ata ng face paint or powder na white yung mga tourist?! We don't do that here! unless gumaya na rin tayo sa Thai festival na yan. Shame on the DoT. Plagiarists.
  • mephistu 5 months ago Report Abuse
    DOT, stop using Google for photos!!! Pick up your lazy butts and stop abusing Photoshop for your lame fake jobs! We have so many talented photogs that can contribute to your campaign!!
  • koyakoy 5 months ago Report Abuse
    check nyo ulet ang link ng GMA, dba wala na?

    April pa ang OFFICIAL launch ng DOT campaign, how come mag publish sila ng promo article? sa OFFICIAL website, THREE photos lang ang OFFICIAL. eh baket wala man lang OFFICIAL photo na nasama sa article kung DOT yun?
  • Nang Nak 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Lie.Cheat.Steal. More fun in the Philippines.
  • Kitt 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Sana nga ma improve pa!!
  • dick 5 months ago Report Abuse
    pera ng taong bayan na pinaghirapan ang pinapa-sweldo sa inyo tapos manggagaya lang kayo ng slogan at photo para sa campaign? buseeeet!
  • crablet 5 months ago Report Abuse
    May pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas Dong. Gaya ng may pag-asa pang maimprove mo ang paggamit mo ng mga salita.
  • Kitt 5 months ago Report Abuse
    Really embarrassing!! That's how Filipinos are plagiarismist!! Nakakahiya wala naba talagang maganda sa pinas at nangungupya nalang?? I don't think that there's still fun in the Philippines kung pag dating mo palang sa pilipinas hold up and snatching and maabut mo pag dating mu pa lang sa Manila!! Sino pa pang may gusto pumunta sa pilipinas?? sabihin mating may turismo pa pero kaunti lang Ito compare mo sa other neighboring countries katulad ng Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and Cambodia. I don't think Philippines will still have a future.. Nakakainis palagi nalang tayong binigo sa gma corrupt na politico natin!!!!!

    Kahit sa Cambodia na sana mas mayaman pa tayo pero mas maganda pa ang ugali nang mga tao doon kumpara mo sa mga tao sa Pinas!! Sorry but that's how I felt saying, and I keen observed it from my two eyes, sooo sad!! Sana may pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas mabago!!! :-( good luck and god bless the Philippines.
  • monocle 5 months ago Report Abuse
    how embarrassing. hehe. copyright infringement. More fun in the Philippines
  • kororo 5 months ago Report Abuse
    It's more fun-gagaya in the Philippines? Nakakahiya. Matatalino ang mga Pilipino. At totoong mas masaya dito. Hindi natin kailangan ng mga ganito.
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