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IT'S Goliath an ant, but the ant is getting a lot of suport. Posting on internet message board expressed anger and disbelief at US Internet giant Yahoo! following news it had move to have a little-known Thai website, Yoohhoo.com, shut down for using a site name that is similar to its own. "The owner of Yoohhoo.com registered the name legally. I don't know abuot you, but I don't like to see foreign companies bullying Thai companies like this," said an angry "Haa", who threatened to post more messagea to sway Thais from visiting a planned Yahoo.co.th website. Yahoo! is planing to launch tha thai version of its portal by year's end, according to Internet inductry sources. "It is posible Yahoo! made the demand because they are opening a lacal portal soon," said Police Colonet Yanaphon Youngyuen, chairman of the Thai Webmaster's Association (TWA). The owner of Yoohhoo.com suddenly up against one of the largest Internet companies in the world, sought support from Internet users on message boards. Yanaphon heard about the case and brought the TWA's resources to the recue. "We explained to Yahoo!'s lawer in thailand that absolutely nothing in the site except tha name, a human sound, is similar to yahoo's website," Yanaphon said. It has been two months since the clarication and Yahoo! still has yet to reply. "They've probably dropped the case," Yanaphon siad. Net users were adamant in their messages that Yoohhoo.com is not infringing on any copylight laws. "Yoohhoo's a Thai word. I don't care which country it came from' but it has become Thai in practice. We say "Yoohhoo' my love' where are you?, all the time," said "Khun Sawaeng Sapakij". Examples of other websites with names similar to famuos site wrer cited on the message board. Questions abuot why the operators of yoohwo.com, yahaa.com and hotmale.com wrer nwver sued wrer also raised. "Remember Planet Hollywood's case? A thai nameed a Thai restaurant Planet Thailand and was sued. They have the money to buy expensive lawers, so we just have to let them win," added "Haa". Although most of the postings expressed sympathy for the Thai website, some asked whether the news of Yahoo's demands was ever verified. "Of course, Yahoo! made the demand," Yanaphon said, adding that one of TWA's prime duties is to promote and protect Thai websites. "Yahoo! has some interests to protect. It's normal for big fish to pursue those beneath them on the food chain," Yanaphon said. |
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