Local English-language newspaper The Cambodia Daily, is suing U.S.-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) for violation of copyright laws, demanding compensation of tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit broadcasting corporation, according to a press release received here on Friday.
Lawyer Suy Chhunhak, representing The Cambodia Daily Publisher Bernard Krisher, submitted the lawsuit on Sept. 4 to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court with a number of causes and legal aspects forming the basis of accusations against the RFA, said the release from the newspaper.
According to the lawsuit, Bernard Krisher discovered last year that the RFA has been copying, faxing and e-mailing all articles published on the newspaper to its Bangkok office in Thailand and its headquarters in Washington DC.
He then wrote to RFA Khmer service director Kem Sos, who agreed that the deed was a violation, advising staff at the RFA office in Phnom Penh to stop the activity.
Krisher has asked RFA to pay 3,000 U.S. dollars a year for the past five consecutive years it claims the radio station has violated copyright laws.
The RFA has offered to pay 5,000 U.S. dollars in all to end the dispute.
Krisher has rejected the offer and is now suing the radio corporation for 20,000 U.S. dollars in compensation.
Local staff of RFA declined to comment and referred all questions to RFA headquarters in the U.S.
The Cambodia Daily has also recently sued local news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse for similar offenses.
The Cambodia Daily is the only English-language newspaper published six days a week in Cambodia. It is renowned for exclusive stories and wide-ranging affiliation with the mainstream newspapers and publications of the United States.
RFA is the one of the branches of the United States' overseas radio service funded by its government.
Source: Xinhua
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