SPH demands payment from local SME ‘Twelve Cupcakes’ for sharing interviews and stori

[makapaaa]

SPH demands payment from local SME ‘Twelve Cupcakes’ for sharing interviews and stories written about them

Posted by temasektimes on July 6, 2012
The boss of a successful home-grown SME ‘Twelve Cupcakes’ Daniel Ong was shocked to receive an email from Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) demanding payment for the interviews granted to its papers and magazines.
Daniel Ong and his wife have given a couple of interviews to the SPH papers and magazines after which they share them with their ‘fans’ on Facebook and Twitter.
They were shocked and disgusted after they received an email from SPH:
“We get an email stating that we need to pay SPH $535.00 per story about Jaime(my superstar wifey) and our Successful business Twelve cupcakes. Oh And there’s also a $214 fee for investigating us…huh?!?!?!?! So all in all we owe them about $3k…??? FOR sharing it on social media and our own website.”
Daniel expressed his unhappiness on his Facebook:
“Did you know? Biz owners are not allowed to share stories about themselves on their websites unless they pay… Stalls/cafes etc …cant photocopy and then put it at their stalls or sign boards for people to see…Unless they pay…”

After they agree with remove all the articles, they receive a reply from SPH that they still need to pay a fee for their ‘investigation’:
“Whats even better… i replied them saying we will take down all articles and we get a super cold reply saying “Since you will remove the articles…” YOU NOW NEED TO PAY SPH $214 as an investigation fee on you. HUH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!”
SPH is the only print media company in Singapore and enjoys an ABSOLUTE MONOPOLY in the market. Unless a second independent media company emerges to give it some competition, Singaporeans will have to live under its ‘mercy’ forever.
Read rest of Daniel Ong’s note here.


Posted in News | 24 Comments »

[Cruxx]

Whom did he vote for?

[scroobal]

He or his wife approached the papers and took advantage to publicise their business. Real cheapskate. Even a prostitute press would not bend down this low unless they have been taken for a ride. This guy must have gone berserk with those articles.

This is the same type of people who come in a Mercedes and pick up free school books and then claim when confronted its is free.

[Sarcastic]

He deserve it.

[sam heng]

He deserve it.

Yup, he is audi tt driving cheapskate. Saw a few event he hosted keep plugging his cupcake whenever he got chances!

[Scrooball (clone)]

Ex-radio deejay Daniel Ong: I’ve been in the media for 20 years, why now?



Former radio deejay-cum-successful entrepreneur Daniel Ong says he was "shocked" when he was asked to pay copyright fees to Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore on Sunday, the 36-year-old said, "Jaime and I have been in the media for over 20 years, we've always shared stories they wrote about us."

Ong, a Perfect 10 deejay and television host earlier in his career, quit radio in 2010. He and his wife, 2001 Miss Universe Jaime Teo, whom he married in 2007, now run a successful cupcake business called Twelve Cupcakes. Launched last year, it now has four outlets.

After he was approached and granted several interviews to The Straits Times and The New Paper, he was shocked when asked to pay copyright fees amounting to about $3,000 for reproducing the published articles on his cupcake business on his company website and social media accounts.

Even after volunteering to take down the said articles, Ong was still told to pay S$214 as "investigation fee" for legal costs incurred by SPH.

The incident has left a bitter taste in his mouth and he is now campaigning for greater transparency about the issue of copyright claims on behalf of other celebrities and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Ong said many friends, even strangers, had approached them to share similar experiences since he recounted his experience on Facebook on Thursday. They also told him that SPH "never went after them for the S$214" after they took down the infringing articles, even though they were also billed an "investigation fee".

He also clarified that he and his wife are still on good terms with several SPH journalists after they explained to him it is another department in charge of copyright claims.

But is he worried about being blacklisted by the publisher then?

"It's alright," Ong shared. "We were celebrities, but that's not our livelihood anymore."

"Not everyone reads the papers nowadays, they're not the only way news can get out. I dare say Mr Brown and Xiaxue combined will be equivalent to their readership."

Added Ong, "It's a changing world, and I hope that they see that as well."

[BuiKia]

I tried their cupcake and find it too sweet and expensive. Overpriced and there are better ones around.

[evisionary]

Anyway he is going to pay the fees, why not continue to fry the news? SPH will use this piece as a warning to ALL on the Copyright@ policy.

[Scrooball (clone)]

I tried their cupcake and find it too sweet and expensive. Overpriced and there are better ones around.

A colleague said the same thing. Its bugis store hardly has any customers. I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to milk this controversial saga for a few more months.

[BuiKia]

Maybe a good time for him to sell the business.

A colleague said the same thing. Its bugis store hardly has any customers. I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to milk this controversial saga for a few more months.

[noname]

Never heard of Daniel Ong. Who is this person?

[wrcboi]

Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore on Sunday, the 36-year-old said, "Jaime and I have been in the media for over 20 years, we've always shared stories they wrote about us."

Quote

Wow hes a teen star......been on radio/TV since he was 16yo.....

[king_of_abalone]

If all else fails, he can close shop and send his wife out to work.

Even at her age, can surely command $2k a night. Because she is educated and can engage in interesting conversation both before and after.

[Scrooball (clone)]

If all else fails, he can close shop and send his wife out to work.

Even at her age, can surely command $2k a night. Because she is educated and can engage in interesting conversation both before and after.

You are cute. Engage in interesting conversation? Topics such as her beauty pageant days? Or her supporting role in Mediacorpse productions like Mr Kiasu the tv series?

[halsey02]

If all else fails, he can close shop and send his wife out to work.

Even at her age, can surely command $2k a night. Because she is educated and can engage in interesting conversation both before and after.

Does she blow?

[looneytan]

"Not everyone reads the papers nowadays, they're not the only way news can get out. I dare say Mr Brown and Xiaxue combined will be equivalent to their readership."Added Ong

Daniel Ong should also mention SBF which has readership of 33,000, equivalent to CHC readership

[halsey02]

Daniel Ong should also mention SBF which has readership of 33,000, equivalent to CHC readership

But we don't want his cupcakes, nor his wife 'cupcakes'...we eat other stuffs!

[streetsmart73]

Never heard of Daniel Ong. Who is this person?

hi there


1. bingo!
2. what celebrity?
3. two "cannot-make-it" things seeking maximum media coverage mah!

[Cerebral]

hi there


1. bingo!
2. what celebrity?
3. two "cannot-make-it" things seeking maximum media coverage mah!

errr. who is Jamie Teo?????

[blackmondy]

He can milk Ass-Pee-H all he wants while I milk Jamie Teo for my calcium needs.