Let off the Hooq? Not these filmmakers

More: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, looks for office space in Japan. [Read from your browser]( Daily Newsletter --------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Tech in Asia's free Daily Newsletter! Get full access to our subscribers-only Daily Newsletter and other insightful analysis on the big and messy topics of Asia’s tech and startup community by [registering here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- IN FOCUS In today's newsletter, we spotlight: - [How Hooq, a Singtel-backed video streamer, left its creditors hanging dry]( - The latest funding round of Travelio, “Indonesia’s Airbnb” - [AI controversies]( including deepfakes and profiling - Other newsy highlights such as OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, looking for office space in the Land of the Rising Sun. --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} "We’re not gonna get screwed over by them, right?" Haresh Tilani asked a friend who had informed the Singaporean filmmaker of Hooq’s liquidation in March 2020. More than three years on, Tilani still hasn’t received their payment for the content commissioned by Hooq. He represents just one of countless Asian production houses and filmmakers scurrying to recover their funds from the Singapore-headquartered joint venture by Singtel, Warner Bros, and Sony Pictures. Given the heavyweights that backed Hooq, these unfortunate filmmakers were perhaps lulled into a false sense of security. They were comfortable enough to sign contracts with Hooq Mauritius, a subsidiary of Hooq Singapore. The different jurisdiction made it even harder for these content creators to receive any money. Unpaid dues, however, aren’t the only Hooq-related headache its creditors face. Today’s featured piece also brings to the fore the confusion surrounding intellectual property rights. Further, the premium story dives deeper into the Hooq’s “messy” liquidation process and why a firm that was close to buying the video streamer’s IP rights didn’t go through with it. -- Shravanth  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [Filmmakers trapped in Hooq’s nightmarish liquidation: Show us the money]( Creditors of the Singtel-backed video streamer say they haven’t received their repayments, and there's no word if they ever will. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Travelio, ‘Indonesia’s Airbnb,’ expands to rent-to-own with new funding]( The startup manages 15,000 properties exclusively and is currently operating in 12 Indonesian cities. [OpenAI sets sights on Japan office]( The move comes after a meeting between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. [Deepfakes and profiling: charting AI controversies]( Deepfakes of politicians, police efforts to profile gang members, and image generators have caused quite a stir, according to AI researchers. [Bitget unveils $100m fund to push Web3 adoption in Asia]( Bitget said it will prioritize partners in Asia that have a clear roadmap and an experienced team that can solve real-world problems. [UAE telco acquires stake in Uber MENA unit for $400m]( Careem was acquired by Uber for US$3.1 billion in 2020. [Japan’s SmartRyde raises $3.4m to grow airport transfer services]( It has launched a new product that enables online travel agencies and airline companies to offer in-app airport transfer services to their customers. ---------------------------------------------------------------  TECH IN ASIA'S FOUNDERS MEETUP: PHILIPPINES  Join us and share the hardest challenges you’ve faced as a founder If you’re an entrepreneur based in the Philippines, you’re invited to Tech in Asia’s Regional Founders Meetup, which will be held on April 25 at Draper Startup House - 5048 P. Burgos St., Makati - from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join us and share the hardest challenges you’ve faced as a founder. To help you find solutions, we’ll introduce you to fellow founders who have been there and done that. Starting up doesn’t have to be a lonely journey. [Register]( for this exclusive event here today. Tickets are priced at US$12.50 per person, inclusive of light bites and one drink. 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