A Thai university claims it is suing the Miss Global beauty pageant for allegedly using music composed by its students without permission.

Pachaya Akkapram, associate dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Khon Kaen University, speaking in the video, announced the university's plans to take legal action on February 20.

He said music from the Apsara Thai Traditional Dance performance, seen in the video when it was created in 2021 by third-year student Natthaphong Dechbun, had been played in a promotional video and the national costume portion of the Miss Global 2023 pageant in Cambodia on January 16.

The Khon Kaen University which holds the rights to the music said organisers did not ask permission to use it.

Pachaya said: 'The performance is a source of pride for the students, faculty, and university, having garnered nearly two million views worldwide. It elicited numerous comments praising their work.

'However, after the incident, the university inquired with the students involved, who confirmed that they had not been contacted by the beauty pageant, prompting the decision to pursue legal action.'

He added the university's legal division will complain to the Department of Intellectual Property and the Economic Crime Suppression Division.