Govt introduces Bill to fight film piracy

New Delhi: The government on Tuesday introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha to amend the Cinematograph Act to give 3 year imprisonment and impose a fine of 10 lakh for film piracy. The Bill seeks to make provisions of 1952 Act stricter.

New Delhi, Feb. 12: The government Tuesday introduced a bill in Rajya Sabha to amend the Cinematograph Act and impose a strict penalty to combat the menace of film piracy.

Minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore introduced the Cinematograph ( Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Upper House.

The bill seeks to amend provisions of Cinematograph Act, 1952, in order to tackle film piracy by including penal provisions for unauthorised camcording and duplication of films.

To check piracy, particularly the release of pirated versions of films on the Internet which causes huge losses to the film industry and the exchequer, the bill proposes to make piracy offences punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and fines that may extend to ` 10 lakh or both.

The proposed amendment states that any person, who without the written authorisation of the copyright owner, uses any recording device to make or transmit a copy of a film, or atte- mpts to do so, or abet the making or transmission of such a copy, will be liable for such a punishment.

The Cabinet last week had approved the ministry’s proposal for introducing the bill. The proposed amendments would increase industry revenues, boost job creation, fulfil important objectives of India’s National Intellectual Property policy and will give relief against piracy and infringing content online, an official statement had said.