Piracy has been one of the persistent issue for the film industry. So many measures were taken to curb this problem, but none could solve it. It is a well-known fact that many online portals record the new films in the theater itself and release the unauthorized prints online of those films. But all those online portals or individuals who have been doing this will have to face a 3-year jail or a fine of 5% of the production of the cost of that particular film. So from now on, recording a film in a theater is a punishable offense.
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday cleared the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Bill, which was tabled in Rajya Sabha last week by Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The Bill intends to ensure that film industry content does not suffer from piracy, as the menace causes a significant loss to the industry.
The Bill was passed after a discussion that lasted over two hours in the Upper House of the Parliament on Thursday, but without the Opposition, as they staged a walkout after their demands for a discussion on Manipur was not entertained.
The Bill’s objective is to combat film piracy, overhaul age-based certification provided by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and ensure consistency in categorizing films and material across platforms.
In the Bill, the government has proposed a maximum three-year jail term and a fine of up to 5% of the production cost of a film for individuals making pirated copies of movies. The Bill intends to add more certificate categories (UA 7+, UA 13+, and UA 16+) and the UA category, as reported by PTI.
New sections in the Cinematograph Act are being introduced to prevent the unauthorised recording of films (section 6AA) and their exhibition (section 6AB). Provision 6AA prohibits recording any part of the film for the sole purpose of using the same device mentioned in the report.
“Piracy is like cancer and this government has decided to eradicate it. The Bill took almost four decades, but a lot has been changed. India is a country of storytellers, should emerge as the content hub of the world. I thank all the members for supporting the Bill and giving many suggestions,” Thakur said.
Let’s hope that the new amendment from the cinematography act will work towards the betterment of films, and recording a film in a theater stops from now on.
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