What Is Piracy?

Piracy is simply defined as the creation of duplicate un-authenticated copies of some copyright protected item. The item can be a sound file, video file like movies, PC games, softwares or even hardware utilities. But the piracy of audio-video files is a much developed and penetrated crime as compared to another sort of piracies. Piracy is a special crime categorized under sections of copyright violations; it is in fact severely detrimental for growing music and video industries.

Actually original copyrighted pieces of articles are very expensive by nature on the other hand, pirated materials are easily available in market at very cheap prices, so to save pockets people prefer to compromise with quality and they buy pirated items. This in turn dilutes the money invested in creating original items, and glut condition appears in market of original items. So piracy ultimately discourages the entertainment industry by rationalizing their hard works.

Piracy- Telecine can sometimes be used to refer the piracy itself. Telecine is actually a technique of producing pirated copies using a machine called telecine. This technique of piracy is actually an expensive one so it is less common in use. Picture studios have developed techniques of CAP called Coded Anti- Piracy, to discourage this sort of activity. A telecine movie is simply a pirated addition of a movie. In fact in international market this term is more commonly used to denote pirated editions of movies. Usual quality of a telecine is almost comparable with an original DVD print. But due to sophistication of this technique, it use is declining day by day. These days a more common technique named as R5 is used to create pirated discs.

Types of piracy Piracy can never be classified in a special category or class. In fact, anything original, which is expensive have a pirated edition in market. List off various important pirated materials include-

Audio piracy- This kind of piracy find its biggest market in developing Asian countries. Pirated MP3, MP4 files are common business of these zones. Because of lack of strict laws and regulations, piracy is having a ban- voyage in these areas of world. One can easily find pirated editions of western music albums at the same day when they get released in west native places.

video piracy These days movie piracy is establishing its roots in west also. The prints of pirated movies are of comparable quality with the prints of original pieces. So, people prefer to buy these cheap and easily available prints of movies in spite of spending money on original prints. Computer piracy- Computer piracy is new but fast growing sort of piracy. General victim of this kind of piracy is PC games. Pc games are very expensive because of heavy entertainment duties, but their pirated editions are available in extremely affordable prices. And moreover these pirated games provide same pixels and graphical appearances as provided by original ones. Another field of computer piracy is the piracy of softwares. Cracks of softwares are very popular in markets of all over the world, because one can never afford heavy prices of softwares. Only organizations or agencies can buy an original piece of latest application software. But for personal use one has to rely on cracks of these expensive softwares. This point is acting as manure to the growing computer piracy. Piracy is not limited to these materials only, these days piracy of hardware is also in common observation.

What Is Video Piracy?

Video piracy is the act of copying video images and sound that are protected by a copyright, without the permission or consent of the copyright owner. As technology improves and changes the ways in which video and audio media are stored and distributed, this type of piracy has changed as well. This form of copyright infringement is typically illegal, regardless of how the pirated content is going to be used. Video piracy is often cited as a major factor in contributing to the expense of making and television, and numerous efforts have been made to preVideo piracy is often cited by those in entertainment industries such as and television production as a major contributor to lost profits. As the Internet has expanded in popularity, and high speed or broadband Internet service has become increasingly available, distribution of pirated videos over the Internet has become a greater problem for copyright owners. There have been numerous attempts to fight video piracy, through security measures on media formats and prosecution of those responsible for such piracy, but the problem continues to grow in many countries. Some countries also do not have copyright laws that make such piracy illegal, which often serves to amplify the problem.vent this type of piracy.. Laws of video piracy in order to curb video piracy more effectively, joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria has ordered all police stations across the city to take strict action against people indulging in illegal activities of video piracy in their respective areas and book them under the MPDA (Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders and Dangerous Persons Act) Act.

In a circular issued to all police stations across the city, Maria stated, “In order to curb piracy, an anti-piracy cell within the social service branch of the Mumbai crime branch has been established. However, in order to put an end to this menace, effective and continuous action isrequired to be initiated by police stations.”

He further said that police commissioner D Sivanandan wants the local police stations to initiate action as the piracy of CDs/ /MP3s is causing a huge loss of revenue to the tune of crores of rupees to the government.

Maria also directed all the regional additional commissioners of police and zonal deputy commissioner of police to ensure that effective and decisive action against the perpetrators indulging in video piracy by the respective police stations and warned non- compliance will be viewed seriously. he state governments have lowered entertainment tax rates consistently from a peak rate of 70 percent to 50 percent over the years to help attract viewers to cinema theatres and to reduce the market for pirated videos, Soni said.

The Indian has stepped up its fight against film piracy both at home and overseas. According to a recent study, India’s entertainment industry loses $4 billion, and 800,000 jobs a year due to piracy.

To encourage the setting up of digital cinema theatres, the government has accorded the import of digital cinema projectors the status of ‘project imports’. The customs duty for these imports was reduced to five percent in the 2008-2009 budget.

“The information and broadcasting ministry has formed a core group to suggest measures to combat piracy of films. Action on the recommendations of the Core Group is being taken to curb piracy,” Soni said.

The ministry has requested the chief secretaries of all states to advise district magistrates and superintendents of police to include anti-piracy measures in their monthly activity reports, Soni said. To curb piracy, the Cable Television Network Regulation Act has been amended to prohibit a cable operator from transmitting or re-transmitting any programme or channel for which the copyright holder has not granted him a licence.

Besides these measures, the government has initiated awareness raising programmes through seminars and workshops. New Delhi. The Alliance Against Copyright Theft (AACT), a coalition between Hollywood- Bollywood studios to fight the various forms of piracy in India, seized more than 1, 06,000 pirated DVDs/CDs in North India and Mumbai over the last month. The team has been able to conduct large raids based on complaints registered on the toll free no. 1800 103 1919. On 29th September, 2010, the enforcement agency along with the local police, conducted a raid on a godown and wholesale shop in Ambala (Haryana) seizing 59740 pirated discs of recently released movies. They also made one arrest during the raid. In a raid conducted on 25th September, 2010, the team seized 3481 pirated discs in Sector-7 Faridabad, Haryana. On 6th October, 2010 AACT conducted a raid on a warehouse in Parbhani City (Maharashtra) seizing 15000 pirated discs of movies like Anjaana Anjaani, Robot, Dabaang, Peepli Live, Resident Evil 3D, Walls Street. They also got 1400 inlay cards during the raid. In another large raid conducted in Chalisgaon (Maharashtra) on 11th October, 2010 the team seized 24516 pirated DVDs and made one arrest. More than 2000 DVDs of recently released movies like Do Dooni Char, Luva Kusa, Khichdi, Anjaana Anjaani, Robot, Dabaang were confiscated during the raid. From September onwards, AACT has also been ensuring that they curb sale of pirated DVDs in key locations like Andheri Station in Mumbai. The enforcement agency has kept a strict vigil on this area to close all stalls selling pirated discs. During the month they have also conducted raids outside the station to close any stalls that tried to reopen, seizing 2228 pirated discs. On 11th October, a joint team of Mumbai Police and AACT’s enforcement agency conducted a raid in DN Nagar, Andheri seizing more than 1050 discs. The effectiveness of the raids conducted by AACT has improved since the launch of the toll free number earlier this year. Recently, the coalition initiated a anti-piracy campaign along with Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra to curb piracy of their movie Anjaani Anjaani. AACT received more than 1500 calls during a span of 4-5 days around the launch of the movie. Speaking on behalf of AACT, Rajiv Dalal, Managing Director (MPAA- India) said, “It is imperative that we continue to up the pressure not just on retailers of pirated goods but also their sources. We have made a conscious effort to identify warehouses and wholesalers of pirated DVDs, thereby intercepting the supply chain of the movie pirated.” He added, “We are also very pleased that the association of Anjaana Anjaani along with AACT has been able to generate interest from the common man. There was marked reduction of the number of pirated discs available for this movie as compared to major releases earlier this year. Going forward we expect to pull in more star power to build awareness on our toll-free number and our various ongoing initiatives from AACT.” Over the next few months, AACT is focusing on increasing the involvement from the common man and increasing pressure on vendors of pirated movies BOLLYWOOD V/S PIRACY

Bollywood is ready to wage a war. The big names of the industry have now rolled up their sleeves to fight a battle against piracy. At stake is the very survival of this dream industry.

The Indian film industry loses Rs. 1,700 crores annually, due to piracy. Employing over six million people and with a turnover of about Rs. 60 billion, the Indian film industry is the largest in the world.

To get the Government involved in this fight, a three-member delegation, comprising the member of Parliament, Shabana Azmi, the president of Motion Pictures and Producers’ Association (IMPPA), Smita Thackeray, and the all-india counsel for the Motion Picture Association-International (MPA-I), Chander Lall, met the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, here today.

While the campaign launched by the IMPPA has reduced cable piracy by about 50 per cent, the main thrust now is against illegal video compact units, “DVDs and VCDs of new films reach video libraries the next day. It is important that they should have licenses to keep the films, otherwise the result in enormous loss of revenue, “Said Ms. Thackeray.

“The Government should look into factories producing VCDs and see that they have legitimate software to make VCDs. I believe that there are two operating units, which are allegedly responsible for at least 90 per cent of piracy. The Centre cannot say this is a State subject and ignore it. It needs to emphasise the copyright law, which is one of the best in the world but is not implemented,” stated Ms. Azmi.

“Piracy eats into your theatrical business on day one, because while the film is being shown in theatres it is also available at video parlours and on the cable so the producer has only about three weeks to make money which he dosen’t manage to do.” Added Chander Lall.

It was also suggested that a special anti piracy cell should be set up. “The police already have so much on their plate and piracy is then just another problem for them to handle. Piracy is crippling us. We have to take necessary steps to control it,” emphasized Ms. Azmi.

The delegation also submitted a memorandum singed by almost 150 well- know film personalities, producers and directors, including veteran actors like Anupam Kher, Waheeda Rehman, Shyam Benegal, Raveena Tandon, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar and Yash Chopra.

“We have to keep the pressure up on the Government. Meanwhile, we are thinking of leading a demonstration to appeal to the public not to buy pirated VCDs. How are we excepted to compete if our legs are cut off” asked Ms. Azmi.

Shabana Seeks Help On Video Piracy

The Times of India TUESDAY, 16 JULY, 2002 : A film industry delegation, led by Rajya Sabha member Shabana Azmi, met Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani on Monday and sought Central intervention to curb video piracy which they said caused losses in excess of Rs 1700 crore to the industry and the government exchequer.

During the half-an-hour long meeting, Azmi, along with Smitha Thackeray, president of Indian Motion Pictures and Producers’ Association and Chander Lall, All India Counsel for the Motion Picture Association of America demanded, among other things, creation of special task force and allocation of special funds in all states to check video piracy. She urged Advani to direct all states to ensure stricter implementation of the Copyright Act and order an investigation into the menace.

TUESDAY, 16 JULY, 2002 : About 90 per cent of the pirated video compact discs (VCDs) of films in the city come from illegal units based in neighbouring states.

A unit each in Kondli, near Harayana and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan are allegedly being run under the patronage of influential people. Illegal units in