Jail term provision for film piracy gets Cabinet approval (IN)

[MrFredPFL]

Story : https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/jail-term-film-piracy-gets-cabinet-ap

The Union Cabinet has approved an amendment to the Cinematograph Act, 1952, adding penal provisions of three-year jail term or Rs 10 lakh fine or both for those found guilty of film piracy and copyright infringement.

Addressing the media, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on wednesday: “If one, without authorisation, undertakes digital duplication of various creative works or by any other means of digital technology, one can be made to suffer three-year jail punishment and Rs 10 lakh fine.”

“This step will help our film industry in dealing with the menace of piracy,” he said.

The Indian film industry has long been demanding that the government should consider amendments to the law preventing camcording and movie piracy. On 19 January 2019, at the inaugural function of the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made an announcement in this regard. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting then placed the matter for consideration of the Union Cabinet.