The Hindu : U.S. firms complain about video piracy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2002

Entertainment

Entertainment - Cinema

U.S. firms complain about video piracy

By M.Raghuram

MANGALORE DEC. 16. Seven United States movie companies affiliated to the Motion Pictures Association (MPA) have lodged a complaint with the Dakshina Kannada District police against the "flagrant video piracy" and violation of international law and the Indian Cinematography Act.

The complaint lodged with A.M.Shaikh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, here by Rajesh Ramanathan, General Power of Attorney holder for Lall and Sethi Law Company, New Delhi, pointed out that video parlours in Mangalore were exhibiting films, the copyright of which was vested with MPA member companies. The format used was either video compact discs or digital versatile discs. The complaint says this is a violation of copyright and censorship laws. Such unauthorised public exhibition of films without the written permission of the copyright holder constitutes an offence under Section 63 of the Copyright Act, 1957, as also under Section 7 of the Cinematography Act, 1952.

This is the first time that the companies have lodged a complaint with the police against video piracy. The complaint was lodged on November 28 when the new movie, "Guru", was being screened in a video parlour. Following this, a police party raided the video parlour and confiscated the discs. In another case, the discs of the James Bond film, "Die Another Day" were also confiscated.

The companies are Buena Vista International Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. (Columbia-Tristar), Metro Goldwyn Mayer Inc. (United Artists), Paramount Pictures Corporation, Twentieth Century Fox International Corp., Universal International Films (MCA and Universal), and Warner Bros. (Turner Pictures, New Line Cinema and Castle Rock Entertainment). They have jointly hired Lall and Sethi Law Company.

In other places, the number of video parlours has come down considerably.

The study conducted by the Cinema Exhibitors Association here points out that video parlours were violating Sections 63 and 64 (1) of the Indian Copyright Act. The offence, which was non-bailable, was also affecting the exchequer by the way of loss in entertainment tax. Video parlours pay a consolidated entertainment tax of Rs. 200 per day irrespective of the occupancy of seats and the number of shows. By illegally exhibiting the yet to be released movies, the video parlours were luring the audience away from theatres. This was affecting the collections in cinemas and consequently the Government was losing revenue.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce had brought this to the notice of the district administration many times, but so far not a single offence had been registered.

In the case of exhibition of "Guru" and "Die Another Day" also, no FIR has been filed, the association states.

The KFCC has also opposed showing new Kannada movies on cable channels.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Entertainment

Stories in this Section

U.S. firms complain about video piracy

Kerala Lalithakala Akademi secretary replaced

`Sangeetha Kalasarathy' conferred on Balamuralikrishna