The Hindu : Video piracy: exhibitor clarifies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Video piracy: exhibitor clarifies

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD April 17. With reference to the news item published in these columns on August 8, 2002, under the headline "Film chamber urges GO to check piracy'', the advocates of Mr. AGVVN Satyanarayana, an exhibitor of Tanuku, have denied that the movie `Sriram' was filmed on a video camera from the cabin of the theatre to produce pirated VCDs of the film.

It was pointed out that a technical committee appointed by the A.P. Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) also upheld Mr. Satyanarayana's contention that the movie recording could have taken place in the auditorium and not from the theatre cabin, ruling out the possibility of the exhibitor being responsible for video piracy. The APFCC which had initially imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakhs on the exhibitor had also scaled down the amount to Rs 50,000. In view of the finding of the technical committee, Mr. Satyanarayana had called upon the APFCC to revoke the imposition of the fine.

The exhibitor had pointed out that the APFCC had prejudged the issue while completely ignoring his argument about some unidentified person recording the movie with the help of sophisticated equipment in the auditorium.

At the executive committee meeting of the APFCC held on September 22, 2002, the exhibitor had also openly represented that he was ready to pay Rs 10 lakhs if it was proved that the pirated CD was shot from the cabin room of the theatre.

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Video piracy: exhibitor clarifies